I was wondering, what do you guys prefer for shift lights? What type, and where do you mount them?

I have a 2.x inch tach mounted on the column, and I'd at least like to add a shift light for when I go to the track (w/4 speed) I also have a 3 3/4" tach I've been thinking about using, but it's old and a little nasty looking. ( but shouold be easier to read than the tiny one I have now!)

I don't really want a monster 5" tach, and I would prefer to keep the tach on the steering column, rather than on the dash. I don't know if I'd be better off getting a nicer tach with a built in shift light that's adjustable with a knob, or use the beat up 3 3/4" and get an external shift light and mount it on the dash, or somewhere else.

What do you guys think would work best? Thanks! :)

chris

I have an auto gage 5"er with adjustable shift light costed me 110 bucks ......they look big when u see it but that just cause ur used to your 2 or 3 inch tach... there not as big as they apear......ive got mine mounted on my windsheild post in the very corner of my windsheild

you could use the proform shift light and the tack you already have they are about 50 bucks i believe.i would use a shift light myself they are very easy to see its always a guessing game trying to watch a tack

no shift light, 3" tach is all I have. I've been thinking about a 5" tach, but I'm not a real drag racer compared to the big boys over at DRR :D

I've got a 5" monster mounted in the dash with a shift light mounted on top of the dash. Works for me.

on the same note.
what do you guys set your shift lites at?
exactly where you want to shift?
or a little less to take in consideration of your reacting to the lite?
thanks,
david

Check out the Stewart Warner Ultra Shift lights. I love mine cause its small, works great, and its stealthy. Rpm's are easy to read day or night and there are different brightness levels. Only drawbacks are you have to mount it right side up to read the tach display and they are $$$. There are pics in my sig.

on the same note.
what do you guys set your shift lites at?
exactly where you want to shift?
or a little less to take in consideration of your reacting to the lite?
thanks,
davidI set a bit less, about 200 rpm.

Check out the Stewart Warner Ultra Shift lights. I love mine cause its small, works great, and its stealthy. Rpm's are easy to read day or night and there are different brightness levels. Only drawbacks are you have to mount it right side up to read the tach display and they are $$$. There are pics in my sig.

I have been looking at the SW Ultra shift light tach for the reasons you mentioned , is the shift lite bright enough so you dont need to look directly at it to know it's on ?? want to mount on column for track days only, rely on my knee knocker for evey day driving and shows. ?? Bill

I have used autometer incandescent shift light and it rivals its brightnes with the led's. There are 3 brightness levels and I have it set in the middle and I can see it fine without looking. Its just like other shift lights. It also has peak recall and you can turn off the tach readout if you choose. While not very useful,I also like the fact I can see my RPM's down to the tens place.

Sorry,
this isn't my post, but does anyone make a chrome shift light. I think that would look good. Maybe a black one with a chrome rim...
I have always like old style tachs, and i think it would be neat to have a shift light that matches one..

a 5" tach looks nice if you put it on the column, i can imagine it would be distracting on the dash or a-pillar.

here's mine:

http://hobbystage.net/camaro/camaroracer/1112198035-006133.jpg

And my friend with the wheelstanding red chevelle's:

http://hobbystage.net/camaro/camaroracer/1094493711-004363.jpg

A shift light is an excellent peice of equipment, as you're reacting to a flash, not watching the needle.
When shifting AT WOT, reguardless of speed, your eyes belong focused on the track and your surroundings.

I have an autometer quick light l.e.d. mounted at the top of my a-pillar right at eye level. Works great, easy to see.

David

Bulb, I totally agree with not having a big tach in a stock interior, unless tis a drag car. I'm leaning towards the same Ultra-Shift S&W that has been mentioned. A buddy has it in his 632" NOS fed Chevy P/U and I really like its stealthy look. ( its a 9 second street truck and he didnt want some bigass tach). Just saving my pennies for one. Should I go with the cheap amber $115, or the cool red or blue $140??? Oh decisions, decisions. :)

Whoops, see snooze you lose. I can't find anyone local to order it for me, nor Summit or Jegs, so I was going to link to the Ebay seller that has them. Its $30 more than it was over the winter.....


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7975820738&category=33679&sspagename=WDVW

Anyway sweet unit. And my buddy is a very sophisticated racer ( and a wiz with computer controlled nitrous) and he loves his. A good recommendation.

Gene , I'm gong to order the Amber paintable version thru a friend in the auto parts biz who has access to SW so will see what price ends up at . Bill

Ive done alot of research on the SW stuff and Northern Auto parts has the best prices on all SW stuff. If you paint it your interior color, it would be difficult to notice. Just remember, it has to be mounted right side up to have the tach display right side up. I originally wanted to mount mine on the pillar by the roof, so it was out of site, but the readout would have been upsidown. Just something to consider cause I didnt know about it until I recieved mine.

That SW light looks pretty sweet! Seems like there's more than one location you guys like to mount them.If it's mounted on the column, is it easy enough to see it without taking your eyes off the road? Or is it best to mount it on the dash or a-pillar?

My car isn't a race car, but I really want to be able to drive it as best I can when I do take it to the track. The little tach I have takes too much effort to hit a precise shift point. Never really liked the giant tach's in street cars though. Partly because most of the sweet 5" shift-light tachs have 10,000 rpm scales. I won't spin my SB past 6800.... Plus I'm really used to the sweep from 8:00 to 4:00, and hte big tachs go from like 5:00 to 2:00. Don't know if I could ever get used to the different pointer location! :)

I started looking at lights, and was suprised at how expensive some of them can be. So I thought about ,aybe getting a bigger tach with a light built in. I think I might just use the 3 3/4" I have, and get that SW light. I like the looks of that one....

Hmmmm, now where to mount it..... :)

Get two! Actually thought about some sort of HD vecro quick detachable mount. I truly enjoy Old Red's stock interior. I shift by ear ( I know, y'all laugh) but really wanted to show more accurate launch rpms. That tube's the ticket!

Bill, an added benie, since us Yanks are buying all your oil, beer and broads, the exchange rates are moving in your favor!

That SW light looks pretty sweet! Seems like there's more than one location you guys like to mount them.If it's mounted on the column, is it easy enough to see it without taking your eyes off the road? Or is it best to mount it on the dash or a-pillar?

My car isn't a race car, but I really want to be able to drive it as best I can when I do take it to the track. The little tach I have takes too much effort to hit a precise shift point. Never really liked the giant tach's in street cars though. Partly because most of the sweet 5" shift-light tachs have 10,000 rpm scales. I won't spin my SB past 6800.... Plus I'm really used to the sweep from 8:00 to 4:00, and hte big tachs go from like 5:00 to 2:00. Don't know if I could ever get used to the different pointer location! :)

I started looking at lights, and was suprised at how expensive some of them can be. So I thought about ,aybe getting a bigger tach with a light built in. I think I might just use the 3 3/4" I have, and get that SW light. I like the looks of that one....

Hmmmm, now where to mount it..... :)

easy to see on the column if you place it where your hands will not block it. I reference to the tach on the starting line, and going through the traps i glance after my shift light goes back on (meaning i'm above 6 grand).
Dont reference to it while shifting, you need to be focused on what you're doing, and reacting to a light.

BTW, Autometer Sport Comp #3905 is a 5" tach, 8000rpms max, and a shift light.
the shift lights are all removable so you can place them where you want them, if the tach is on the column, its probably in a spot good enough that you'll definetly notice the shift light.
Shift lights are hard Not to notice, they're really bright!

driver perspective of my setup:

http://hobbystage.net/camaro/camaroracer/1116726826-006483.jpg

tilted forward just slightly.

Get two! Actually thought about some sort of HD vecro quick detachable mount. I truly enjoy Old Red's stock interior. I shift by ear ( I know, y'all laugh) but really wanted to show more accurate launch rpms. That tube's the ticket!

Bill, an added benie, since us Yanks are buying all your oil, beer and broads, the exchange rates are moving in your favor!


Gene ....... SW Canada does not have stock so took the advice on here and went to Northern Auto parts as mentioned by Sleeper in earlier post on this thread and they do have the best price and stock......Amber still 115.00 Paintable version ( which I ordered this AM ) $122.00 , with any luck paint going on car late next week still going to try to make your meet . Yep dollar getting stronger ....... figures I bot all the high dollar stuff for my car 2 years ago !!!! You guys are buying our broads now too!!

Wow what a timely subject for me...my buddies and I are already talking grudge matches at the track..I will not be running my car on a regular basis though. I would love to have a tach for tuning purposes and probably for launching at the track, my main concern is pulling the next gear without over revving the motor.

I will probably be showing my car mostly, and I do not want to mount a tach on the column. I am into stealth as much as possible. Has anyone mounted a bright shift light inside one of the vents (like an astro-vent)? When I look at the dash of my '69, that seems to me to be the most logical place to locate a stealthy shift light that will not be noticed at car shows.

Am I crazy? Somebody must have tried this already...I just want to be sure that I can see it ok. I also remember seeing a company that sells a tach that fits in the '69 clock location..I think that would be pretty cool also, unless you really love your non-functioning original clock I guess...