MG Sports Cars

engine swaps and other performance upgrades, plus "factory" and Costello V8s

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relative4
Billy Andrews
Denver, CO
(55 posts)

Registered:
11/25/2008 02:28PM

Main British Car:
'80 MGB Rover 3.5

authors avatar
Tachometer
Posted by: relative4
Date: March 05, 2009 11:06PM

My engine is now running, and one of the upcoming steps will be to recalibrate the tachometer. I found a thread on this site that mentions, in addition to Leon Zaks' site, a 2000 edition of the British V8 newsletter containing an article on this task. That article doesn't seem to have been computerized on this site yet, anyone know how I can get my hands on it?

Alternatively, can anyone make recommendations for aftermarket V8 tachs that will fit the '80 MGB's dash?

Thanks!


Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4577 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Tachometer
Posted by: Moderator
Date: March 05, 2009 11:18PM

How To Sponsor Digitization of Back-Issue Articles


Citron
Stephen DeGroat
Lugoff, SC
(367 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 09:43PM

Main British Car:
1970 MGBGT V6, 7004R, AC, matching trailer 3.1 liter

Re: Tachometer
Posted by: Citron
Date: March 06, 2009 10:47AM

Billy,
I use Classic Instruments tachs and speedos. I have not done an 80 but have done a 70, 74, 67 and an 85 Jag.
They are on the web but I don't have the address.
Good people to work with.

Steve
Get Your BritishV8 T-shirt by clicking here


kstevusa
kelly stevenson
Southern Middle Tennessee
(985 posts)

Registered:
10/25/2007 09:37AM

Main British Car:
2003 Jaguar XK8 Coupe 4.2L DOHC/ VVT / 6sp. AT

authors avatar
Re: Tachometer
Posted by: kstevusa
Date: March 06, 2009 08:27PM

Billy, I did my conversion using the updated instructions in the V8 Magazine article and also referred to Zak's. it was simple because i am not a electronic wizzard. I did drill a small hole in the case and mount the p-ometer (can't spell) on the outside of the case for ease of calibration. I just used a V8 tach and adjusted the MG to the know working V8 tach reading. Maybe a Google search will turn up the old article. just be sure the revised version is one you use.


302GT
Larry Shimp

(241 posts)

Registered:
11/17/2007 01:13PM

Main British Car:
1968 MGB GT Ford 302 crate engine

authors avatar
Re: Tachometer
Posted by: 302GT
Date: March 07, 2009 07:29AM

VDO tachometers fit and look similar to the original. VDO is one of the only companies that makes a 4 inch diameter tach (and speedometer) that fit in the late style dashboards. The black rims on the VDO instruments can be cut off and replaced with chrome rings from the original gauges. The only other source for 4 inch gauges that I know of is Smiths who makes Cobra reproduction instruments.

If you have the smaller instruments (pre 1977), then just about any manufacturer makes gauges in that size.


Moderator
Curtis Jacobson
Portland Oregon
(4577 posts)

Registered:
10/12/2007 02:16AM

Main British Car:
71 MGBGT, Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Tachometer
Posted by: Moderator
Date: March 07, 2009 04:43PM

Thanks to Billy's generous sponsorship, the original article has now been digitized!

Here's a direct link:
Converting the MGB Tachometer to V-8 Calibration by Kurt Schley


MGBV8
Carl Floyd
Kingsport, TN
(4514 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 11:32PM

Main British Car:
1979 MGB Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Tachometer
Posted by: MGBV8
Date: March 08, 2009 09:35AM

Curtis,

If you are going to put that out there for all the world to read, you really need to include the correction article that is in the next issue.

The drawing in figure 1 is incorrect. The trim pot is actually soldered across pins 3 & 8. Leon's pictures show that while he did solder the pot to the correct legs, he calls them pins 4 & 7. So, the pics are correct, but the drawing is wrong.



camaroneil
neil nattress

(1 posts)

Registered:
01/16/2009 06:21AM

Main British Car:
Re: Tachometer
Posted by: camaroneil
Date: April 07, 2009 01:39AM

i was just about to query that,
thanks for the correction,
i'm trying mine today,

many thanks,
neil


Bill Young
Bill Young
Kansas City, MO
(1337 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 09:23AM

Main British Car:
'73 MG Midget V6 , '59 MGA I6 2.8 GM, 4.0 Jeep

authors avatar
Re: Tachometer
Posted by: Bill Young
Date: April 07, 2009 10:51AM

I wonder if Kurt would have the information on the component size to adapt for a 6 cylinder?
By the way, does anyone know how to adapt the early current loop style tach for either V8 or V6 use?


BlownMGB-V8
Jim Blackwood
9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042
(6470 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 12:59PM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS

authors avatar
Re: Tachometer
Posted by: BlownMGB-V8
Date: April 07, 2009 02:11PM

Bill, I did mine using Theo's replacement board but I think Kurt's tach driver mod would work just as well. You no longer use the loop, but it wasn't that great anyway.

Jim


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