Integrated Shift Light Help/Idea

[carfreak6970]

Hello Folks,

Currently I am in the process of restoring a 67 Dart with a four speed. Last year I found the console tac - which I am pretty stoked about. As the name implies, this tac is mounted on the console outside of the drivers normal field of driving view. Now what I was thinking of doing would be to add an LED into the tac face that could either light up or flash when the engine hits it's red line.

Now I know there are three wires going into the back of the tac. One is for the light that goes on with the gauge lights, one is for power (or maybe its ground? I dont know, have to look again), and the last one is the signal wire that goes to the coil. Sadly I am not that well versed with electronics, but I am guessing the signal wire varies the incoming (or outgoing) voltage to the tac which allows the needle to rise and lower with engine revolutions. So the LED could easily be tied into that circuit. My issue is how to have the light come on (or start flashing) and stay on (flashing) at a certain RPM (voltage). It should be fairly simple to wire up and get to work as long as you can adjust what voltage the light comes on and stays on at. That way I can fine tune and anyone else could incorporate into any other vehicle with a similar set up. Basically it keeps the stock look but allows the driver to keep the eyes ahead instead of on the tac down below.

Anyone have ideas how to accomplish this?

 

[TrailBeast]

Something has to trigger that signal for the LED to come on.
You might incorporate a regular shift light indicator to do it, but it can be done.
You could use the shift light adjustable sensor to trigger the light, but instead of using the stand alone shift light you could use it to light an LED installed in the tach face.

Like this:
Amazon.com: GlowShift Black Adjustable Shift Light w/ Red Light: Automotive

 

[moparmat2000]

I am going to buy a proform adjustable shift light, and mount it under the dash where you cannot see the rheostat unless you look under the dash so its out of sight but easily adjusted. I am going to open it up, remove its bulb, Then run wires out of it to a bulb and socket, and fit the bulb inside the light tube used for the park brake light, or maybe one of the turn signal lights. This way the indicator still lights up normally, and when driving the same dash indicator lights up from a different bulb for the shift light. Stealthy.

 

[TrailBeast]

I am going to buy a proform adjustable shift light, and mount it under the dash where you cannot see the rheostat unless you look under the dash so its out of sight but easily adjusted. I am going to open it up, remove its bulb, Then run wires out of it to a bulb and socket, and fit the bulb inside the light tube used for the park brake light, or maybe one of the turn signal lights. This way the indicator still lights up normally, and when driving the same dash indicator lights up from a different bulb for the shift light. Stealthy.

Yep, pretty much the same thing carfreak wants to do except he wants to light an LED in the tach face.

 

[67Dart273]

led shift light module - Google Search

 

[moparmat2000]

I have the factory vacuum gage and think its pretty cool, so i figure a hidden shift light would be nice and stealthy, plus the repop tachs from what i understand arent very accurate.

 

[pishta]

run the shift light into the horn relay...."Honk-BANG"....Honk-BANG!" That would be funny.

 

[AJ/FormS]

Well,you could;
fix your shifter,
and street slick-shift second and third,
put some 7200 rpm springs on the valves and
just shift whenever you darn well feel like it. That's what I do....
Alternatively, you can translate the rpms to an MPH and shift by Speedometer. I mean 98% of the time you are only gonna run 1st up to the redline,cuz second at redline is speeding,right?

 

[carfreak6970]

Thank you all for the responses,

I didnt think of getting an actual shift light and modifying the light to actually fit in the gauge. Good idea!!

Though fitting the shift light to the horn would be pretty funny, that would probably attract more attention at a time I am already gathering attention haha.

Yes I could translate RPM to MPH and use the speedo, but what is the fun in that?

 

[AJ/FormS]

I'm thinking more of the danger of taking your eyes off the road.

 

[carfreak6970]

I'm thinking more of the danger of taking your eyes off the road.

Very true, which is why I thought about the shift light to begin with. I figured that a light flashing out of the corner of your eye would be enough to tell the driver its time to shift without having the need to look down at the console tac. Obviously the placement would need to be tested to see if it indeed provides the desired effect.

 

[carfreak6970]

OR!!!

The high beam indicator light!! With the dart dash it is right above the "60" mph mark and would still be in the field of view while driving. That would probably require something in the wiring so the voltage produced by the high beams being on doesnt back feed into the sensor for the shift light and vice versa.

 

[AJ/FormS]

When I'm getting it on;I make a point of not outshifting first gear until the tires stop spinning. For me, lol, that is 68 mph or more. So I have no use for a lite or a tach,lol. Certainly not one down on the console.
However, in 2004, I had had enough of the "how fast is it?" questions, and wanted to track it. So I bought an 8000prm Autometer with an adjustable shift light, built in. I fabricated an aluminum bracket to wrap around the dash pad, and mounted it front and center. I knew my little 223/230/110 cam was not gonna make low-ET shifting it at 7200 where I usually shifted it. I figured 5800 was probably gonna be the magic number.
So off to the track we went. First run out, it went 12.9@106. I called it done. I tossed my son the keys, thinking he'd be so excited to give it a try. He was 20 and had been driving it on and off for 4 years already. He respectfully declined. So we got us some track-food(yuk), and headed for the bleachers, where we watched all the other gear-slammers for a while, and then headed home.
I slid the tach over under the mirror, where it has remained almost ever since.
I never look at that thing.Got no time for one. Don't care for another.I hit the GVOD at 45/50, and hang on,lol. 65 is gonna be right there,Pow!