Can a 4,6,8 cylinder Tachometer be set for a 3 cylinder?

[DOCTORBILL]

I am cheap....

So I am thinking of ordering a small, $34, sweep tachometer from JC Whitney

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...002124/c-10101

And of course, it is a STANDARD 4,6,8 cylinder Tachometer.

Without being an electronics expert, is it possible to easily modify such a
Tachometer to run with a 3 cylinder Geo Metro?

Please do not tell me to set it for 6 cylinders and read it by dividing or multiplying by two!

And I'd rather not put in a new dial if I could accomplish the electronics reworking.

I need a Tachometer like I need another leg....but it would be fun!

I also am thinking of a Vacuum gauge...

I just don't want some vast array of add-on gauges stuck all over the dash.

DoctorBill

PS - one of the two reviewers of this Tach speaks of "Tach Adapters".
I never heard of such things....anybody know of these?
Do they "adapt" to 3 cylinders? Simple electronics?

[DOCTORBILL]

Let me reconsider........

If it is not hideously difficult, it would be nice to change this little Tachometer
from 0 - 8,000 rpm to maybe 0 - 5,000 rpm because I NEVER wind an engine
up that far!

I would like the normal DoctorBill rpm range on the Tachometer to show
what I would most normally drive at.....

Why waste 25% of the sweep movement range!?

So, maybe, if I set the Tach for 4 or 8 cylinders and made a new dial such that
the sweep was now 0 - 5,000 rpm - THAT would be nice!

If I set it for 6 cylinders, would it read 1.5k or 6k at 3k actual engine rpms on
a 3 cyl Geo?

Most confusing.....

DoctorBill

PS - what is the "red line" on a '93 Geo Metro ?

[frets14]

Doc... First- congratulations on getting your car back up and running! I've been following your threads from the beginning. Now, as to your question about the red line on the Metro. I have a 91 convertible with a 3 cylinder automatic in it that I picked up for $150 here in Ohio. It has a factory tach in it so I went out and checked. It red lines at 6500 rpm.

[Irk]

Here is one that will work with a 3 cylinder engine right out of the box for $39

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/UNIVE...52279155QQrdZ1

[frets14]

Don't mind me... I'm just trying to figure out how to post a photo. If it comes out, this is my $150 Metro convertible. It runs great, but what a paint job! I am welding in some new panels to replace the rusted rocker panels before repainting it next spring.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f7...4/CIMG0001.jpg

[Crvett69]

if you go to team swift you can post a wanted add for free, someone should have a metro one sitting around they can sell you for cheap. you just take your instrument cluster out and pop in the one with the tach. takes about 20 minutes. the wiring is aready there so don;t have to run anything extra

[DOCTORBILL]

Hey Frets! - $150 ! Can't beat that!
If the engine and drive train and body are useable!
How many miles?
mpg?
Year?
Some info.....?

Have you done a Compression Test?

If you are in Ohio and don't have an enclosed garage, you'd have to wait till
spring to do what I did - assuming you'd want to.

Cute vehicle!

I wouldn't mind finding another one for my Daughter when she turns 18....

I mentioned that and heard a groan.... Not cute enough Not a girlie car...!

DoctorBill

Crvett69 - are you saying that my '93 would already have wiring for
a Tachometer! All my present gauges would work on such a Dashboard?
Does the 4 cylinder Tach in a Metro have a switch to accomodate a 3 cyl engine?
Just posted my Ad - right under yours for the same thing!
How much should I pay for it....(?)....in your opinion....

[frets14]

DoctorBill,
Remember... you asked for it! The stars and stripes Metro is a 91, 3 cylinder, automatic with around 120,000 miles on it. I had seen it several times over the years at this country farm house and when I saw it parked in the weeds beside the barn, I stopped and asked the owner about it. We settled on the price and I brought it home. It ran when I got it but needed the brakes repaired. That was a simple job. I haven't driven it enough to know about how economical it is. I would expect 33 to 38 mpg with an automatic. Since it is running so well, I haven't bothered to check the compression either. I had an old refrigerator go bad so, since there are no replacement rocker panels available, I have cut out sections from the side of the refrigerator, fabricated replacement panels and welded them in place. I'm sure it won't look 100% professional, but it will be presentable. One of my friends told me I'll have to put the Whirlpool insigna on the car now. So much for that! Now, I want to know how to post a picture on the forum. As you can see, I have a picture posted on Photobucket and was able to put the URL on my post, but how do you insert the actual picture in the post? I haven't figured that out yet. BTW, sorry to ramble off your topic like this.

[way]

When you reply, at the top of the box there are different icons. Click on this one: Then insert your URL and click "OK". Should work.

Hope this helps

[frets14]

I think I got it now! Way, I couldn't find the icon you mentioned, but DrBill told me a different way. I have to choose the Image function on photobucket.com. So, OK, I'm gonna give it a whirl...


Looks like I'm going to have to work on editing the picture size next. I'll get it figured out eventually!

[way]

Hi Frets,

Hey whatever you can get to work for you is the best. But I'm glad you got the picture posted.

[99Metro]

I just got a used cluster off ebay for my 3-banger and it looks factory. No wiring or anything, just plug and play. Plus I got a trip meter. I had to set the odometer to match my old one, but that was it. My original didn't have a tach. A lot nicer and worth it for me.