Tachometer

[Chasander]

Anyone aware of a "ready" tach hook up wire for 63?

Chuck

[KongaMan]

Nope.  Buick used a dedicated harness.  If you don't have that, you'll need to run wires to the - terminal on the coil, panel lights, and ground.  If it's an aftermarket tach, you might also need to run a wire to a switched (IGN/ACC) 12V source.

[MaineDoc]

I had an instrument restoration shop put a 2 1/16 tach in my clock housing and then ran wires as described above.

[Chasander]

I have had "Buick" tach  since 1965 I plan on putting in the console of my 63. Should 18 gage wire be adequate to connect to coil?

Chuck

[telriv]

Yes, but I would use 16.

[KongaMan]

6 hours ago, telriv said:

Yes, but I would use 16.

 

How much current does a tach draw?  5' of 18 gauge will handle over 20 amps.  Let's put that in perspective: for stock 55/60W headlights, running all 4 lights (brights on) draws 20 amps.  I can't think a tach would draw but a small fraction of that.  If one looks at the circuit which is being tapped to feed the tach (- terminal on the coil), you'll see that when the engine is running, power is supplied by a 20 gauge resistor wire (full voltage is only supplied while starting).  If you're drawing enough current to require 16 gauge, you're going to have problems trying to pull that same current through the existing 20 gauge wire.

Edited November 11, 2016 by KongaMan (see edit history)