Autometer Tach Install...Any special considerations for HEI or MSD?

[Greg72]

I'd like to get an Autometer tach for my K5....the factory tach just isn't cutting it (it reads WAY high!)

I am almost positive that if I decide to to go an MSD ignition at some later date, there's a little adaptor or circuit that I'll need to ask MSD for to make it work right, RIGHT? (Burt4x4 may have mentioned this in the past)

What about the HEI system? Is there anything unusual that I need to buy or ask for because of this conversion? It seems like most cars would use a "non-points type" ignition, so if I had to guess it seems that the HEI won't make any difference.....but I figure I'd ask the list here and get the answer before I waste a trip to the store and buy the wrong thing!

-Greg72

'72 K5 Blazer - 427BB/TH350/NP205/6" Lift/35x12.50's
<font color=blue>See it here: </font color=blue><a target="_blank" href=http://coloradok5.com/gallery/albun38>http://coloradok5.com/gallery/albun38</a>

 

[dragricinMT]

It won't matter. The tach will hook up to either.The differance will be where you hook up the green wire. On the HEI it is to the tach terminal. On the MSD it is to the box if I remember right. On the ready-to-run distributor from MSD I can find out about. One of the guys I work with is putting it in his 32 ford coupe.

78-K5 4"Lift 35"Tires 400SB TH350 NP205
73 Vega 350SB TH350

 

[NoSmog73]

the above mentioned is true I just installed the 2301 and it will work with either or and you don't need any special adapters the instuctions are very good and layed out for the hei or the msd It says how to do both .

 

[sosamantx]

it actually depends on what kind of tach it is. but, I believe most if not all Autometer tachs should work with the MSD. I had a Stewart?? tach, and I had to buy the adapter, it was roughly $30.00?, vs. $40 for the new tach, so I went with the new tach (Autometer). lol

<font color=blue>Steve Sosa a.k.a. "sosaman"</font color=blue>
<a target="_blank" href=http://sosaman.home.texas.net/carpics.html>http://sosaman.home.texas.net/carpics.html</a>

 

[CaptCrunch]

yup almost all of the autometer tachs work w/ msd w/ no hassles.

-Mikey
1987 Chevy K5 Blazer- 350 TBI
<a target="_blank" href=http://coloradok5.com/gallery/captcrunch>http://coloradok5.com/gallery/captcrunch</a>

 

['73 K5]

Hey Greg, I wouldn't worry about it. I hooked up a VDO tach to my HEI and it worked just fine. Then a few weeks ago I installed an MSD 6A box and instead of plugging the lead into the bottom of the dist. cap, there is a place on the box itself that your tach will get its info from. Works fine for me.

'73 K5
Chevy good...Ford bad

 

[Greg72]

Great information.....! Thanks to all who responded......

Full Steam Ahead!

.....keep your eyes on the "Parts For Sale" section for a Factory Tach posting.....

-Greg72

'72 K5 Blazer - 427BB/TH350/NP205/6" Lift/35x12.50's
<font color=blue>See it here: </font color=blue><a target="_blank" href=http://coloradok5.com/gallery/albun38>http://coloradok5.com/gallery/albun38</a>