520/521 digital tachometer idea (not mine)

[Draker]

I saw this in fail book. I thought it was a cool idea so I saved and am sharing here. I don’t know the details of the tach or the install. Not hard to figure out if you’re interested in going this route.

[mrbigtanker]

I don't like it. The idea is so Dakota Digital. Looks like the dash from KITT in Knight Rider. Also is it done? Water under the RPM read out and fuel gauge on other side.Looks like a good attempt at a bad idea if that is the finished product.

[Draker]

3 hours ago, mrbigtanker said:

I don't like it. The idea is so Dakota Digital. Looks like the dash from KITT in Knight Rider. Also is it done? Water under the RPM read out and fuel gauge on other side.Looks like a good attempt at a bad idea if that is the finished product.

might not be for everyone. But it might help someone someday. I don’t care, I don’t have a 520/521.

[mrbigtanker]

11 hours ago, Draker said:

might not be for everyone. But it might help someone someday. I don’t care, I don’t have a 520/521.

I really hope that this is the only one. Do it all or none at all. 

[bilzbobaggins]

I dont care for the digital readout but do think it would be much more appealing in green as opposed to the red.   I think keeping a water temp gauge would be more important to me as well.  Could always add a low fuel light somewhere in  there.  A sweeping needle tach that fit that opening would be tits tho.

 

Thanks for sharing this.

[datzenmike]

With a dial gauge you soon learn that 12 o'clock (or where ever yours is) is shift time You don't have to actually 'read' the numbers you glance at it, even peripherally, and when straight up or near it you grab another gear. With a digital, the hundreds are going past so fast in lower gears you can't possibly read them hell the thousands are too fast. By the time you look multiple times and see a 6K it's already close to 7K. Perhaps an adjustable shift light?  

 

Red is easier on your night vision. Dim-able?

 

Yes would rather have a temp gauge and a tach somewhere else.

[Draker]

We all know the temp gauge is nothing more than a historical reference marker.

[DanielC]

On both of my running and driving 521 trucks, I trust the stock temp and the gas gauges.  They are so simple, compared to today's instrumentation, that if the connections, including grounds are good, they work.

If the temp gauge starts to read slightly abnormally high, it almost always because I need to add coolant.

The gas gauge on on Ratsun does not read completely full, but by a half full tank, is pretty accurate.

On both 521 trucks I drive, Dragon being the other, when the gas tank is getting empty, when first starting the truck, watch the gas gauge.  If the gauge flares up, then settles down, you have a short time to empty. If the gas gauge does not flare up when starting, getting more gas is a top priority.   

[datzenmike]

Gas tanks are often not symmetrical either. My 710 goon has a big notch in it for the spare tire. So the bottom half is twice as big as the top half. It has always seemed to drop fast but goes forever below 1/4.

[thisismatt]

This would be waaaay better as a sideways green-orange-red LED "vu" meter calibrated to your engine's redline

 

BAM!

 

 

 

Edited November 14, 2020 by thisismatt

[mainer311]

Maybe if it was made in the 80’s. Remember the old 300zx digital dashes? Those were the tits.

[datzenmike]

 

 

I remember the 'Bitching Betty'. Also those digital dashes (well in the 280zx anyway) were always breaking down.