As much as I hate to delve into this job, I can't stand the tach not working. The inner part of the cable vroke about 2" out of the distrib. the casing looks worn si I might as well do the whole deal. Ant tips or suggestions?

Thanks

 

If you don't have long arms, find some one who does and hope they have good fingers. Unless you tear the dash apart, you have to reach up and under to get to the cable off back of the tack. Hopefully someone has a pic to post of the unit out so you can see how it snaps in to and out of place.

Oh, carefull not to unplug any of your dash bulbs near near the top, they are even worse to get at. :(

Just take your time.

 

I recommend getting one of the right angle adaptors that fit on the distributor connection. It also has a grease fitting. It eliminates the "kink" at the distributor where the cable has to turn at a sharp angle. I ordered mine from Eckler's. Can't recall the cost offhand but recall it wasn't expensive. I figure it will extend the life of the cable significantly. :cheers:

 

68shark

I have always wondered what that 90 thing actual did. My cable makes a gentle bend and I for the life of me can't see how it would make it any better. Did you get a shorter cable? Seems you would have extra cable which would bind up. Anyone got pic's of the 90 thing.

 

Fevre...the adaptor means my cable now comes through the firewall, turns gently right and now goes direct into the adaptor, without having to make the "sharp left turn" at the distributor. I experienced failure right at that point and that got me looking in the catalogue and the fact that a part is now available, I gather it must be a common problem with our cars. I didn't think the bend was a problem, until my cable broke.....
:cheers:

 

Patience is the key Take your time and it is not that hard......All the aftermarket companies sell that bend for the tach cable

 

I must have my dist at a little diff angle or something cuz mine makes a nice smooth arc, no bends. I can visualize what you say but again seems to me there would be extra cabel since you are shortening the distance it spans which would cause binding. Most work though or you wouldn't be using it. ;) Wish I could post a pic of mine but no camera. Someday I will get a digital camera but that takes way $ from engine mods, now doesn't it. :lol:

 

If 12 o'clock is the nose of the car, my tach cable connection on the distribuor is at 7 o'clock (roughly). Maybe yours is at 9 o'clock which would be about the angle my adapter gives me?

Ditto about the camera.....hence no pic's of my car on here! Someday.... :cheers:

 

Hi Leo,
I recently repaced my tach cable on my 68 and here are a few suggestions I could give to you. First be sure to measure you old cable depending on who you buy your new cable from It may have some lube on it already, but it would not hurt to put some extra lube on it before you install it. The cable on mine only came out of the case one way so keep this in mind if you remove it to re-lube the new cable. I would suggest that you do lube it yourself prior to installation. This will cut down on the friction(heat) and will should give you long lasting trouble free tachometer operation. I removed the cable from the case (make sure your work area is clean at this point because you dont want any dirt sticking to the new cable). I used some white lithium grease on the cable by putting some (not to much) on my fingers and lightly coated cable by twisting it between my greased up fingers. I only did this up to about an inch or so from the ends of the cable keeping the square drive ends of the cable grease free. Provided you removed the old cable the next step is to run your new cable through the firewall with the smaller nut toward the tachometer side. I put mine on with the drivers seat in the car and pushed back all the way. It was cramped and you have to be a little bit of a contorsionist here but it is do-able. If you can unbolt and remove the driver seat this would make the job alot easier.Take a shop light or flash light under the dash so you can see things. I connected the cable to the back of the tach first. Don't hook it to the tach drive on the distributer yet because you will need some play in the cable to make it easier to get it threaded on to the back of the tach. Gently insert the square male end on the tach cable into the the square female drive on the tach. You have to do this by feel because you really can't see it to well. Just slightly rotate the plastic case while pushing in the cable until you feel it freely push in and cable goes in smoothly tighten up the nut. I tightened the nut all the way as you want the cable inserted in as much as possible.I only went finger tight here. Once this is done you can attach the other end to the tach drive again turning the cable case slightly until cable freely pushes into square on the the distributer tach drive. Tighen only finger tight here too. Now the fun part -fire up your engine and hopefully your dead tach will come back to life again. If it does retighten both ends only just slightly past finger tight with pliers and you are ready to go. If not disconnect nut at distributor and try to realign the cable starting at the back of the tach again.If you still can't get tach to work you can check buy just hooking cable to the tach drive and holding the cable have a friend turn the car over you should see the cable spinning. If not your tach drive gear is probably worn and may be in need of replacement. If it does turn freely then your problem may be in the tachometer guage itself Also be sure to measure your cable from end to end so that when you buy one you get it the right length. I also considered buying that right angle grease fitting adapter too but I think if you lube it before you install it and periodically relube it will last you a long time.Good luck to you.