Register now to get rid of these ads!

Technical Does anyone use boat gauges in your hotrod?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Barn Hunter, Aug 21, 2025 at 9:37 PM.

  1. Barn Hunter
    Joined: Feb 15, 2012
    Posts: 1,570

    Barn Hunter
    Member

    I just picked this up tonight at an auction and was wondering if anyone uses boat gauges in their hotrod. Looks like it could work unless there's something I'm missing. 20250821_220335.jpg
     
    winduptoy likes this.
  2. 5window
    Joined: Jan 29, 2005
    Posts: 9,906

    5window
    Member

    I'm running Faria gauges which primarily makes marine gauges but I think my set was a short lived auto series. Have yours restored and use them
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2025 at 2:11 PM
    Spooky, Barn Hunter and winduptoy like this.
  3. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 7,977

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    That tach might be OK with a Model "A" engine, but probably would be a big fail on a SBC. The amp gauge also has some shortcomings.
     
  4. Don't forget a depth gauge and a "fish finder"...:D:):D:)
     
    slowmotion, saltflats, hrm2k and 11 others like this.
  5. mohr hp
    Joined: Nov 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,447

    mohr hp
    Member
    from Georgia

    IMG_5626.png I recently bought some SW boat gauges for my off topic 70's hot rod. They are blue on black. Kinda go with my old Sun tach, but if you're not familiar, a boat speedometer is not cable driven, so that one goes on a shelf to look at...
     
  6. s.e.charles
    Joined: Apr 25, 2018
    Posts: 472

    s.e.charles

    an episode of ITG showed some nautical accoutrements
     
    Barn Hunter likes this.
  7. Ziggster
    Joined: Aug 27, 2018
    Posts: 2,373

    Ziggster
    Member

    Picked up this marine tach a few years ago. Issue will be trying to get it to work. A buddy is supposed to build me a circuit board to make it work. The 4K limit will be good enough for my flathead.

    IMG_9137.jpeg
     
  8. winduptoy
    Joined: Feb 19, 2013
    Posts: 3,999

    winduptoy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Gray Marine converted 6-71 GM, two stroke, diesels for marine applications likely why the 4500 RPM max scale
    Cool gauge cluster and has that late 40's early 50's look
    234 hours isn't much
     
    Barn Hunter and Joe Blow like this.
  9. AccurateMike
    Joined: Sep 14, 2020
    Posts: 768

    AccurateMike
    Member

    I have a mechanical "backwards" swing marine tach. It is driven off of the front of the cam. You need the matching timing cover (with a hole in it for the drive to pass through and an adapter that replaces the thrust button) to go with it. The cam in the application is chain driven. Gear (with no idlers) would go around the opposite way. I'm curious how your tach was driven in it's original application. Mine also uses a 90 degree adapter that screws into the timing cover (I don't know if it changes rotation). You'll probably need to know when you make your drive system.
    0rev1__3000001__.jpg
    Nice piece, when you get it figured out. Mike

    Edit: Gray also converted flatheads (Continentals and Mopars, I think). I have some old boat plans showing the Gray 4/45, it looks like it is a little Continental.
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2025 at 7:03 AM
    Spooky, Barn Hunter and Joe Blow like this.
  10. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 22,361

    alchemy
    Member

    After you make your boat gauges work, you can try airplane gauges next. Figure out a way to hook a pitot tube speedo into your car.
     
    saltflats, winduptoy and Just Gary like this.
  11. 210superair
    Joined: Jun 23, 2020
    Posts: 1,978

    210superair
    Member
    from Michigan

    Grey also made str8 6s pretty much identical to the Chris Craft Hercules engines. Can be found in many early Centuries...
    upload_2025-8-22_12-18-21.jpeg
     
  12. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 33,706

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    be great in a big "boat", like a Lincoln or Cadillac
     
    winduptoy, Joe Blow and Barn Hunter like this.
  13. Barn Hunter
    Joined: Feb 15, 2012
    Posts: 1,570

    Barn Hunter
    Member

    The front is 6 inches in diameter. Here's some info on the back 20250822_171112.jpg
     
    winduptoy likes this.
  14. 05snopro440
    Joined: Mar 15, 2011
    Posts: 2,902

    05snopro440
    Member

    The reverse swing tach is interesting. Could it be for a reverse rotation engine since it's a marine application?
     
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2025 at 5:32 PM
    Barn Hunter and winduptoy like this.
  15. I used an abandoned Chris Craft boat dash insert in my Model A pickup, later I learned that the insert was a Stewart Warner piece, someone had already removed the gauges.

    This part has been used in many hot rods over the years, it's known as an Ensign panel. HRP

    [​IMG]
     
    Barn Hunter, winduptoy and Just Gary like this.
  16. winduptoy
    Joined: Feb 19, 2013
    Posts: 3,999

    winduptoy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    oh....I'm only going 22 mph....must be that 40 mph tailwind....I digress...
     
  17. Barn Hunter
    Joined: Feb 15, 2012
    Posts: 1,570

    Barn Hunter
    Member

    It is GMC so you might be on to something.
     
  18. Barn Hunter
    Joined: Feb 15, 2012
    Posts: 1,570

    Barn Hunter
    Member

    Finally got this picture to load. The back of the temp reads SENDER on the left pole and IGN on the right 20250822_171125.jpg
     
  19. 05snopro440
    Joined: Mar 15, 2011
    Posts: 2,902

    05snopro440
    Member

    At the turn of this century when a family friend built a Bonneville streamliner he installed a air speed gauge with the tube right on the nose. At 300 mph measuring by the wheels would include wheel spin, air speed doesn't.
     
    alchemy likes this.
  20. saltflats
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 13,301

    saltflats
    Member
    from Missouri

    Did Gray Marine used a Y block Ford also?
    R (2).jpg
     
    jimmy six likes this.
  21. patsurf
    Joined: Jan 18, 2018
    Posts: 2,265

    patsurf

    boy THOSE manifolds(all of 'em) must be RARE!
     
  22. jimmy six
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 16,783

    jimmy six
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Intakes are pretty readily available with very little looking….exhaust not so much as the rusted out..
     
    saltflats likes this.
  23. I have a neighbor with that Y-Block setup, it has a finned timing chain cover with the word "Interceptor" cast into it. The water inlets are individual on each side and the carbs are a Carter side drafts much like what was on the 1953 6 cylinder Corvettes. The whole setup was in a wooden boat made sometime around 55-56 but I don't know the brand. He has been saving it for decades but doesn't have a Y-Block right now, and he says it won't fit his flathead or his 413!
     
  24. saltflats
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 13,301

    saltflats
    Member
    from Missouri

    I had the induction setup during my swap meet days. The YH carburetors always intrigued me.
     
  25. That would be the only way I could get to 100 knots in my car- just by facing it into a cyclone!
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.