C1 & C2 Corvettes General C1 Corvette & C2 Corvette Discussion, Technical Info, Performance Upgrades, Project Builds, Restorations

[C1] '59 Tachometer not hook up

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 6, 2017 | 02:04 AM
  #1  
kdnguyen's Avatar
kdnguyen
Thread Starter
Instructor
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 207
Likes: 8
From: Houston, Texas
Default '59 Tachometer not hook up

Dear members,


My '59 has no tachometer cable hook up to the gauge. I have an alternator. Has anyone found a way to hook up a cable from alternator to original tachometer gauge? Where can I buy this cable? I understand most Corvette online stores have only original cable to connect to generators, not alternators.


Thank you in advance.
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2017 | 07:17 AM
  #2  
Chuck Gongloff's Avatar
Chuck Gongloff
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 90 Days
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Default

Alternators have been converted to tach drive.

Your original face tach can also be converted to an electronic tach.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-question.html
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2017 | 07:48 AM
  #3  
Frankie the Fink's Avatar
Frankie the Fink
Team Owner
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,146
Army
Default

You would be money ahead (and life would be simpler) doing the electronic tach conversion. You can buy the kit:

http://www.zip-corvette.com/53-71-el...rsion-kit.html

or pay about $300 to have the tach converted by Corvette Central or others...
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2017 | 08:57 AM
  #4  
DZAUTO's Avatar
DZAUTO
Race Director
Veteran: Army
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,632
Likes: 4,683
From: Mustang OK
2026 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2025 c1 of the Year - Modified Winner
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2015 C1 of the Year Finalist
Default

Once upon a time, in a galaxie far, far away, there was a tractor which used a tach drive alternator. A friend in Tulsa had one on his 57 Vette, but I forget which tractor he said it came from.

Now, with all that said, you COULD switch to a tach drive distributor. ALLLLLLLLLLLL 62-74 Vettes had tach drive distributors. Thus, you could go with a 62 style setup such as was on all 62 carbureted engines.
The routing, and cable length would be identical to how it was done on a 59 Vette with the solid lifter FI engine and 914 distributor.

GD, chickencrap, ahole Photobucket has hijacked my pictures, so I can't show you a picture of that alternator with the tach drive!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last edited by DZAUTO; Dec 6, 2017 at 03:37 PM.
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2017 | 09:13 AM
  #5  
65 Pro Vette's Avatar
65 Pro Vette
Safety Car
Supporting Lifetime
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,881
Likes: 1,283
From: Horsham Pa
C2 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Default

Originally Posted by DZAUTO
Once upon a time, in a galaxie far, far away, there was a tractor which used a tach drive alternator. A friend in Tulsa had one on his 57 Vette, but I forget which tractor he said it came from.

Now, with all that said, you COULD switch to a tach drive distributor. ALLLLLLLLLLLL 62-74 Vettes had tach drive distributors. Thus, you could go with a 62 style setup such as was on all 62 carbureted engines.
The routing, and cable length would be identical to how it was done on a 59 Vette with the solid lifter FI engine and 914 distributor.
Isn’t there a problem with the reading of the tack then? I believe the revolutions of the distributor gear are different then the generator gear? You would have to get the 59 tech recalibrated. I’m a C2 guys so I’m not sure.

Last edited by 65 Pro Vette; Dec 6, 2017 at 09:13 AM.
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2017 | 02:59 PM
  #6  
hedgehead's Avatar
hedgehead
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 13,156
Likes: 109
From: I'm not doing as well as I expected, but I never expected I would
Default

Originally Posted by Frankie the Fink
You would be money ahead (and life would be simpler) doing the electronic tach conversion. You can buy the kit:

http://www.zip-corvette.com/53-71-el...rsion-kit.html

or pay about $300 to have the tach converted by Corvette Central or others...
I like this part of the description: "Simply remove your Corvette's factory tachometer from the dash or cluster "
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2017 | 03:35 PM
  #7  
DZAUTO's Avatar
DZAUTO
Race Director
Veteran: Army
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,632
Likes: 4,683
From: Mustang OK
2026 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2025 c1 of the Year - Modified Winner
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2015 C1 of the Year Finalist
Default

Originally Posted by 65 Pro Vette
Isn’t there a problem with the reading of the tack then? I believe the revolutions of the distributor gear are different then the generator gear? You would have to get the 59 tech recalibrated. I’m a C2 guys so I’m not sure.
And that's a very good question. BUUUUUUUUUUT, I have the original gen drive tach in the 56, plus, I've added the 57 column mount tach (used on 57 579D cars) which is driven by the distributor. They read VERY close to the same.


Reply
Old Dec 6, 2017 | 03:52 PM
  #8  
Frankie the Fink's Avatar
Frankie the Fink
Team Owner
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,146
Army
Default

Originally Posted by hedgehead
I like this part of the description: "Simply remove your Corvette's factory tachometer from the dash or cluster "
I kinda liked that one myself....especially the word "Simply"..
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Dec 9, 2017 | 03:50 PM
  #9  
JohnZ's Avatar
JohnZ
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime Gold
20 Year Member
Veteran: Army
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Default

Originally Posted by DZAUTO
Once upon a time, in a galaxie far, far away, there was a tractor which used a tach drive alternator. A friend in Tulsa had one on his 57 Vette, but I forget which tractor he said it came from.
GD, chickencrap, ahole Photobucket has hijacked my pictures, so I can't show you a picture of that alternator with the tach drive!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tom, here's that picture of the tach-drive alternator - don't remember what the tractor application was.
Attached Images  
Reply
Old Dec 9, 2017 | 10:51 PM
  #10  
DZAUTO's Avatar
DZAUTO
Race Director
Veteran: Army
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,632
Likes: 4,683
From: Mustang OK
2026 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2025 c1 of the Year - Modified Winner
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2015 C1 of the Year Finalist
Default

Originally Posted by JohnZ
Tom, here's that picture of the tach-drive alternator - don't remember what the tractor application was.
Thanks, I'm going to save that picture to my hard drive--------------------------since Photobucket is trying to rape everyone!
Reply
Old Dec 10, 2017 | 07:14 AM
  #11  
cbernhardt's Avatar
cbernhardt
Safety Car
Veteran: Navy
25 Year Member
Liked
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,394
Likes: 1,188
From: Lexington,NC,USA
C1 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
Default

Originally Posted by JohnZ
Tom, here's that picture of the tach-drive alternator - don't remember what the tractor application was.
Massey Ferguson TO20, TO30
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To '59 Tachometer not hook up





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:10 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 11:09:53


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE