Converting Mechanical Tach to Electronic
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Joined: Oct 2013
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From: Visalia CA
Converting Mechanical Tach to Electronic
Now that I have all of my small gauges working on my '74 (thanks to forum members), I was double-checking speedo and tach before putting the dash back together. In addition to fixing some of the previous owner's "butchering" behind these gauges, I found the tach to be disconnected. Further checking it turned out that the car now has an HEI distributor in it with no gear. As a result I want to convert the mechanical tach to electronic. I've read most of the forum comments on the subject and I believe I would like to go the simplest route. I'm looking at two options:
1. Send tach off to Redline or Corvetteclocks and have them convert it (waiting for them to quote price).
2. Purchase a new (re-popped I presume) 1975-77 tach and swap out the guts (approx. $180).
As some of the previous comments on the subject are several years old, I'm wondering what the latest thinking is on the subject. FYI, I DO have the speedo/tach unit out of the car, so to R&R the tach now would be easy.
As always, thanks in advance for your comments/thoughts.
Wayne
1. Send tach off to Redline or Corvetteclocks and have them convert it (waiting for them to quote price).
2. Purchase a new (re-popped I presume) 1975-77 tach and swap out the guts (approx. $180).
As some of the previous comments on the subject are several years old, I'm wondering what the latest thinking is on the subject. FYI, I DO have the speedo/tach unit out of the car, so to R&R the tach now would be easy.
As always, thanks in advance for your comments/thoughts.
Wayne
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Swapping it out isn't that hard.. the repro gauge is 179.00 on our site and if you use the sale code this weekend you'll save 10 or 15 percent based on what you order. http://willcoxcorvette.com/advanced_...&keywords=tach
But once you get the new gauge, you remove the needle by just pulling it off. You then remove the face rivets, and install your old face on the gauge. When you are finished, use the zero set instruction video found in the install and repair help section of the site. It will show you how to get the needle back on in the proper place. http://willcoxcorvette.com/advanced_...&keywords=tach
We have a tool here we made from a crab fork for pulling the electronic tach needles.. sometimes they can be difficult to get off and you do not want to damage the needle.
When you remove the old mechanical tach needle, turn it counter clock-wise and pulling outward.
Willcox
But once you get the new gauge, you remove the needle by just pulling it off. You then remove the face rivets, and install your old face on the gauge. When you are finished, use the zero set instruction video found in the install and repair help section of the site. It will show you how to get the needle back on in the proper place. http://willcoxcorvette.com/advanced_...&keywords=tach
We have a tool here we made from a crab fork for pulling the electronic tach needles.. sometimes they can be difficult to get off and you do not want to damage the needle.
When you remove the old mechanical tach needle, turn it counter clock-wise and pulling outward.
Willcox
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Jun 14, 2014 at 07:45 PM.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Visalia CA
Swapping it out isn't that hard.. the repro gauge is 179.00 on our site and if you use the sale code this weekend you'll save 10 or 15 percent based on what you order. http://willcoxcorvette.com/advanced_...&keywords=tach
But once you get the new gauge, you remove the needle by just pulling it off. You then remove the face rivets, and install your old face on the gauge. When you are finished, use the zero set instruction video found in the install and repair help section of the site. It will show you how to get the needle back on in the proper place. http://willcoxcorvette.com/advanced_...&keywords=tach
We have a tool here we made from a crab fork for pulling the electronic tach needles.. sometimes they can be difficult to get off and you do not want to damage the needle.
When you remove the old mechanical tach needle, turn it counter clock-wise and pulling outward.
Willcox
But once you get the new gauge, you remove the needle by just pulling it off. You then remove the face rivets, and install your old face on the gauge. When you are finished, use the zero set instruction video found in the install and repair help section of the site. It will show you how to get the needle back on in the proper place. http://willcoxcorvette.com/advanced_...&keywords=tach
We have a tool here we made from a crab fork for pulling the electronic tach needles.. sometimes they can be difficult to get off and you do not want to damage the needle.
When you remove the old mechanical tach needle, turn it counter clock-wise and pulling outward.
Willcox
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
And.. if you have any questions on this.. you know where to find me... 
You'll do fine with this... I have thought about offering this item with a new face installed, but it's really not that hard to do.
Willcox
You'll do fine with this... I have thought about offering this item with a new face installed, but it's really not that hard to do.
Willcox
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
I did my conversion back in '95 when doing the L98 injection and HEI on the '72.....I can't recall the prices back then for old '75+ vette tachs that bolted in.....BUT, today I think Wilcox is the way to go man.....
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Joined: Oct 2013
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From: Visalia CA
Thanks to you both. Every time I think I'm ready to start buttoning up the dash, I find something else. Hopefully this will be it. Here's a pix of what it currently looks like. A little un-nerving when you first look at it . . . but believe it or not, I really do know where most everything goes!
