Installing a tach.

[CamaroZ90]

I'm hoping to install a tachometer into my 1986 Chevrolet Camaro (2.8L). It doesn't have a tach in it right now so I was gonna use this gauge pod:

http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/ProductImages/interior/gauges/atm_10101.jpg

But I'm unsure if I need anything but the wiring to install it. Any information on installing a tach on a car that has never had one will help tremendously. Thanks in advance.

[llwood]

Just kinda wondering but uh what do you need a tach for anyway its a 2.8. You gotta pic of your dash? I gotta say i've never seen one with out it. Whats it look like?

[CamaroZ90]

The reason why I want to get a tach in a 2.8L is just because I will be upgrading the engine (eventually) and I'm not exactly rolling in dough so it would be the cheapest way to accomplish this. Secondly, yeah I'm in the dark ages for RPM's haha, I don't necessarily have a picture of my dash because my camera is broken but I found one that is similar to it:

http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/ProductImages/interior/gaugeshifterinlays/8587camaroinlay.gif

The only thing different would be that the backing is white and the backing of mine is black.

[llwood]

huh, thats ugly as hell, you should see about swaping in an entire gauge cluster out of wrecked car or something

[CamaroZ90]

lol, gee thanks. thats only my baby you're talking about LOL. Yeah i know, the dash is pretty damn ugly lol. And I never would of thought of going to a junkyard and taking another cars dash, but, I'd rather have brand new parts for my car, I'm slowly restoring it but restoring it customly.

[diamondstealth]

The tach install should be pretty straight forward. 4 wires, Green goes to the Tach side of the coil, black is ground, red is ignition hot, and white goes to your light switch. So when you turn on the lights, the tach lights up. Pretty easy.

[CamaroZ90]

what do you mean tach side of the coil??

[diamondstealth]

usually there are two wires on the coil, one is the hot wire, the other is the tach wire. disconnect the connector on the coil and grab a test light, one will light the test light, the other is your tach wire.

[CamaroZ90]

so like on every car, even if they dont have a tach to begin with, has a tach wire?

[diamondstealth]

most vehicles have a tach wire if they have a single coil. I'm sure your camaro has one because they offered that car with a tach. the tach wire on the coil should be green. Most cars I've seen are like this. You just need a test light for the tach install.

[CamaroZ90]

alright gotcha... thanks a lot, it makes my life a lot easier lol.

[diamondstealth]

just remember when you buy a tach, they aren't universal. look for a switch on the back or bottom that allows you to switch between 8,6,4 cylinders. If you buy a v8 tach, it won't read right.

[CamaroZ90]

yeah, i found an extremely cheap tach that says its "Universal" but i don't know if i buy it or not: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/7-COLOR-2-RPM-TACHOMETER-TACH-GAUGE-EL-GLOW-UNIVERSAL_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33679QQihZ020 QQitemZ300031063688QQtcZphoto#ebayphotohosting