C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

1981 Tachometer

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 24, 2011 | 08:45 PM
  #1  
sabre1981's Avatar
sabre1981
Thread Starter
Racer
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
From: Portage Michigan
Default 1981 Tachometer

I searched the forums and I'm thinking my answer won't be what I want, but I want to make sure. I just dumped the stock distributor and installed a vacuum ported one. Now I have no tachometer, so is installing an older (non-electric) tachometer the only way to get it working again?
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2011 | 08:53 PM
  #2  
Ganey's Avatar
Ganey
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Default

No. If you put in a HEI, check that you have the tach wire to dist. connected.
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2011 | 11:14 PM
  #3  
sabre1981's Avatar
sabre1981
Thread Starter
Racer
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
From: Portage Michigan
Default

99% sure it was HEI, is this not the tachometer wire? There is no place I see for this wire to come out of the inside of the distributor. A friend who was helping me hooked the distributor back up so at the moment I am unsure if there is another wire left off.

Reply
Old Sep 25, 2011 | 12:20 AM
  #4  
Willcox Corvette's Avatar
0Willcox Corvette
Former Vendor
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,850
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Default

It should have a pulse wire on it.. what is the distributor out of?
Reply
Old Sep 25, 2011 | 07:49 PM
  #5  
sabre1981's Avatar
sabre1981
Thread Starter
Racer
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
From: Portage Michigan
Default

The distributor is brand new, but I talked to a friend and think I now understand what is being said. I need to take the tach wire from the 4 wire packard and run it to the distributor? If this is right, then my follow up questions are which color wire is for the tach and to which wire does it need to be put to on the distributor?
Reply
Old Sep 25, 2011 | 09:52 PM
  #6  
Willcox Corvette's Avatar
0Willcox Corvette
Former Vendor
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,850
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Default

Originally Posted by sabre1981
The distributor is brand new, but I talked to a friend and think I now understand what is being said. I need to take the tach wire from the 4 wire packard and run it to the distributor? If this is right, then my follow up questions are which color wire is for the tach and to which wire does it need to be put to on the distributor?
What is the distributor out of.. If I have a schematic I can look and see which wire is the tach wire.
Reply
Old Sep 25, 2011 | 11:02 PM
  #7  
sabre1981's Avatar
sabre1981
Thread Starter
Racer
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
From: Portage Michigan
Default

Originally Posted by Willcox Corvette
What is the distributor out of.. If I have a schematic I can look and see which wire is the tach wire.
The old one came out of a 1981 350. When you asked the first time, I just thought you were asking about the new one thinking it was used, sorry.

Last edited by sabre1981; Sep 25, 2011 at 11:13 PM.
Reply
Old Sep 26, 2011 | 10:40 AM
  #8  
Willcox Corvette's Avatar
0Willcox Corvette
Former Vendor
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,850
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Default

On a 81 the signal wire should be white.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Sep 26, 2011 | 12:52 PM
  #9  
wajulia's Avatar
wajulia
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 233
Likes: 18
From: Monrovia Md
Default

The cable you have in the picture if the computer control connector for the 1981 and will not be used in the new Distributor.

I believe that the tac connector was the red connector that you removed and I saw in the pictures you showed me of the relay. If that is true, you can keep the red connectors.
Reply
Old Oct 1, 2011 | 08:57 AM
  #10  
sabre1981's Avatar
sabre1981
Thread Starter
Racer
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
From: Portage Michigan
Default

OK, it works now
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 1981 Tachometer





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:44 PM.

story-0
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE