Tach drive distributor
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,629
Likes: 7
From: Lawrenceville PA
Tach drive distributor
I'm looking at swapping out my tired small block for a crate engine and want to upgrade the distributor to HEI at the same time. What's involved and do I need to get an HEI tach drive unit or will any HEI work? Please explain in laymen's terms as I'm not real mechanically inclined. Thanks. :D
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,094
Likes: 990
From: Sierra Foothills CA
Re: Tach drive distributor (midget)
If there's a cable(to drive the tach) coming out of the base of your current distributor you'll need a cable drive distributor or your tach won't work. As for whether you can get HEI w/ cable drive...I wish I knew but I don't. I'm sure somebody else here will know. If not, I'm pretty sure you can get a nice MSD cable drive tach through Summit or Jegs.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,004
Likes: 2
From: Severna Park Md
Re: Tach drive distributor (midget)
If you want your factory in dash cable drive tach to work then youll need a tach drive dist. Any HeI will run the engine, but only those with tach drive will also run the tach. Hei tach drives are available for around $400. No sure what a MSd setup costs.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 62
From: Redondo Beach CA
C2 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: Tach drive distributor (Jvette73)
You can get the MSD Chevrolet Corvette Pro-Billet distributor with tach drive and vacuum advance for $286.95, MSD-6AL for $195.95, and Blaster 2 Coil for MSD ignitions for $28.95 all from Summit. $512 is a bit more than a tach drive HEI, but you will be getting a lot more. You could also save $45 and get teh regular MSD 6A.
I have the Tach drive distributor (no vacuum advance because they did not make the vacuum advance model then), 6A and Blaster setup and I am very happy with it.
I have the Tach drive distributor (no vacuum advance because they did not make the vacuum advance model then), 6A and Blaster setup and I am very happy with it.
