Are Packard Tachs rare?

I was having this discussion over in the traditional hot rod forum. I've always thought these tachs were as rare as hen's teeth. Until today I had seen 3 in the last 25 years, and today a guy showed me one he put in his car that came out of a boat. They fit in the glove box where the clock would go on the 39/40 packard.

Do you know where the drive adapter was located when installed in a Packard. I assume it is a mechanical tach, but where did the cable connect to engine?

Most cable driven tachs I have seen are driven from a gear on the distributor shaft.

The 1939 Tach was driven off the back end of the generator, and the primary purpose was to illustrate the new for 1939 overdrive setup to Packard customers.

I would sure like to hear a '40 Packard engine spinning over at 5000 RPM. Maybe I'll ask my step-dad to hold the pedal to the metal on his '40.

Gene Tereshawty has one in Youngstown, but not installed in a car. I remember seeing your dad's Darrin with it.

As stated before they drive off the back of the generator. The picture I posted is one we have sitting on a shelf and was purchased a bunch of years ago at the flea market outside the Kruse Auburn sale. I brought it up only because the one in my dad's car is the only one I've actually seen in a dash. I've seen a couple of others sitting on shelfs (like the picture above).

A.J.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: flackmaster</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The 1939 Tach was driven off the back end of the generator, </div></div>

So, the Generator was Modified ? A different version generator? I don't see how an adapter could be attached to back end of the generator without internal modifications?

Al

Could you take a picture of the way it's attached to the generator?

Thanks.

Since the generator turns at a faster RPM than engine, there would probably also need to be some Gearing reduction, in the adapter or in the Gauge (preferably in the adapter)? So if you install the Tach, you would definitely Have to install the modified generator with it's adapter, also?

There is a reducer in the gear drive. It attaches to the back of the generator. I'll have to take a picture.

Tach drive and dash.

Thanks for the pictures.

The generator appears to have a longer armature shaft that protrudes about 2", thru rear cover, And the worm-geared adapter is attached to the shaft and held on by a threaded portion of the end-cover? Is that correct?

If so, the generator would definitely have to be replaced also.

My understanding is that the generator is stock, but the rear cover is special to the tach drive. The gear box has a adapter to the armature and also handles translating the generator RPMs to engine rpms. Perhaps this piece is harder to find then the actual tach??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: alsancle</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Perhaps this piece is harder to find then the actual tach?? </div></div>

Yes, It would be fairly easy to find a tach that would fit the hole in dash, even tho it may not be the same as the original, but finding the remainder of the hardware needed would be next to Impossible.

Early Corvette tach and perhaps as late as 1962 ran off of the back of the generator. SW Speedo adapters also exist as late as 1973 that i know of. I have one that was new ca. 1973. If i remeber rite it has a set of gears that come with it so the rpm correction can be adjusted by swapping out the gears. I's have to dig it out and find it to know for sure. I haven't used it it in years. I also have the chart for gear determination. The speedo adapter is a small unit that screws in between the end of the cable and trans. Takes about as long to install it as i does to R&R the trans end of the cable. It's about the size of 2wo Zippo lighters.

But why run a mechanical tach anyway unless u have to have originality????? It is my understanding that the 12v can be used on the 6v unless '+' earth is an issue.. I had one hooked up on my 48 Chief with '-' earth.

OR use one of those inductance tachs like used on go carts.

Yes, a Modern version would be much easier to find and install. We were just trying to determine what Packard used in the '30s and how difficult the originals are to find.

I'm still wondering how they keyed the generator armature shaft and the adapter shaft together, without having a modified armature installed? (the end of gen shaft is normally smooth with no notch or socket) And if the armature is different then the complete generator is actually a different version?

I lightened and zoomed the picture so we could see the adapter attachment a little better:

The Auto-Lite generator for the 39 jr car with tachometer drive is a model GCJ-4810A-2. For the sr cars it's a GCO-4806A or a GCO-4808A.

I don't think the tach can be added to the std generator.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JT</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't think the tach can be added to the std generator. </div></div>

Thanks for the Info, That seems logical to me also.

Alsancle, I can see from your picture the generator tag is still in place.

Could you get the part number and let us know? That would be good info.

Just found some info in the 39 Packard manual. The only difference in the std gen and the one for the tach is the armature shaft, "the end of which is provided with a coupling for driving the tachometer". The armature with tach drive is Auto-Lite pn GCJ-2092 for the jr cars. For the senior 2 brush generator it's a GCO-2740F.

Thanks JT,

Great Info.

Next time I go over to my dad's I'll grab a shot of the tag.

As a teenager in the '60s, I saw one in Seattle in a 1940 120 touring sedan. I have photos of the car somewhere but I didn't take any of the tach. While back there was a Packard on eBay that had it. These are the only two I've ever seen in over 40 years of owning Packards!

A friend was at the National Packard meet in Ohio this weekend and they toured Gene Tareshawty's Museum.

.

This thread brings back memories of my Packard powered 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk. The tach had brushes in the distributor that worked as a pick up. I remember it was a bit techie to get my 16 year old fingers to hold them in place so it would still work after checking points. I never did see that tach work at the same time the speedo sat on 135.

The car was about 9 years old at the time. I found a Caribbean convertible (we pronounced Caribbean differently back then) that had all the windows broken. At the time I couldn't find a replacement windshield; no email, no computer. So the manifold came off for the Stude and the other parts sold off. About 25 years later I sold the manifold.

It is a neat memory to think of owning a '40's or '50's car with a tach. Most were in trucks with the shift points labeled.

Bernie

My friend who's restoring a 1940 160 coupe NEEDS a tach. If anyone knows of one for sale, e-mail me PackardV8@comcast.net

jack vines

Hopefully your friend can find one but they seem to be made of unobtainium.

I doubt he "needs" a tach. He "wants" a tach. I believe Tereshawty's sign... the tach was offered to dealers to show the affect. They were probably not meant for cars going to end users.

This was on the 32 12 Conv coupe the Packard Museum just bought and was displaying at Hershey. It matched the other gauges and the drive did not appear after market.

Pictures.

I would be interested in purchasing a generator drive for the 39 Tach

Tom, the generator drives seem even more rare than the tachs! Did you find one?

I have the tach, the rear view mirror with clock. Just need this darn drive unit.

Attended the Packard meet in Reading, PA yesterday and saw this totally original 1934 Packard Super Eight sporting an original tachometer.  The tach was in the place the clock originally was, and the clock moved to the drivers side glove box.  

Jason,  that is cool.  Although maybe they should have left the clock alone and put the tach next to the driver?

You didn't happen to see the hood open did you?

No, I didn't get a picture of the tach drive.