Dash Button

hello again!
there is a painted button
between the wiper and hazard lite switch
on my 75.
it is just above the steering column.
what is this for?
iowa

 

Fills the hole.

IIRC that's stock. There may have been a switch that went there sometime before 1974.

 

Could it have been where the optional tach wires came through? I don't recall...

I believe my '75 has that too.

 

Mine had it too. I pulled the plug and used the hole to run my tach wires through.

 

My last 74 had a pull switch in that hole. It was a good fit but it did not match the other knobs. It was nylon and the other are black. My theories are: switch for plow lights, possible winch something or orther, or maybe just a hole because AMC is so nice and they wanted to make it easy for the owner to mount an accessory switch.

 

I'm thinking for the optional factory tach wiring. Would be an awkward location for a switch....particularly if you did have a column-mounted tach.

Just recently, I added the grab bar on the passenger side. I had never really paid any attention to the two white plug inserts in that section of the dash. I was not looking forward to drilling those two holes for the bar
so I was happy to see thats exactly why the inserts were there.

Voila, after purchasing the bar, it was merely a matter of pulling those plugs and inserting the bar and hardware. Took all of ten minutes and no drilling !!

BTW, all of the Kentrol stainless steel products I have bought have been great quality and reasonably priced. At least to me they are reasonable.......if you have ever owned a boat....THEIR stainless is flat out highway robbery !!

 

I don't think the Tach was offered until 1975. Mines a '74 with the same hole.

 

Maybe '76? I don't remember a tach for the '75s.

 

In my 75 sales literature shows they are offered as an option. Kind of rare would be a good item to collect.

 

My '73 has the same hole however a previous owner decided to put a stainless push button switch in and i have no idea what it was once used for.

I like the idea of wiring a column mounted tach with it though...hmmm, and the wheels turn.

 

MA74CJ5

That tach is a rare animal. I've been looking for one for the last six months and have about given up.Currently looking for a 'period' tach such as S/W or SUN that is column mounted.

You're right...afaik the tach was first offered in 75, so the hole was either meant for something else or perhaps your CJ rolled off the line late in '74 with the tach-ready dash. Anyway you can tell by VIN what month a CJ was produced ?

 

Not to steal this guys thread but have you gone to StewertWarner.com and checked out the tach offering? They have some good older looking tachs.

But back to the dash hole, I am real curious to find out what if anything belongs in it. MHO it is just hole for the owner to fill. I have seen switches and knobs in that hole but have never seen the same one twice so...Go figure.

 

yeah.......I've actually got a S/W catalog at home. Granted they have some good looking nostalgic tachs, but none like I'm looking for...also the tach that Jeep offered for '76 and newer is designed for in-dash mount; not interested in drilling a hole that big.....below are my top choices other than the factory 75 that I can't find....

 

pic of the factory tach
wiring hole makes sense
pic of the dash switches
could the hole be for the brake warning lamp ?
any of you guys have that in your dash ?

 

THANKS
for replies guys!!
i'll have to get that catalog
iowa

 

There is one of those tachs on ebay currently. I just saw it yesterday. Problem is, it is that guy with the "callme(phone number) for a user name. That is the party who has been mentioned on this board quite a few times for being "unreliable". He has switched his username a few times too. Starting price was around $50.00 if I recall correctly. This is the third time I have seen it up there and it has never sold each time. You may be taking a risk.

 

I have the factory tach in my '75 Renegade and the wiring does go through that hole. I purchased a '73 dash to replace mine (poor shape) and the same hole is punched out with a plug in it. Prior to '75 I don't know what it would have been used for.

 

caspermj

If not too much trouble would you mind posting a few pictures of your factory tach from different angles.........Thanks !!

camsaure

Not sure which seller you are talking about. Could you identify the item number of the tach you are referring to. I actually talked to the seller of the greenline tach (lower tach picture),this afternoon. This is a S/W tach..brand-new..that has been disassembled and the face plate replaced with the 'replica' face plate. Good thing about that is that it more than likely would be trouble-free and extremely accurate. Drawbacks are of course the price and it is not a genuine greenline from the era.

 

The e-bay item is 8019066896

Money order first, then shipping. Sounds like red flags to me.

 

nwedgar

Thanks for the reference number. Thats pretty much SOP....receive payment first and then ship.....thanks for the heads up on his reputation.

I sent him a list of questions whether the tach worked (that would be nice!), what kinda shape was it in and did it come off of a 6 or 8 cylinder. Also, judging by the picture it looks like it has a black cup and bezel, but I'm not sure....... I'll be watching it.......