56 Tach

[Dick G.]

Hi all. I have a buddy who is the second owner of a 56. He has owned the vehicle since the early 70's and it is a vehicle that has had no restoration, and the appearance that only maintance work has been done over the years. The car runs well and is driven often. Now the question. The vehicle is equiped with an alternator, the wiring has the appearance of EOM wrapping and it has the correct wire ends for an alternator. Since the generator is not on the car, the dash tach is not funcitional, however there is a vintage electric chrome tach attached to the steering colum. Who ever installed this tach took their time as the wires are inside the steering colum and the tach is situated so that it would appear that the colum was removed from the dash, the holes drilled, tach installed, then colum reinstalled. There is some indication from the 1st owner (who isnt with us anymore) that this was a factory install. Any thoughts out there.

[Bryan H.]

Re: 56 Tach

yes they knew what they were doing. it sounds like it was made to appear like a 57 fuelie with the tach on the steering column.

[Dick G.]

Re: 56 Tach

Bryan, its a 2x4 car if that has any bearing on things. I'm not familiar with the 57 FI setup, did they run a separate tach to the in dash one?

[Steven B.]

Re: 56 Tach

Dick and Bryan, the "Air Box" cars, RPO 579D, had AC 8000 RPM column mounted tachs that ran off the distributor. Hole in the instrument panel where the factory tach was mounted was covered by a front/rear emblem. Can you get a picture of the tach and column. Does the tach look like a '56 SR car's install? SR picture below;

Many cars of the day had a Sun tach installed on the steering column with a black transmitter box usually installed in the engine compartment. Mine did.

Steve

[Steven B.]

Re: 56 Tach

Pic of one of the 43 579D cars:



Also, by any chance does the tach have a red face??

[Steven B.]

Re: 56 Tach

Sun tach:


Some of the Suns, earlier ones, had a red oval on the face.later ones were Super Suns and Super Pros. They are being repro'd now and are electronic, without the ED transmitters.

[Tom P.]

Re: 56 Tach

There IS an alternator that has a takeoff for a tachometer. It was used on a tractor. One of the Okla NCRS chapter members (in Tulsa) has a 57 with the tractor alternator, and I have a picture of that alternator. Although, it isn't he best picture, it does clearly show the tach cable fitting on the rear of the alternator. If I can find the picture, I'll post it.

Found it!

[Bruce B.]

Re: 56 Tach

You guys in Texas and Oklahoma sure come up with some wild stuff on Corvettes...
Bruce B

[Dick G.]

Re: 56 Tach

Tom, do you recall if there was any mention what kind of tractor the alternator was off?

[Dick G.]

Re: 56 Tach

Steve, thanks for the photos, they are great, and eliminate the tach being a 56 SR. It is more along the lines of your photo of the Sun tach, only with a clear face (plastic), but it is certainly looks early 60's

[Dick W.]

Re: 56 Tach

Tom, do you recall if there was any mention what kind of tractor the alternator was off?

Dick the alternator looks to be either a Bosch or Lucas, which could be on a great number of tractors. I would look at the older Case/IH utility tractors which were build in England, the Deutz, and a few more that were built in Europe.

[Steven B.]

Re: 56 Tach

Steve, thanks for the photos, they are great, and eliminate the tach being a 56 SR. I was hoping for that 4th SR! It is more along the lines of your photo of the Sun tach, only with a clear face (plastic), but it is certainly looks early 60's

Dick, Sun, Stewart Warner (SW), Dixco and others sold tachs with full clear faces. Are there any markings on the tach anywhere? Tracing the wires where do they go in the engine compartment, assuming they go there down the column. Do they go to a transmitter box? To the coil?

Steve