Cable driven tach VS eletronic tach

[72VETTE454]

I would like to replace my distributor with a newer MSD unit. My car currently has a cable driven tach. I would really like to install a factory looking electronic tach, which has the right hand turn signal indicator at the bottom and also the brake warning light at the top. Does anyone know which years the cable tach was produced and when the electronic tachs started to appear? I would like to install a later model electronic tach. I really don't want to mount a tach to the steering column or anywhere else on the dash . Has anybody done this? Thanks all, happy driving !

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Do yourself a favour and keep the stock distributor. Unless you're running an all out race engine, the MSD unit will not be of any benefit.

I'm sure others will soon jump in to disagree.

 

[72VETTE454]

Your're probably right about others disagreeing, but thanks for the input. Part of the reason that I want to get away from the cable driven tach is because I don't like the bouncing of the tach needle, which I am assuming is from the cable.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

My cable driven tach is 'bounce free', as are most other cars in good condition. You must have a faulty cable, tach or gear drive.

 

[67HEAVEN]

Why not use this MSD distributor with tach drive?

MSD 8572 Pro Billet - Corvette Tach Drive distributor

 

[AKRAY4PLAY]

i believe the '75's were the first years without cable drive, may be wrong. my '77 has an electric tach. a newer distributor will give the ability to better tune your motor. the MSD has better advance control, adjustible mechanical advance. you can also get an adjustible vacuum canister to really fine tune things. if your old stuff is not working right, no better time to upgrade than now. Brian

 

[Bender]

I have a 81 and my tach bounces :/

 

[Chas]

i fixed mine cheap...

installed a new shaft...the drive gear for the tach was chewed up....then installed a new driven gear on the cable....while i had it out i also installed a conversion kit to go to electronic ignition.....no bounce in the needle and it starts quick with a sweet idle.
let us know how it turns out for your Vette.
Chas

Your're probably right about others disagreeing, but thanks for the input. Part of the reason that I want to get away from the cable driven tach is because I don't like the bouncing of the tach needle, which I am assuming is from the cable.

 

[Chas]

what would cause rust inside of one of these? there is a spoked wheel inside of my buddys ...he has a '72 Z28 with a bb'73....he used this very distributor and it has rusted inside after about 8 months. new cap on it too....

Chas

Why not use this MSD distributor with tach drive?

MSD 8572 Pro Billet - Corvette Tach Drive distributor

 

[Jack]

Electronic OE tach from 75 thru 77 will fit 72 dash. The MSD tach drive distributor P/N 8572 requires a box also ... such as MSD 6A or Crane Hi6 ... 8572 is not a stand-alone distributor ... first generation OE HEI distributor (and clones) is stand-alone.
JACK:gap

 

[BarryK]

Why not use this MSD distributor with tach drive?

MSD 8572 Pro Billet - Corvette Tach Drive distributor

Hi Heaven

I was considering upgrading to electronic distributor also.
would this fit under my shielding? I understand some of the new electronic units don't fit under the shielding and i want to keep it as stock looking as possible

 

[67HEAVEN]

would this fit under my shielding? I understand some of the new electronic units don't fit under the shielding and i want to keep it as stock looking as possible

I doubt it, but since I'm not running the shielding I can't say for sure. Then, as was said above, there's also the issue of the ignition control box to deal with.

 

[72VETTE454]

Wow, thanks for all of the suggestions! Now all I have to do is decide

 

[Toy4Hal]

Can I convert a Dist drive tach to Electronic?

Thought I might jump in here and see what's available. I like the "original" look of things in my 62 'vette. I have a SUN Electronic tach at the moment. But I just bought a set of all the "original" tach and guages. Does someone offer a service to convert an original 62 distributor driven tach to electronic? Why do I want to do this? Because my current Mallory distributor does not have a mechanical tach conneciton. Also, less maintenance.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Space Cowboy]

I spent what I consider big bucks on a Mallory 3864501 with mechanical tach. I looked at the MSD and as y'all have stated it needed a box as well. My thoughts were why spend the extra money when you can get everything in one package, especially when you need all the room you can get under the hood!.

 

[Toy4Hal]

I spent what I consider big bucks on a Mallory 3864501 with mechanical tach. I looked at the MSD and as y'all have stated it needed a box as well. My thoughts were why spend the extra money when you can get everything in one package, especially when you need all the room you can get under the hood!.

I'm missing the point. Sorry, slow Monday! Are you saying don't bother converting to mechanical; don't buy the MSD, but get the Mallory (no add-on); or...............?????:confused :confused

Hal!

 

[Space Cowboy]

I would say stick with mechanical. Based on what I was told by several sources, there is no way to hook up the manual tach cable to an electronic distributor. I would also go with the Mallory being you don't have to buy the extra box like on the MSD.

 

[72VETTE454]

Thanks again for all the input!

 

[Jack]

For street chevy V8 with carb ... particularly one that's driven to work or on long distances ... you can't beat an OEM type HEI distributor. It can be easily retrofitted with high output guts ... and just as easily revert to stock guts. All "electronic" distributors (including HEI) have some sort of unique amplifier and/or trigger. When Pertronix or Crane XL or Mallory or Unilite or MSD or Accel etc with "electronic/magnetic/optical" guts fails when on the road ... you're toast. You will not readily find repair parts for aftermaket distributors. On the other hand, an OEM type HEI is virtually bulletproof (whether stock or modified) ... and when it fails you can still find All HEI parts just about Anywhere ... even if you'd installed a hipo module/coil in the HEI ... you can drop stock parts right back in it. I have a fairly sophisticated MSD system on the 71 ... but I also have a complete spare OEM type HEI tucked away in the rear. If reliability and time-to-repair is important ... OEM type HEI should be given close consideration.
JACK:gap

 

[silvernblack]

I've done both....

I used an MSD tach drive, worked fine always, and it also was rusty as all getout when I pulled it out.....always ran fine, but I was disappointed with the rust within...for that price.

I then got a 76 Electronic Tach and hooked that up to a GM small cap HEI when I got another engine.

Definitely prefer the Electronic Tach option. It's a a lot simple to change things and and not have to be concerned with that tach drive thing.

by the way, neither of the tachs had bounce problems.