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Tach cable fail

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Old May 14, 2016 | 09:14 PM
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Default Tach cable fail

1974 4 speed Sbc

Ordered a tach cable from Amazon. Got the old one out and went to install new one. I completely destroyed the rubber grommet getting the old cable out, to top it all off, it's the wrong cable as well. Figured that out after fighting it for 2 hrs.

Do we have a vendor or can someone possibly link me to a cable they successfully installed and also the rubber grommet? Thanks!

Last edited by Vaipulu; May 14, 2016 at 09:15 PM.
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Old May 15, 2016 | 01:44 AM
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High; lesson learned. buy your parts from a major corvette vendor , there's plenty of them such as Willcox Corvette, Corvette Central, Zip Corvette and many others. I never installed a tach cable but have installed a speedo cable and would assume they are about the same as far as routing through the firewall. Install the grommet on the cable first ( it will stretch) and then install the cable.
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Old May 15, 2016 | 02:24 AM
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The error was my own, not reading specific years, assuming a tach cable was generic item across C3's. I don't fault corvette central what so ever. Really looking for the replacement grommet as the 40+ year old rubber is no longer serviceable.

Last edited by Vaipulu; May 15, 2016 at 02:29 AM.
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Old May 15, 2016 | 07:01 AM
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Is this the one you're looking for?

http://shop.docrebuild.com/1963-1982...332650NOS.aspx
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Old May 15, 2016 | 07:03 AM
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tach cable

http://shop.docrebuild.com/1969-1974...GM6477844.aspx
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Old May 15, 2016 | 11:20 AM
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Also.......you can re-index the spark plug wires on your distributor so the new tach cable isn't kinked or in a bind agsinst the firewall which would cause it to fail sooner.
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Old May 15, 2016 | 11:35 AM
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I bought the cheapest tach cable on ebay speced for my 74 ... 4 years ago.. works fine with no issues on install for me (it was from some corvette parts store on ebay but I dont remember the name) but as others have mentioned the angle the cable bents at the distributor can cause a lot of wear... They do make a 90 degree adapter for this as well as reindexing the dist to take care of it... I also replaced my original distributor with a $60 HEI tack drive unit and have been happy with its performance so far (I did replace the springs and hei ignition module).


EDIT willcox has these cables for 17.50 on their ebay store... http://www.ebay.com/itm/CORVETTE-TAC...NV~GPH&vxp=mtr


heres the 90 degree adapter...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Corvette-Tac...tU80Gz&vxp=mtr

Last edited by augiedoggy; May 15, 2016 at 11:42 AM.
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Old May 19, 2016 | 08:52 PM
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Originally Posted by augiedoggy
I bought the cheapest tach cable on ebay speced for my 74 ... 4 years ago.. works fine with no issues on install for me (it was from some corvette parts store on ebay but I dont remember the name) but as others have mentioned the angle the cable bents at the distributor can cause a lot of wear... They do make a 90 degree adapter for this as well as reindexing the dist to take care of it... I also replaced my original distributor with a $60 HEI tack drive unit and have been happy with its performance so far (I did replace the springs and hei ignition module).


EDIT willcox has these cables for 17.50 on their ebay store... http://www.ebay.com/itm/CORVETTE-TAC...NV~GPH&vxp=mtr


heres the 90 degree adapter...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Corvette-Tac...tU80Gz&vxp=mtr




You guys are awesome! Got all the parts re-ordered. When re-clocking the distributor, just move it over a spline and move the Spark plug wires over one? Does anyone have a picture? Thanks again!
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Old May 19, 2016 | 09:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Vaipulu
Does anyone have a picture?
Email Lars at
V8FastCars@msn.com
He will send you a how to with pictures.

Just ask for the distributor reclocking paper.

Last edited by Peterbuilt; May 19, 2016 at 09:19 PM.
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Old May 19, 2016 | 10:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Peterbuilt
Email Lars at
V8FastCars@msn.com
He will send you a how to with pictures.

Just ask for the distributor reclocking paper.
Email sent!
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Old May 20, 2016 | 08:23 AM
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Originally Posted by Vaipulu
Email sent!
Make sure you grease the cable! I broke one because of the angle, purchased a second one and forgot to grease it. Third one is in and
no problems.

Last edited by HT1663WB; May 20, 2016 at 08:23 AM.
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Old May 20, 2016 | 06:14 PM
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Originally Posted by HT1663WB
Make sure you grease the cable! I broke one because of the angle, purchased a second one and forgot to grease it. Third one is in and
no problems.

Do you remember what grease you used?
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Old May 22, 2016 | 12:42 PM
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I got mine from Rick's Corvettes and it came with the lube, I also got the firewall plug got my 71.
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