C3 Tachometer Question
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Beckley WV
C3 Tachometer Question
I am a learning novice and I'm in the early stages of a rebuild for my '69 350/350 coupe. I was wondering, in the event that I happen to choose a new HEI distributor that does not have a place to connect the mechanical tach drive cable, is there a company that sells replacement tachometers to fit the C3 console that do not require a cable connection to the distributor...or is this a silly question all together??? I know that there is a replacement HEI distributor available that will accept the cable, but I wondered if I could go the other way?? I was hoping to tap the vast know how of this board. Any advice you could give would be appreciated.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 46
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From: Connecticut
Dist
If you do go the cable way let me know.I bought one of the HEI tach drive distributors when they had the group buy here a few months back, after ripping my dash apart I discovered someone already changed the tach and its electrical.The distributor is new in the box!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,319
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From: Wilmington DE, Drive it like you stole it, 68 327 4 speed coupe
I am a learning novice and I'm in the early stages of a rebuild for my '69 350/350 coupe. I was wondering, in the event that I happen to choose a new HEI distributor that does not have a place to connect the mechanical tach drive cable, is there a company that sells replacement tachometers to fit the C3 console that do not require a cable connection to the distributor...or is this a silly question all together??? I know that there is a replacement HEI distributor available that will accept the cable, but I wondered if I could go the other way?? I was hoping to tap the vast know how of this board. Any advice you could give would be appreciated.
they make em, I got mine from DUI a littel pricey but you get a unit custom to your engine set up on thier distributor machine . there are others definately cheeper, but I am happy with DUI
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,655
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I have not seen a direct replacement electronic tach for a 69. Any generic electronic one could be made to work, but not one that matches the other gauges and has the signal light, brights indicators, etc.
Do a search here for a tach drive distibutor. There are some good deals on them out there.
Do a search here for a tach drive distibutor. There are some good deals on them out there.
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 46
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From: Connecticut
Like I stated, the tach in my dash IS electronic. I will attempt to see if I can find out what year vett it came out of, all indicators,lights,etc matched up. I swore it was the factory tach! Like I said earlier though, I have a brand new tach drive HEI dist in the box if anyone is looking for one.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I had my tach converted to electronic by a forum member. It works much better and is much smoother operation. He used my tach face and all new electronic guts so it looks stock only works better. No more bouncy tach. It cost around 130 to be converted depending on what you need done.
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Beckley WV
Thanks guys. I really appreciate the help. The tach cable was really just part of the issue I was having and something I was exploring. I've always been intrigued with tri-power setups, even on small blocks. I've been looking at a particular Offenhauser (spelling?) and a seperate Edelbrock tri-setup intake that uses 3 Rochester 2G carbs, but the ad said that there is no room for an HEI distributor. I'm not sure what that meant, but I figured that the 3 carbs take up a lot of space across the length of the intake and maybe there was something about an HEI distributor that requires more than normal space at the rear of the intake. Does that make sense to you guys??
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 12
From: SoCal
The HEI distributor has a larger body than a non-HEI.
I tried the Edelbrock tripower setup - ended up ditching it because we could never get the carbs dialed in (it fouled plugs and ran way rich). I like this dual-quad setup much better (and it will accomodate an HEI, but the MSD distributor and box is a better choice, IMHO):
I tried the Edelbrock tripower setup - ended up ditching it because we could never get the carbs dialed in (it fouled plugs and ran way rich). I like this dual-quad setup much better (and it will accomodate an HEI, but the MSD distributor and box is a better choice, IMHO):
Last edited by VCuomo; Apr 12, 2007 at 09:06 PM.
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Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 736
Likes: 1
From: Chester VA
This is what I just ordered...
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...rt=MAA-7564501
Gordonm, any details on that conversion?
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...rt=MAA-7564501
Gordonm, any details on that conversion?
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 148
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Get on the WEB and search for "Charlie Price Carbs" I looked into multi carbs, even after market fuel injection...they have it all and have great tech support as well. Ended up sticking to my 650 cfm Edlebrock.
Larry
Larry
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Beckley WV
Thanks VCuomo and everybody that had input. You've got a cool looking engine and engine bay. I'm going to wrestle a little bit with the Tri-set up. It may end up being something I back away from at some point, but for now I've still got that itch and I have to scratch it. I know you have all been there before. Fortunately, my wife's uncle builds hotrods and has quite a bit of tri-carb experience. He's run them for years on most everything he builds. He has that setup on a '50-Mercury right now. He was explaining to me how he balanced out the tuning on the front and rear carbs, but at the time it was like trying to interpret Hieroglyphics for me since I'm just at the learning stage of carb setup (although I've recently bought several carburetor books by Roe for some research and self learning). If you could get them tuned right, is there a power advantage to using a 3 carb setup versus a single 4-barrel.....assuming say 3 carbs at 250cfm each (750 cfm total) versus a single 750 cfm 4 barrel??
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,345
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Another option is using an MSD billet aluminum distributor with tach drive. They are available from Summit:
MSD-8572 Distributor, Pro-Billet Tach Drive, Magnetic Trigger, Vacuum Advance, Chevy, Big/ Small Block, Each
Monday $350.88
MSD-8572 Distributor, Pro-Billet Tach Drive, Magnetic Trigger, Vacuum Advance, Chevy, Big/ Small Block, Each
Monday $350.88
That's what is in my picture above.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,714
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From: Silver City NM
St. Jude Donor '05-'07
3bbls, 8572, c3, cap, chevy, distibuter, distributor, dual, hei, holley, installing, msd, offenhauser, quad, tachometer, vacuum
