Tachometer Inop
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30
Likes: 4
From: Atlanta
Tachometer Inop
I bought a 1979 Corvette with a 383 stroker motor with all MSD ignition. None of the original gauges work other than the speedometer and an aftermarket oil temperature and pressure gauge. But the one I'm concerned with fixing now is a tachometer. Is there any simple fix to get this gauge back? The RPM sits at zero and doesn't move at all with the engine is on or off and I was told that I possibly need to get a converter because of the MSD ignition. Any thoughts?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,103
Likes: 802
From: Massapequa Park NY
I'm not familiar with what was on the 79 engines but on earlier cars they used the tach drive distributor. If the distrbutor was replaced with an MSD unit then that is the problem.
There is a cable that runs from the tach and screws into the side of the distributor. If its disconnected, that's the problem. Take a pic of your setup, it will be easy to see.
As far as a solution, can't help. I'm sure there is a way or something made to convert it but I don't know.
Ed
There is a cable that runs from the tach and screws into the side of the distributor. If its disconnected, that's the problem. Take a pic of your setup, it will be easy to see.
As far as a solution, can't help. I'm sure there is a way or something made to convert it but I don't know.
Ed
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 212
Likes: 29
From: State College Pennsylvania
I think they got rid of the tach cable in 75, but I'm not familiar with the electronic tach, so I wouldn't know where to start other than test if the tach wire is sending a signal to the gauge or not
