68 tach...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 755
Likes: 8
From: delco pa
68 tach...
i have a 68 l79,,, i recently put a chevy hei in place of teh original points distributor,,,teh car runs much better, and smoother, probably because teh old distributor needs rebuilding,,,
has anyone put a later, (75 up, i believe) electronic tach in place of teh original mechanical one? i'm curious, more than anything,,, i can always rebuild my original with a module, and use teh original tach,,,,
thanks for your replies...
has anyone put a later, (75 up, i believe) electronic tach in place of teh original mechanical one? i'm curious, more than anything,,, i can always rebuild my original with a module, and use teh original tach,,,,
thanks for your replies...
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,626
Likes: 3,098
From: Shamong, NJ
I haven't done the actual install myself, but I have converted a couple.
I have a customer who replaced his original 68 427/400 engine, with a GM crate 502/502 (he has the 427 in storage). The 502 comes with an HEI distributor. I took his 68 (green face) tach, removed the face and installed it on a 76 electronic tach, replaced the tach board with a new one, and then recalibrated it based on the instructions with the board. It works great, he has a green face tach to match the other gauges, and still has an electronic tach.
68-71's had green numerals, so it looks better if you switch the face. With 72-74's, you don't need to change the face, as they have the white numerals, like the 75-77's.
I have a customer who replaced his original 68 427/400 engine, with a GM crate 502/502 (he has the 427 in storage). The 502 comes with an HEI distributor. I took his 68 (green face) tach, removed the face and installed it on a 76 electronic tach, replaced the tach board with a new one, and then recalibrated it based on the instructions with the board. It works great, he has a green face tach to match the other gauges, and still has an electronic tach.
68-71's had green numerals, so it looks better if you switch the face. With 72-74's, you don't need to change the face, as they have the white numerals, like the 75-77's.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 755
Likes: 8
From: delco pa
I haven't done the actual install myself, but I have converted a couple.
I have a customer who replaced his original 68 427/400 engine, with a GM crate 502/502 (he has the 427 in storage). The 502 comes with an HEI distributor. I took his 68 (green face) tach, removed the face and installed it on a 76 electronic tach, replaced the tach board with a new one, and then recalibrated it based on the instructions with the board. It works great, he has a green face tach to match the other gauges, and still has an electronic tach.
68-71's had green numerals, so it looks better if you switch the face. With 72-74's, you don't need to change the face, as they have the white numerals, like the 75-77's.
I have a customer who replaced his original 68 427/400 engine, with a GM crate 502/502 (he has the 427 in storage). The 502 comes with an HEI distributor. I took his 68 (green face) tach, removed the face and installed it on a 76 electronic tach, replaced the tach board with a new one, and then recalibrated it based on the instructions with the board. It works great, he has a green face tach to match the other gauges, and still has an electronic tach.
68-71's had green numerals, so it looks better if you switch the face. With 72-74's, you don't need to change the face, as they have the white numerals, like the 75-77's.
i helped a buddy put a 502 in his 70, and never gave the tach a thought,,, but, hes a drag racer, and has a big tach bolted to his steering column anyway,,,
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,626
Likes: 3,098
From: Shamong, NJ
thanks for the reply,,, i thought it could be done ,,do you remember what the parts cost,, board, 76 tach etc? its probably cheaper to rebuild teh original tach, and convert it to hei...
i helped a buddy put a 502 in his 70, and never gave the tach a thought,,, but, hes a drag racer, and has a big tach bolted to his steering column anyway,,,
i helped a buddy put a 502 in his 70, and never gave the tach a thought,,, but, hes a drag racer, and has a big tach bolted to his steering column anyway,,,
A friend of mine has an extra electronic tach (he needed a speedo, and got a good deal on a pair of 76 gauges). He was looking for $100 for the tach. I don't know if it works, but for $59 for a new tach board, I wouldn't chance using a used tach without replacing the tach board anyway.
If your interested in the tach, PM me and I'll give you the details on his tach.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 115
Likes: 1
From: Victor Harbor SA
So... This does away with the cable tach drive ??
I was thinking there has to be a way of upgrading the points dissy in my 68 to a HEI unit, but unsure about tach drive.
MSD do have a tach drive dissy but it needs a silly ignition box. I would rather not.
I would be happy with a new GM HEI as long as it's a quality unit.
A black cap MSD 'Ready to Run' unit was my first choice so it's looks similar to original.
I'm sure that Zip & others have new in dash tachs for the different years.
This thread sounds interesting...
I was thinking there has to be a way of upgrading the points dissy in my 68 to a HEI unit, but unsure about tach drive.
MSD do have a tach drive dissy but it needs a silly ignition box. I would rather not.
I would be happy with a new GM HEI as long as it's a quality unit.
A black cap MSD 'Ready to Run' unit was my first choice so it's looks similar to original.
I'm sure that Zip & others have new in dash tachs for the different years.
This thread sounds interesting...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 755
Likes: 8
From: delco pa
The repro tach boards go for $59. A used 75-77 tach runs about $100.
A friend of mine has an extra electronic tach (he needed a speedo, and got a good deal on a pair of 76 gauges). He was looking for $100 for the tach. I don't know if it works, but for $59 for a new tach board, I wouldn't chance using a used tach without replacing the tach board anyway.
If your interested in the tach, PM me and I'll give you the details on his tach.
A friend of mine has an extra electronic tach (he needed a speedo, and got a good deal on a pair of 76 gauges). He was looking for $100 for the tach. I don't know if it works, but for $59 for a new tach board, I wouldn't chance using a used tach without replacing the tach board anyway.
If your interested in the tach, PM me and I'll give you the details on his tach.
thanks for teh info,,,,
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 850
Likes: 12
From: Shakopee MN
knockbill, check out my thread here about the very subject for my '71.
I believe the 68 had white text on the faceplate? The only thing I would have done differently is have the 75-77 faceplate I bought redone with green lettering instead of the white as that would have saved me time and headache.
I recently got my car back to running and tested the tach and it works beautifully. Make sure you get the tach filter. I bought a new board from Willcox, the first one they sent had some bad solder joints but a quick email and a couple days later I had a new one.
PS - if you buy a 75-77 tach, make sure you get one with a pointer already on it as I was unable to find a pointer to buy for the 75-77!!! See this thread
I believe the 68 had white text on the faceplate? The only thing I would have done differently is have the 75-77 faceplate I bought redone with green lettering instead of the white as that would have saved me time and headache.
I recently got my car back to running and tested the tach and it works beautifully. Make sure you get the tach filter. I bought a new board from Willcox, the first one they sent had some bad solder joints but a quick email and a couple days later I had a new one.
PS - if you buy a 75-77 tach, make sure you get one with a pointer already on it as I was unable to find a pointer to buy for the 75-77!!! See this thread
Last edited by StingrayLust; Jul 7, 2011 at 10:34 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 755
Likes: 8
From: delco pa
knockbill, check out my thread here about the very subject for my '71.
I believe the 68 had white text on the faceplate? The only thing I would have done differently is have the 75-77 faceplate I bought redone with green lettering instead of the white as that would have saved me time and headache.
I recently got my car back to running and tested the tach and it works beautifully. Make sure you get the tach filter. I bought a new board from Willcox, the first one they sent had some bad solder joints but a quick email and a couple days later I had a new one.
PS - if you buy a 75-77 tach, make sure you get one with a pointer already on it as I was unable to find a pointer to buy for the 75-77!!! See this thread
I believe the 68 had white text on the faceplate? The only thing I would have done differently is have the 75-77 faceplate I bought redone with green lettering instead of the white as that would have saved me time and headache.
I recently got my car back to running and tested the tach and it works beautifully. Make sure you get the tach filter. I bought a new board from Willcox, the first one they sent had some bad solder joints but a quick email and a couple days later I had a new one.
PS - if you buy a 75-77 tach, make sure you get one with a pointer already on it as I was unable to find a pointer to buy for the 75-77!!! See this thread
my 68 does have white lettering, as well as i can see!!
i may have access to a 76 tach from my buddies stash,,, i'm not real happy about taking apart the original 68 tach to make teh faces match, altho, i may consider doing it down teh road... the car was pretty original when i got it in 85, and i tried to keep it up as stock as i could,,, if/when i get an electronic tach, i'll wire it in and see how accurate it is before i proceed,,,will a 76 tach physically fit a 68 dash? i think i remember it not being too much fun to work behind teh dash in this car,,,
a question on your links,,, after painting the hands for teh tach, did you find them to still be accurate? just wondering if teh painting would make them out of balance,,,
thanks again for the input
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Instructor
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 183
Likes: 1
From: Litchfield CT
tach
thanks for the reply,,
my 68 does have white lettering, as well as i can see!!
i may have access to a 76 tach from my buddies stash,,, i'm not real happy about taking apart the original 68 tach to make teh faces match, altho, i may consider doing it down teh road... the car was pretty original when i got it in 85, and i tried to keep it up as stock as i could,,, if/when i get an electronic tach, i'll wire it in and see how accurate it is before i proceed,,,will a 76 tach physically fit a 68 dash? i think i remember it not being too much fun to work behind teh dash in this car,,,
a question on your links,,, after painting the hands for teh tach, did you find them to still be accurate? just wondering if teh painting would make them out of balance,,,
thanks again for the input
my 68 does have white lettering, as well as i can see!!
i may have access to a 76 tach from my buddies stash,,, i'm not real happy about taking apart the original 68 tach to make teh faces match, altho, i may consider doing it down teh road... the car was pretty original when i got it in 85, and i tried to keep it up as stock as i could,,, if/when i get an electronic tach, i'll wire it in and see how accurate it is before i proceed,,,will a 76 tach physically fit a 68 dash? i think i remember it not being too much fun to work behind teh dash in this car,,,
a question on your links,,, after painting the hands for teh tach, did you find them to still be accurate? just wondering if teh painting would make them out of balance,,,
thanks again for the input
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 284
Likes: 6
From: Palm PA
i have a 68 l79,,, i recently put a chevy hei in place of teh original points distributor,,,teh car runs much better, and smoother, probably because teh old distributor needs rebuilding,,,
has anyone put a later, (75 up, i believe) electronic tach in place of teh original mechanical one? i'm curious, more than anything,,, i can always rebuild my original with a module, and use teh original tach,,,,
thanks for your replies...
has anyone put a later, (75 up, i believe) electronic tach in place of teh original mechanical one? i'm curious, more than anything,,, i can always rebuild my original with a module, and use teh original tach,,,,
thanks for your replies...
68 Vetteman
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 850
Likes: 12
From: Shakopee MN
thanks for the reply,,
my 68 does have white lettering, as well as i can see!!
i may have access to a 76 tach from my buddies stash,,, i'm not real happy about taking apart the original 68 tach to make teh faces match, altho, i may consider doing it down teh road... the car was pretty original when i got it in 85, and i tried to keep it up as stock as i could,,, if/when i get an electronic tach, i'll wire it in and see how accurate it is before i proceed,,,will a 76 tach physically fit a 68 dash? i think i remember it not being too much fun to work behind teh dash in this car,,,
a question on your links,,, after painting the hands for teh tach, did you find them to still be accurate? just wondering if teh painting would make them out of balance,,,
thanks again for the input
my 68 does have white lettering, as well as i can see!!
i may have access to a 76 tach from my buddies stash,,, i'm not real happy about taking apart the original 68 tach to make teh faces match, altho, i may consider doing it down teh road... the car was pretty original when i got it in 85, and i tried to keep it up as stock as i could,,, if/when i get an electronic tach, i'll wire it in and see how accurate it is before i proceed,,,will a 76 tach physically fit a 68 dash? i think i remember it not being too much fun to work behind teh dash in this car,,,
a question on your links,,, after painting the hands for teh tach, did you find them to still be accurate? just wondering if teh painting would make them out of balance,,,
thanks again for the input
I don't know how much the tiny bit of paint I put on the needle would make a difference in RPMs, I doubt very much at all. Mines an automatic right now so the RPMs don't really mean much to me (but I wanted the tach working). The needles are already balanced so that if I put on about an equal amount over the faded orange, I shouldn't be changing the balance much at all.
On top of that, I'm guessing the mechanical is more sensitive to the needle weight than the electric version.
Last edited by StingrayLust; Jul 7, 2011 at 11:10 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 755
Likes: 8
From: delco pa
I got a HEI distributor with a 68 tach drive on it from Mid America Motorworks. It was so easy. Just remove the old distributor, install the new HEI, hook up your tack cable and the power wire. Make sure you have 12 volts. I think the original wire has a resistor to lower the voltage to 9 volts but not sure. The cost is a little scary it was $399 but you don't have to pull the dash.
68 Vetteman
68 Vetteman
but for me, the $400.00 plus shipping, out of reach...
thanks for your reply...
