Does this exist (tach/dist ?)
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,080
Likes: 0
From: Exiled Tampa Bay Misfit
Does this exist (tach/dist ?)
I have a 350 with an HEI (non tach-gear driven) distributor. When I bought the car (a '71) it has an extra tach bubba-ed onto the steering column. The car was a 454 but the 350 HEI made the in-dash tach useless. I will one day drop a 454 back in but in the mean time does the following exist?
Basically a small motor that takes a voltage from the HEI and converts it into a radial motion so that the mechanical driven tach can be hooked up to this. Basically a way to make a gear driven tach run off the electrical signal from the HEI?
I know I could replace the in-dash tach with electrical guts but when I switch the motor I will have to redo it again.
Am I dreaming? If this doesn't exist would anyone buy one if I invented it ;)
[Modified by sdotson, 4:38 PM 10/19/2001]
Basically a small motor that takes a voltage from the HEI and converts it into a radial motion so that the mechanical driven tach can be hooked up to this. Basically a way to make a gear driven tach run off the electrical signal from the HEI?
I know I could replace the in-dash tach with electrical guts but when I switch the motor I will have to redo it again.
Am I dreaming? If this doesn't exist would anyone buy one if I invented it ;)
[Modified by sdotson, 4:38 PM 10/19/2001]
Moderator
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 7,117
Likes: 51
From: Dove Mountain Arizona
Re: Does this exist (sdotson)
You can easily get a mechanical tach driven HEI dist. for your engine. Then your in dash tach would work fine. If you want you can also get a points type tach drive dist and convert it to HEI somewhat cheaper. Check any vette parts catalogs....
Moderator
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 7,117
Likes: 51
From: Dove Mountain Arizona
Re: Does this exist (sdotson)
You can easily get a mechanical tach driven HEI dist. for your engine. Then your in dash tach would work fine. If you want you can also get a points type tach drive dist and convert it to HEI somewhat cheaper. Check any vette parts catalogs.... :yesnod:
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 43,136
Likes: 155
From: Thomson Georgia
Re: Does this exist (MasterDave)
get a mechanical tach and convert the points to HEI with Pertronix II Ignitor and a flamethrower coil..Check with Retro Rockets and they will take care of ya!! I did the conversion and It runs fantastic
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,812
Likes: 4
From: Gig Harbor Wa
Re: Does this exist (Alwyn678)
Check out these guys. They make a converter called a Cable X box to convert the electric speedometer signal to mechanical. They might have something that will do the same for the tach.
http://www.abbott-tach.com/products.htm
Hope this helps.
http://www.abbott-tach.com/products.htm
Hope this helps.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 765
Likes: 0
From: Canton GA
Re: Does this exist (70 LS1)
I bought a Mallory Unilite Tach Drive Dist (Very nice billet dist, reliable with very hot spark) The only downside is they charge about twice as much for a Tach Drive setup (I believe it was about $250 through Summit as opposed to $100 for the non tach drive unit). There's some others out there, like a DUI and an MSD. With the MSD you have to buy a box as well (Like a MSD6), which the mallory doesn't require.
I used the Petronix method (about $100) first, but wasn't pleased with the reliability of it. I do still use the coil though.
I also saw a guy with a 69 that had pulled the tack and sent it to Clock by Roger and had it converted to an electronic version.....that way he could go with any dist he wanted (I thought it was very cool, and I'd probably do that if I had it to do it again....no tach cable to worry about). I don't understand the comment on going to a 454? It should except any point or electronic dist?
I used the Petronix method (about $100) first, but wasn't pleased with the reliability of it. I do still use the coil though.
I also saw a guy with a 69 that had pulled the tack and sent it to Clock by Roger and had it converted to an electronic version.....that way he could go with any dist he wanted (I thought it was very cool, and I'd probably do that if I had it to do it again....no tach cable to worry about). I don't understand the comment on going to a 454? It should except any point or electronic dist?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,080
Likes: 0
From: Exiled Tampa Bay Misfit
Re: Does this exist (70 LS1)
That's what I was thinking of. Thanks!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,080
Likes: 0
From: Exiled Tampa Bay Misfit
Re: Does this exist (ZORA_RULES)
I don't understand the comment on going to a 454? It should except any point or electronic dist?
Thanks again,
Sean
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski