I picked my car up yesterday from the shop and was able to drive it around town for a bit (had a rare day off).

I inherited this car a few weeks ago from my Dad and as long as I can remember Dad owning it (16 years) the Tach never worked. Dad had a new tach cable in a box of parts (also 16 years old), so I figured I would try and install it. Should only take like an hour right?

First, plugged the new cable into the distributor and confirmed the other end spun when the motor was running. Next, disassemble the driver's side dash and slide it forward along the steering column. After many swear words I was able to wrangle my hand behind the tach and disconnect the old broken cable from the back of the tach. Thanks to a thread I found on this forum I knew what to expect and how to push the retaining clip down without looking. Pull the broken cable through the firewall, work the new one through as well. Find the new end now hidden under the dash, and work it onto the back of the tach. Fire up the motor for a test and SUCCESS! Working tach.

Total time = Two and a half hours. Hardest part was re-installing the dash parts as the center consoles didn't want to go back together.

Small victory and probably minor compared to what most of you have done to your cars. But it made my day.

Took it for another test drive around town (basking in the glory of my newly working tach) and I think I saw forum member Lon Wayne out talking to his neighbor.

Next project is seats, seat belts, and carpet.

 

Nice job! Be prepared now-they won't often go that easily in the future.

 

You did not have to pull the dash out. You can access the back of the tach from under the dash. This would have saved a lot of time. Any way you learned something about removing the dash. Good job

 

Yeah the fuse box can be just as fun to get to. You have to put your head on the floor near the brake pedal,butt on the seat and feet out the roof. Best to remove t tops when working under the dash.

Nice work.

 

If you plan to do any more work on your car you should study up and learn as many of those words as you can, because you will need them.
You will find that on many projects on these old cars it is so frustrating that you will run out of words long before the job is done. It is often necessary to invent new ones along the way.

 

Take the seat out next time. 4 bolts and much more comfortable.

OP, nice job!
Not many 1st timers start wuth the drivers side dash.

 

If it wasn't so aggravating it wouldn't be so much fun ....

Good job to start with, it's nice to have a working tach.

Frank

 

Congratulations, I remember all the swearing that I did puting my car together last year. You gave me an idea for a tip to new Vette owners. Start a cuss jar or better barrel, that way if your doing a frame off by the time your done you will have enough for 2 restored Vettes. I remember the dash in mine. I cant believe these cars were production made. Good job.

 

The "dash rash" on your hand will clear in a week or so. Now you now way your Dad didn't replace it. Well done.

 

Well done! You have now entered a vortex of project addiction never to be free ! Enjoy the ride! Being it was your dad's it must be special to you!

 

It is, it also happens to be the car I took to prom 15 years ago.

 

Doh, one of the threads I read here mentioned removing it. Well maybe the next guy will search and find out he doesn't have to when he reads this thread.

 

Job well done Jim. I just inherited my dad's '70 Vette and I'm hoping that all the little projects that I expect to find result in small victories as well.