"Buzzer" Tach

[Loren L.]

I went to the "Instruments" part of the Interior section of the 6th Edition of the CTIM&JG in the hopes of a shortcut source to Info about the Buzzer tachs in 1963 and found Nothing. I have a copy of the 2/11/63 Advance Information that they would be deleted, so I know that they existed, Is the information found elsewhere?

[Michael G.]

Re: "Buzzer" Tach

Here's one, I have two more in my cars:

[Irby G.]

Re: "Buzzer" Tach

Hi Mike,
Nice pics. Assuming that the black round receptacle with the brass prong in the middle is how to tell visually the difference from the non-buzzer 63 tach? Read that the tachometer does not do the 'buzzing', only triggers it. Do you know what the actual buzzer looks like?
Aloha,
Irby

[Michael G.]

Re: "Buzzer" Tach

That's correct, Irby, the buzzer harness plugs in there. The buzzer looks a lot like the horn relay and is mounted behind the clock. I'll find a pic of my car without the instrument panel...

[Michael G.]

Re: "Buzzer" Tach

Here's a image of the buzzer tach taken during the restoration of my '63. Unit mounts on the cross brace.

[Michael G.]

Re: "Buzzer" Tach

The buzzer is shown in the pic below, on top of the z bar, partially obscured by the wiring harness

[Loren L.]

Re: "Buzzer" Tach

Thanks to all. Now, is it in the Judging Guide or not, and if so, where?

[Bob R.]

Re: "Buzzer" Tach

I'm sure it isn't judged as it can't be seen when the car is put together and they don't have you bring the car up to enough RPM to make it function during the operations test. It would be checked if you PV your car.

[Loren L.]

Re: "Buzzer" Tach

Bob, at least that's an answer. But what about the guy who bought the JG to assist him buying a car? If it was at least mentioned and pictured where installed, at least he could "feel" for the relay to see if it was there. Isn't it akin to page 140 where the judge is told NOT to judge casting #s and VIN derivatives and in the next paragraph give a "note" to at least some of the castings and to the location of the VIN derivatives? IMO, it should give all of the casting #s for information, because transmission "substitution" gets to be a major $$$ item. We should be trying to tell a buyer that maybe his '58 didn't come with a Muncie. I promise to set the soapbox on fire at the next football rally.

[Michael G.]

Re: "Buzzer" Tach

I'm sure it isn't judged as it can't be seen when the car is put together and they don't have you bring the car up to enough RPM to make it function during the operations test. It would be checked if you PV your car.

Bob, actually, its not checked in PV. Mine doesn't have a harness (apparently, some of them came that way), so it would have made very little noise at red line. I doubt you could hear the buzz above the din in the car, anyway.

Loren, unless you were buying a very early car, there's no way to tell if all three components should actually be on the car.

[Keith B.]

Re: "Buzzer" Tach

Question can you "Set" a RPM in order to make the buzzer go off? or does it go off at red line? It seems it uses the same buzzer as 67-? speed warning dashes

[Joe R.]

Re: "Buzzer" Tach

The RPM limit is not adjustable. It's fixed! Most all 340HP 63's had the mechanism for the buzzer tach but no harness or buzzer. Probably just a supply situation as the high redline was chosen for both the 340hp and the 360hp.

JR

[Keith B.]

Re: "Buzzer" Tach

Thanks I always read about them but never saw one or relizied it was in the car. Was the buzzer tach ever available in service?

[Brian T.]

Re: "Buzzer" Tach

I have seen NOS buzzer tachs before, in the box. I did not check the part number to confirm. Most of the buzzer tachs I have seen, and there have been hundreds, use the dark ruby red redline, and the fluorescent orange as the "yellow line". I have seen that the later units used the redline that we are most familiar with. I am also convinced that most of the cars did not have the harness and buzzer installed. Yes the redline is not adjustable as there is a circuit board that widens to make contact with a small ribbon that is soldered to the speed cup at the 6500 mark.
I would be quite shocked if a judge insisted to an owner that it was to be tested, and also even more shocked if any of us old guys could even hear it over the engine noise!

Brian

[Joe L.]

Re: "Buzzer" Tach

I have seen NOS buzzer tachs before, in the box. I did not check the part number to confirm. Most of the buzzer tachs I have seen, and there have been hundreds, use the dark ruby red redline, and the fluorescent orange as the "yellow line". I have seen that the later units used the redline that we are most familiar with. I am also convinced that most of the cars did not have the harness and buzzer installed. Yes the redline is not adjustable as there is a circuit board that widens to make contact with a small ribbon that is soldered to the speed cup at the 6500 mark.
I would be quite shocked if a judge insisted to an owner that it was to be tested, and also even more shocked if any of us old guys could even hear it over the engine noise!

Brian

Brian------


The part number was GM #6411011. It was discontinued in January, 1964 and replaced by GM #6411749. I do not think the latter had provisions for the buzzer.