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brant |
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#1
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914 Wizard ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 12,005 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Colorado Member No.: 47 Region Association: Rocky Mountains ![]() ![]() ![]() |
A really great member of the teener community called last night
he has done more good things for more people, but last night had a question It was around trying to get his tach to work on his -6 conversion I remember many threads about not requiring a MSD tach adapter, but couldn't find them in my searches. Can anyone point me along or offer their knowledge to help out ? specifics: 2.7/6 CDI died a few months ago. MSD was installed, and car runs well. Tach is now not working however. He is running an MSD optical pick up (white wire) and using the wiring instructions provided. He is not running the tach adapter and it was my belief that it may not be required? thanks in advance all! brant |
underthetire |
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#2
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914 Guru ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 5,062 Joined: 7-October 08 From: Brentwood Member No.: 9,623 Region Association: Northern California ![]() |
From what I understand you need it for the VDO tach.
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jcd914 |
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#3
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Advanced Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 2,096 Joined: 7-February 08 From: Sacramento, CA Member No.: 8,684 Region Association: Northern California ![]() |
When Rob and I put a MSD 6A on his 914/4 we tried 2 different MSD tach adapter (neither worked) before we got smart enough to plug the tach straight into the tach output from the MSD 6A unit. The tach adapter are an attempt to condition the voltage pulses thru the coil enough that the tach will read them similar to a point signal.
I don't know if it will be that simple for a 6 cylinder but it was for the 4 cylinder. Jim |
Kirmizi |
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#4
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Senior Member ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 836 Joined: 12-February 06 From: Wyoming, US Member No.: 5,568 Region Association: None ![]() |
Brant, when I hooked up the MSD in mine, I didn't need the tach adapter.
I used the tach output like jcd and it's been working fine. Mike |
mightyohm |
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#5
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Advanced Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Benefactors Posts: 2,277 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Seattle, WA Member No.: 162 Region Association: Pacific Northwest ![]() ![]() |
Early tach (silver dot) - Need tach adapter, tach is still wired to the trigger (white) wire of the MSD. Tach adapter goes from white wire to ground.
Late tach (black dot) - No tach adapter required. Connect tach to the MSD tach output terminal on the side of the box. Any tach for a 6 that came with CD ignition probably also falls into this category. This is based on my experience, YMMV. |
ConeDodger |
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#6
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Apex killer! ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 24,089 Joined: 31-December 04 From: Tahoe Area Member No.: 3,380 Region Association: Northern California ![]() ![]() |
As Jim said, we used the tach output right off the MSD 6AL box. The only thing I notice that is different is that the tach needle bounces. It was pretty steady in the stock configuration.
Oh, and it was Jim who got smart. I forgot the doggone tach output was even there... |
rick 918-S |
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#7
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Hey nice rack! -Celette ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 21,008 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Now in Superior WI Member No.: 43 Region Association: Northstar Region ![]() ![]() ![]() |
I have a custom tach built inside a 914-4 housing by Mark Surel (Marks914) Here's his web site.
http://www.newvintageusa.com/ I plugged the tach wire directly into the port on the end of the MSD AL6. Works perfect, no adaptor. |
naro914 |
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#8
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Losing my mind... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 2,476 Joined: 26-May 06 From: Charlotte, NC Member No.: 6,073 Region Association: South East States ![]() |
I use an Autometer tach, and it's connected directly to the tach output on the MSD.
IIRC, going from a 4 to a 6, the original tach from the 4 will not work with a 6 engine so you need to replace it anyway. |
IronHillRestorations |
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#9
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I. I. R. C. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 6,819 Joined: 18-March 03 From: West TN Member No.: 439 Region Association: None ![]() ![]() |
If it's a Porsche tach for a six cylinder engine, it will probably need the tach adapter from MSD. Wiring is gray wire from MSD box to tach adapter, then out to the tach via the black/purple wire in the harness.
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campbellcj |
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#10
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I can't Re Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 4,631 Joined: 26-December 02 From: Agoura, CA Member No.: 21 Region Association: Southern California ![]() ![]() |
I just did this a couple months ago too - I had no tach reading at all without the adapter. Tach is from a 69 or 70E as I recall. With the adapter it reads fine but bounces a lot. I'm going to send it to NH Speedo shortly and get it refaced to a GT/RSR look, and see what they can do about the bouncing.
Let me know if you need a pic or more specifics on the wiring but the above posts pretty well cover it. |
brant |
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#11
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914 Wizard ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 12,005 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Colorado Member No.: 47 Region Association: Rocky Mountains ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Thanks to all of you!
I'll pass along to my friend thanks a ton its really great to have multiple actual experiences ! brant |
underthetire |
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#12
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914 Guru ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 5,062 Joined: 7-October 08 From: Brentwood Member No.: 9,623 Region Association: Northern California ![]() |
I just did this a couple months ago too - I had no tach reading at all without the adapter. Tach is from a 69 or 70E as I recall. With the adapter it reads fine but bounces a lot. I'm going to send it to NH Speedo shortly and get it refaced to a GT/RSR look, and see what they can do about the bouncing. Let me know if you need a pic or more specifics on the wiring but the above posts pretty well cover it. The bouncing can be solved by putting a capacitor in the tach. There is a write up on this site somewhere for it. |
campbellcj |
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#13
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I can't Re Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 4,631 Joined: 26-December 02 From: Agoura, CA Member No.: 21 Region Association: Southern California ![]() ![]() |
The bouncing can be solved by putting a capacitor in the tach. There is a write up on this site somewhere for it. Cool! I thought I had seen some info on that. Mine needs cosmetic refreshing and the redline moved anyway so I will leave it up to the pros in this case... |
watsonrx13 |
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#14
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Advanced Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 2,735 Joined: 18-February 03 From: Plant City, FL Member No.: 312 Region Association: South East States ![]() |
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IronHillRestorations |
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#15
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I. I. R. C. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Group: Members Posts: 6,819 Joined: 18-March 03 From: West TN Member No.: 439 Region Association: None ![]() ![]() |
Here's the source!
Just enter the model number and download the instructions in pdf. http://www.msdignition.com/instructiondownload.aspx |
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