Getting tach to work with 350 swap

[2damslow]

I want my stock tack to work. Even if it reads off because of the 6cylinder vs. 8 cylinder ratio, I dont care, I can do the math. It just really really bugs me to see that stupid needle planted on ZERO.

I run the stock alternator in the stock GM bracket.

What do I need to hook up, and where do I need to hook it?

Thankya kindly in advance...

 

[Tinker]

There's a good thread here that describes how to do it: search!

 

[Dynosoar]

I searched and found this in about 15 seconds. see link below.


https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/20777-tach-adapting-v8.html


Dynosoar

 

[lehiguy]

I went through this myself, agonizing over it to a ridiculous degree. I decided even if I could get it recalibrated to read correctly, it would not have enough range on it for a healthy v8. I needed something that would show to at least 6k, not 4k. So I went to Pep Boys, or some similar low-life, parts-whoreing store and picked up a tach of similar size and stuck it in the hole of the dash where the origianl was. It's even back lighted.

 

[Tinker]

I used an Auto-Meter 2-1/16" 6,000 RPM tach, pulled the guts out, installed it in the old housing, & painted all the needles of all the gauges with Testor's fluorescent pink/red so they match. The tach even has white & yellow numbers like the OEM speedo.

Molding the tach housing to fit the new one was a PITA, though, & the needle dislodges itself every couple of months so I have to take it apart to stick it back on in the correct position.

Dyno -
PhotoChop is a dastardly tool in the hands of the evil. Could you PM the mods to see if they could somehow get this included in the banner at the top of the page?

 

[kevinmrowland]

Dakota Digital

One of these units will set you up.
This will get any tach to work, you need to find out where the pulse signal from your new engine comes from. The 2F got the pulse from the coil so the alternator wont help.
If it comes to it, get the one they offer with the flywheel sensor.
Mine took a lot of fiddling to get it right, but has been working perfectly ever since.

 

[mmmahhmatt]

Redline Gauge Works

These guys do awesome work, not cheap, but quality. -M.

 

[2damslow]

Sweet! I KNEW you guys would have some better ideas than I was coming up with. I like the idea of keeping it as stock as possible, but sometimes you gotta do what ya gotta do to make it work reliably...