Ghia wall clock/tach

[John Alves]

I had this old gauge housing laying about in the garage so decided to turn it into a clock with a air-cooled feel.
Did some graphics on pc had it printed on a vinyl sticker and this is how its turned out. I now have a cool clock in my workshop.
If any of you guys want the graphics,I can email in PDF or JPG, you can then size it as required and print it etc.

[fourier]

Hey John, good job!

Where did you have the sticker made? I want to make a replica of the Lowlight Ghia tach, so will need to make a face for it...

Unless someone on here has an original tach for sale?

[John Alves]

Hi Fourier, I did the graphics myself and then had it printed on vinyl, do you have a close up pic of the tach
I might be able to help you with the graphics.

[fourier]

Thanks John, but don't want to give you work!

Here is another pic of the face I'd like to replicate.



I will be using the internals from one of my old SP tachs, which has a range of 0-6000rpm. This range will also be better suited to the engine I'll be running in the car. The face will therefore need to be slightly different from the one in the pic.

The green range should be between 30 and 45 (x100)rpm, and the red, between 45 and 60rpm. I'd need to check the SP tach to see at which angles the zero and the 6000 markings are.

[John Alves]

send me a pic of the tach and ill see what I can do

[fourier]

Thanks John, PM sent.

[73type2]

Hi John, do you know where one could buy those sheets you can use in your printer at home to make vinyl decals, locally in South Africa?

[John Alves]

Hi 73

I did not print it at home, I had it professionally printed on vinyl (plastic) stickers so can't help you

[Haans]

Gents,...I am in the process to marry the SP tack into a housing with a 356 face,...... struggling but will take pic tomorrow.

Bit of a bastard to get this lot to fit into the hole.

How does your body fit into the hole Fourier ?

Regards Haans

[fourier]

Apologies John, I hope all this talk of tach modification, has not hijacked your thread.

@Haans, I have not performed the SP/Ghia-gauge marriage yet...

Replicating the dial face, is my first goal, before I attempt to modify the Ghia clock.

I'll be interested to see how you solve the problem.

[retrovan]

Taking the old needle out of an of gauge is always tricky, as it is brittle.

Overcame this in the past by making a slot through the needle hole about from screw to screw (approx 20mm)

This allows you to slip the sticker over the needle and when pressed down, you do not notice the slits.

Just remember to spray the back of the sticker with soapy water before fitting it else it will stick everywhere before you have it over the needle.

Once placed, and you happy with location, you rub the water out with a plastic blade to the sides, and leave it to dry for a few days before handling it.

Hope this helps, please post photo of completed job.

Herman

[John Alves]

This is the result so far of Fourier's Ghia Tach, could not find the correct fond, but found something close

[fourier]

Brilliant job John! Thank you so much for the assistance.

Thanks for the advice on placing the sticker Herman. I will certainly try it when the time comes to install the sticker.

Breaking a needle is worrying me quite a bit, as removal is unavoidable in my case. I need to remove the clock movement, and replace it with the SP tach movement. The long clock needle needs to be transferred to the tach.

Does anyone know how to safely remove the needles from the clock? So far, my efforts have fallen short, through fear of disaster.

[Tony Z]

Alan might be able to help, he did some mods to his gauges on his Porsche

[Haans]

Extremely gently !........if it'syour lucky day!

Broke shaft clean off,.....done into the bin!,....very painful !

If anybody has a plan for this ,......please do tell !

Haans