SAAC Forum

The Cars => 1965 GT350/R-Model => Topic started by: jerry merrill on January 07, 2021, 11:23:03 PM

Title: R model guages
Post by: jerry merrill on January 07, 2021, 11:23:03 PM
Does anyone know why the R models and I guess the 66 trans Am coupes had white needles on the tach and other instrument's instead of orange colored like the street cars? It seems that the orange ones would be easier to scan during a race.
Title: Re: R model guages
Post by: Bob Gaines on January 07, 2021, 11:48:46 PM
Quote from: jerry merrill on January 07, 2021, 11:23:03 PM
Does anyone know why the R models and I guess the 66 trans Am coupes had white needles on the tach and other instrument's instead of orange colored like the street cars? It seems that the orange ones would be easier to scan during a race.
One reason is because that is how the SW gauges came from SW .
Title: Re: R model guages
Post by: jerry merrill on January 08, 2021, 12:02:55 AM
Did the later R models and next years T/A cars use the white or orange needles, if they used white and street cars used orange it just seems strange unless they did not make the other gauges in orange except the oil pressure and they wanted all to match, just always wondered about that.
Title: Re: R model guages
Post by: Bob Gaines on January 08, 2021, 12:09:24 AM
Quote from: jerry merrill on January 08, 2021, 12:02:55 AM
Did the later R models and next years T/A cars use the white or orange needles, if they used white and street cars used orange it just seems strange unless they did not make the other gauges in orange except the oil pressure and they wanted all to match, just always wondered about that.
The SW gauges typically used in the Competition cars (R models)were a standard in the industry. They were used in many different models of competition cars and not just Ford. The street GT350 on the other hand did not use SW gauges. You are comparing apples and oranges.
Title: Re: R model guages
Post by: jerry merrill on January 08, 2021, 12:18:00 AM
I guess that makes sense, thanks for the info.
Title: Re: R model guages
Post by: paul on January 08, 2021, 11:30:59 AM
I'm still confused. Why is the tachometer needle color different on the R model from the street GT 350?
Title: Re: R model guages
Post by: jerry merrill on January 08, 2021, 12:16:33 PM
The tach was made for competition use (more reliable?) and was made by a different company
Title: Re: R model guages
Post by: 98SVT - was 06GT on January 08, 2021, 12:32:32 PM
Faria did the street car tachs if I remember. They were done to match the orange needles in the stock Mustang gauges.
R Models probably used off the shelf Stewart Warner tachs that came with white needles.
Somewhere there is a parts list of items added to the R Model that would have the make/model of the tach used.
Title: Re: R model guages
Post by: paul on January 08, 2021, 02:52:48 PM
Fellas, I'm sorry but I'm still confused. So just to clarify the discussion for my feeble mind:

1) Jerry, your last posting ends without a period or question mark. Are you asking if the R model Tach was made by a different company or are you stating that it was in fact made by a different company?

2) 98SVT, I was under the impression the tachometer in the R model was the same as the street car(Faria) but just the needle color is white. I'll look through what I can find from back in the day to see if the Tach is listed as a Stewart Warner piece.

3) Bob, are you saying the R models used S.W. tachometers?
Title: Re: R model guages
Post by: camp upshur on January 08, 2021, 03:05:54 PM
I seem to recall (?) that the S model tachs were ACs but I could be wrong.
My tach is devoid of any mfg ID.
Is there any Faria ID?
Title: Re: R model guages
Post by: Bob Gaines on January 08, 2021, 03:51:10 PM
Quote from: 98SVT - was 06GT on January 08, 2021, 12:32:32 PM
Faria did the street car tachs if I remember. They were done to match the orange needles in the stock Mustang gauges.
R Models probably used off the shelf Stewart Warner tachs that came with white needles.
Somewhere there is a parts list of items added to the R Model that would have the make/model of the tach used.
The 66 street car tachs were Faria. The 65 street car tachs were typically made by AC spark/Delco. The SW gauges were found to be more durable. I think there were some instances where a street car tach was used instead of the more reliable SW unit. Through attrition they were few and far between.
Title: Re: R model guages
Post by: deathsled on January 10, 2021, 04:31:30 PM
Quote from: Bob Gaines on January 08, 2021, 12:09:24 AM
Quote from: jerry merrill on January 08, 2021, 12:02:55 AM
Did the later R models and next years T/A cars use the white or orange needles, if they used white and street cars used orange it just seems strange unless they did not make the other gauges in orange except the oil pressure and they wanted all to match, just always wondered about that.
The SW gauges typically used in the Competition cars (R models)were a standard in the industry. They were used in many different models of competition cars and not just Ford. The street GT350 on the other hand did not use SW gauges. You are comparing apples and oranges.

Very clever analogy given that apples are white on the inside and oranges are orange on the inside.  Well done.
Title: Re: R model guages
Post by: 6R07mi on January 11, 2021, 01:53:28 PM

Very clever analogy given that apples are white on the inside and oranges are orange on the inside.  Well done.
[/quote]

as our English blokes would say "well played mate !"

jim p