1963 Rotunda Tachometer

[Alan H. Tast]

https://www.fabulousfords.com/detail/42 ... hrome.html


https://www.fabulousfords.com/detail/42 ... acket.html

Good Catch! I wasn't aware that there was a reproduction of the cup available for the 4-inch Faria/Rotunda tach, which helps me a lot for the ones I have, but at $150/each that's going to add up. And, trust me, after over 40 years of going to swap meets, finding an original cup is like looking for the Holy Grail, so ponying up for a repop cup, versus finding a used one and replating it, may be where my beer money goes for the next few months.

[62roadster]

A perfect example of the tach being wired incorrectly, I bought this at a swap meet many years ago, seller said they didn't know if it worked, I bought it, and it didn't! The wires were cut which should have been a red flag, but it was/is a very nice, unmolested tach, with the exception of the wires.

I guess it could have just "gave up the ghost" even if wired correctly; I like to open it and repair whatever failed, I'm sure it can be done, if anyone has experience with removing the SS bezel, I would appreciate any help with that; I know it can be sent out, but I like to try to do things myself,,,

Pictures to follow, keep getting the "file too large" error right now

[62roadster]

A perfect example of the tach being wired incorrectly, I bought this at a swap meet many years ago, seller said they didn't know if it worked, I bought it, and it didn't! The wires were cut which should have been a red flag, but it was/is a very nice, unmolested tach, with the exception of the wires.

I guess it could have just "gave up the ghost" even if wired correctly; I like to open it and repair whatever failed, I'm sure it can be done, if anyone has experience with removing the SS bezel, I would appreciate any help with that; I know it can be sent out, but I like to try to do things myself,,,

Pictures to follow, keep getting the "file too large" error right now

[Alan H. Tast]

In case you wanted to mount a tach on top of the dash, Article 27 from Ford's Shop Tips, Vol. 1- No 2, November 1963, gives information on correcting a problem with loose tach mounting in '63 Falcon Sprints using the 3"-face, C3RZ 17A326-A (6-cylinder) and C3RZ 17A326-B (8-cylinder) with and without dash pads. The dash pad info might be of use, but the Falcon Sprint mounting base is different from what was provided in the C2RZ- Faria tachometer.

Article 27 (from Ford Shop Tips - Nov 1963, p. 14)

To add to comments about wiring the tachometer, the same issue had this correction/clarification (Article 27) for instructions on how to hook up the same 3"-face Falcon Sprint tachometer; Article 28 dealt with connection modifications for using the Rotunda/Faria tachs with transistorized ignition systems by adding a shunt wire is next to it.

Articles 28 & 29 (from Ford Shop Tips - Nov 1963, p. 14)

Here's a picture of the instructions on the side of the Faria tachometer showing how to wire it to the ignition switch and coil.

Faria/Rotunda hook-up instructions

Faria Tach Hook-Up Instructions.jpg (25.04 KiB) Viewed 273 times

Jim Wulf had a set of factory instructions for connecting the Rotunda tach to the wiring system on his website in the mid-2010s, which has been taken down. Jim has been kind enough to post those instructions further down in this thread to help document how to correctly wire the tach to the car.

The 1964 Ford Car Parts & Accessories Catalog had this photo of the C2RZ 17A326-B 8-grand/4"-face tachometer mounted on the steering column of a Falcon - it appears to have the mounting post on the side of the case like I have in my '63.

Rotunda 8-grand/4"-face tach w/ mounting base on side of cup (from 1964 Ford Car Accessories Brochure)

64 accy broch tach rotunda.pdf.jpg (25.41 KiB) Viewed 278 times

And, just for kicks and grins, here's what was listed in 1965 Ford accessories catalogs for tachometers.

1965 Ford Car Parts & Accessories Catalog

1965 Tachometers (from 1965 Ford Car Accessories Catalog)

1965 High Performance Catalog

1965 Tachometers (from 1965 Ford High-Performance Catalog, p. 40)

The mounting cup and bracket for the 4"-face tachometers C2RZ 17A326-B (8-cylinder 8-grand RPM) and C2RZ 17A326-C (6-cylinder 5-grand RPM) have part number C2RZ 17368-B

C2RZ 17A326-B Cup (from Fabulous Fords Auto Parts website)

C2RZ 17A326-B Bracket (from Fabulous Fords Auto Parts website)

[62roadster]

So when wired into the pink ignition line, which is a resistance wire, the tach gets somewhat (or significantly) less than 12V, is that correct? If so, this could be the reason so many of these tachs are found to be not working/burned out, due to wiring them to a full 12v by someone who doesn't follow the instructions and or those who use a Rotunda/Faria tach on other vehicles?

Isn't it also true that when a pointless ignition and hi-voltage coil is added, that pink resistance wire is bypassed and replaced with a full 12V source, maybe someone who has converted their ignition can comment; my '62 is all stock?

[mammentorp]

This isn't a Rotunda; it's an aftermarket item. But I like it because the number font looks pretty "Fordy".

https://tomsoffroad.com/parts/66-77-for ... LuEALw_wcB

And here's how I decided to mount it.

[Jim Wulf]

This used to be posted for all to see on my old website. R.I.P. TBirdgarage :

[Alan H. Tast]

This isn't a Rotunda; it's an aftermarket item. But I like it because the number font looks pretty "Fordy".

https://tomsoffroad.com/parts/66-77-for ... LuEALw_wcB

And here's how I decided to mount it.

IMG_2926.jpg

Very nice - looks better than the Rotudna/Faria 4" version. From the URL for the photo it says it's for a '67-'77 Ford Bronco (I assume '67-'76?). It actually looks close to the '67-'71-style T-bird dash gauges if I'm not mistaken, which would be 'in the family' as they say.

[Jim Wulf]

This is the mounting location I used for Don Marsh's 6K Rotunda tach - a great location for a non AC car. It was easy to cut the holes for the gauges with the correctly sized hole saws using a drill press.

[ICON 1956]

As usual Jim, you have done a fantastic job on mounting the tach, Your experience for perfection has given you the utmost respect when it comes to putting these classic cars back to original. I Am honored to have read your posts and your web site putting back the Red 63 Rangoon Thunderbird.....