Auto Meter Ultimate II Tach

jason patterson · 07-29-2008, 06:05 PM

How many of yall run this tach? Is it any good? Thinking about getting one so i can record drive shaft speed.

jason patterson · 07-29-2008, 06:07 PM

Jegs sells them for like 600 bucks, dont want to wast 600 if there not worth it.
Thanks for any input

Jeff Lee · 07-30-2008, 01:40 AM

I just bought one. Haven't installed it yet so I can't personally say. But I did ask around and that lead to my purchase. It'll be on the car next time out. I didn't want the expense and equipment neccessary for a data logger.

69Cobra · 07-30-2008, 07:02 AM

I recommend that tach to everybody that wants to "know" what there car/clutch/converter is doing. I've been running that tach for about 5 years now and to me its worth its weight in gold if you know how to read it.

Damn Jeff moving up in the world huh.

Geddes · 07-30-2008, 09:00 AM

I agree with Cobra69.

I bought an old cheap laptop($125.) to use for downloading at the track.

It has been a tremendous help in my clutch tuning.

gymracer01 · 07-31-2008, 06:09 PM

I have run one since they first came out. At the time I had a friend at Autometer and got a deal on it. I really like it and record every run and put the data in the log book with the other info. It lets you know what is going on with the converter and any traction issues and what the engine falls down to on a shift and what rpm you really shifted at. For a bumbling on man like me it has been a great help. Also will show you how transmission fluid temperature changing the converter hook rpm. I am spoiled. In the begining I bought a long cable and had a desktop computer in the motorhome to download it to. Since have a laptop.
Jim Netherland
2007 NMCA Nostalgia Super Stock World Champion

Todd Geisler · 07-31-2008, 09:33 PM

I looked at the dual channel tach a few years ago as I wanted to log engine & driveshaft rpm. I also found a true data logger that sold for $550 and it will accept up to 12 channels of signals. To me it was a no brainer and I did the data logger.

Are true data loggers legal in Stock and S/S?

The classes I run the data loggers are completely legal.

http://www.rpmperf.com

Actually the system I have "Basic" is now $588. Purchased mine some 3 or 4 years ago.

gymracer01 · 08-01-2008, 11:44 PM

Todd, at the time I gave a little less than $400 for the Ultimate II but I had a good connection, and it was the only thing legal for Nostalgia Super Stock at the time. Some people didn't like me even having it but Autometer paid and it was accepted. Now is a different story but the Ultimate II is simple to setup and use. I will go to a better logger someday. Information is power.
Jim Netherland

Dennis111 · 08-06-2008, 08:35 AM

I recently installed one and am still working on interpreting the data that it gives me. The instructions are only for the functions, you still have to work with the tach to figure out how to record multiple runs and get the software to do what you want it to do. I've never used the playback function to display a run on the tach as I bought a cheap ole laptop to take to the track.. If you enter the data from the timeslip into the run, it can tell you a bunch from one run to the next. It only takes a minute or so to download a run and be able to review it. The hardest thing about using it is that you must remember to push a couple of buttons just before the run.

A couple of negative observations: The shift light included is small and I don't believe is very effective during daylight hours. I don't know if they have another one that would plug into the tach, but have considered giving Autometer a call. To get the driveshaft speed, magnets must be J-B welded to the U-joints, although a collar is available at extra cost from Autometer that should work better.

Irregardless, it is a pretty cool data logger alternative if you don't need or want all the other motor inputs.

Here is a copy of one of my old runs as it is seen on the computer:

Shows a car bogging going into second gear (stick shift car.) Note that the launch RPM (off a 2 step), shift rpm's and activity times are recorded.

gymracer01 · 08-08-2008, 06:30 PM

Dennis, from experience, go with the collar for the magnets. I lost a couple of sets before I had a machinists friend whip me up a bolt on yoke collar to mount the weights. Never had any problem since. As for pushing buttons before runs, yes you have to change runs if you want to keep the last one or just record over it. Since I footbrake, I use a brake light switch to turn the tach on when I leave. I have it wired with a toggle and after I turn the top stage bulb on I flip the toggle and ease into the beams. When I realease the brake pedal to leave it breaks the circuit and triggers the tach. I love it but like you said, the shift light could be bigger.
Jim N.

07-29-2008, 06:05 PM	#1
jason patterson Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Highlands,Texas Posts: 29 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Auto Meter Ultimate II Tach How many of yall run this tach? Is it any good? Thinking about getting one so i can record drive shaft speed. __________________ 456Q B/S Last edited by jason patterson; 07-29-2008 at 06:08 PM.

07-29-2008, 06:07 PM	#2
jason patterson Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Highlands,Texas Posts: 29 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Auto Meter Ultimate II Tach Jegs sells them for like 600 bucks, dont want to wast 600 if there not worth it. Thanks for any input __________________ 456Q B/S Last edited by jason patterson; 07-29-2008 at 06:10 PM.

07-30-2008, 01:40 AM	#3
Jeff Lee VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anthem, Arizona Posts: 2,766 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Auto Meter Ultimate II Tach I just bought one. Haven't installed it yet so I can't personally say. But I did ask around and that lead to my purchase. It'll be on the car next time out. I didn't want the expense and equipment neccessary for a data logger. __________________ Jeff Lee 7494 D/S '70 AMX

07-30-2008, 07:02 AM	#4
69Cobra Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: California, Ky Posts: 669 Likes: 61 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Auto Meter Ultimate II Tach I recommend that tach to everybody that wants to "know" what there car/clutch/converter is doing. I've been running that tach for about 5 years now and to me its worth its weight in gold if you know how to read it. Damn Jeff moving up in the world huh. __________________ Kris Rachford 69 Cobra 428CJ 4 Speed C/S 3032

07-30-2008, 09:00 AM	#5
Geddes Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Barnesville, Ohio Posts: 91 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Auto Meter Ultimate II Tach I agree with Cobra69. I bought an old cheap laptop($125.) to use for downloading at the track. It has been a tremendous help in my clutch tuning.

07-31-2008, 06:09 PM	#6
gymracer01 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Middle Tennesse Posts: 46 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Auto Meter Ultimate II Tach I have run one since they first came out. At the time I had a friend at Autometer and got a deal on it. I really like it and record every run and put the data in the log book with the other info. It lets you know what is going on with the converter and any traction issues and what the engine falls down to on a shift and what rpm you really shifted at. For a bumbling on man like me it has been a great help. Also will show you how transmission fluid temperature changing the converter hook rpm. I am spoiled. In the begining I bought a long cable and had a desktop computer in the motorhome to download it to. Since have a laptop. Jim Netherland 2007 NMCA Nostalgia Super Stock World Champion

07-31-2008, 09:33 PM	#7
Todd Geisler Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 328 Likes: 64 Liked 345 Times in 149 Posts	Re: Auto Meter Ultimate II Tach I looked at the dual channel tach a few years ago as I wanted to log engine & driveshaft rpm. I also found a true data logger that sold for $550 and it will accept up to 12 channels of signals. To me it was a no brainer and I did the data logger. Are true data loggers legal in Stock and S/S? The classes I run the data loggers are completely legal. http://www.rpmperf.com Actually the system I have "Basic" is now $588. Purchased mine some 3 or 4 years ago.

08-01-2008, 11:44 PM	#8
gymracer01 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Middle Tennesse Posts: 46 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Auto Meter Ultimate II Tach Todd, at the time I gave a little less than $400 for the Ultimate II but I had a good connection, and it was the only thing legal for Nostalgia Super Stock at the time. Some people didn't like me even having it but Autometer paid and it was accepted. Now is a different story but the Ultimate II is simple to setup and use. I will go to a better logger someday. Information is power. Jim Netherland

08-06-2008, 08:35 AM	#9
Dennis111 Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 9 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Auto Meter Ultimate II Tach I recently installed one and am still working on interpreting the data that it gives me. The instructions are only for the functions, you still have to work with the tach to figure out how to record multiple runs and get the software to do what you want it to do. I've never used the playback function to display a run on the tach as I bought a cheap ole laptop to take to the track.. If you enter the data from the timeslip into the run, it can tell you a bunch from one run to the next. It only takes a minute or so to download a run and be able to review it. The hardest thing about using it is that you must remember to push a couple of buttons just before the run. A couple of negative observations: The shift light included is small and I don't believe is very effective during daylight hours. I don't know if they have another one that would plug into the tach, but have considered giving Autometer a call. To get the driveshaft speed, magnets must be J-B welded to the U-joints, although a collar is available at extra cost from Autometer that should work better. Irregardless, it is a pretty cool data logger alternative if you don't need or want all the other motor inputs. Here is a copy of one of my old runs as it is seen on the computer: Shows a car bogging going into second gear (stick shift car.) Note that the launch RPM (off a 2 step), shift rpm's and activity times are recorded. Last edited by Dennis111; 08-06-2008 at 08:49 AM.

08-08-2008, 06:30 PM	#10
gymracer01 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Middle Tennesse Posts: 46 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Auto Meter Ultimate II Tach Dennis, from experience, go with the collar for the magnets. I lost a couple of sets before I had a machinists friend whip me up a bolt on yoke collar to mount the weights. Never had any problem since. As for pushing buttons before runs, yes you have to change runs if you want to keep the last one or just record over it. Since I footbrake, I use a brake light switch to turn the tach on when I leave. I have it wired with a toggle and after I turn the top stage bulb on I flip the toggle and ease into the beams. When I realease the brake pedal to leave it breaks the circuit and triggers the tach. I love it but like you said, the shift light could be bigger. Jim N.