Temp Tach/voltmeter hookup

Cmino · Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2006 8:11 pm Post subject: Temp Tach/voltmeter hookup

No dash tach so I need to temporarily hook up my tach/volt meter to break in my new cam at 2k rpm.
87 Cmino w/computer controlled distributor & separate coil. No tach filter. Only found white wire with exposed male connector wire tied to wire bundle near brake power booster. Previous posts indicated that this wire may be used but nothing said for sure. I only have one crack at this for proper cam break-in so the tach meter must be connected correctly the first time. Can anybody confirm this to be the correct tach connection or confirm the proper place to connect a tach test meter?

Thanks.

SHADOWHAWK · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:11 pm Post subject:

On my Elco, the white wire is to the tach and I had no filter.
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SHADOWHAWK

Cmino · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:53 pm Post subject:

Got the meter on it and traced this loose white wire back to the coil. It is one of two wires. The other one is a larger red. There are 2 plugs on the coil with 2 wires each. The 2 wires from the other plug go to the distributor module. A previous post said if you have a separate coil to run the tach signal from the negative, not positive terminal of the coil. What is strange is this white wire in question has a male terminal on it that would normally be in a plastic connector but is not and the wire doesn't look long enough to reach where the dash tach would be.

Also I don't see how a wire from the coil can give rpm signal but I'll have to look into the coil workings and learn me something.

Well I hope to give it a try tomorrow. I think I'll get an earfull of my other cars at 2k rpm to get an idea if the tach meter doesn't work.

Thanks for the feedback. I've spent a lot of time searching with little details within info found, especially on computer controlled distributors.

87ElCamino · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 4:45 am Post subject:

Cmino · Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 11:05 am Post subject:

Hey thanks guys. Now hopefully I can get this thing running right away to properly break in the cam and not damage it. Before the new parts, it was very difficult to get the rockers adjusted so the engine would run. And I tried several techniques several times.

I can't wait to do something I Want to do to this '87 Cmino rather than what I Have to do. But I still Have to work on the steering linkage on my '83 Cmino before I can play.

SHADOWHAWK · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 12:16 pm Post subject:

Here is another route for you to use. Sears / Craftsman makes a small digital Tach / RPM module with test leads. It runs about $50 or less. It runs on a 9 volt battery, your are able to select number of cylinders (1 to 12 cyls.) and it is a solid state device which means that it is "Bullet Proof" and very accurate.
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V/R

SHADOWHAWK