Need help with Tach on HEI Distributor install

[johnmarlene]

I just installed an HEI distributor on my 71 Grande. When the Tach wire is plugged in it shuts down the engine. I'm sure the fix is simple....any experience in this area?

Thanks

 

[hhead]

Your tach is grounding out. Had a vdo tach go down on me, and the tach was only two days old!! I'll NEVER buy vdo again. Run an Autometer now and all is well.
Good thing you found out it was the tach.
It took me two days to figure that one out. I was on the phone to DUI, because the tach was 'brand new', and it couldn't be that.
Good thing was DUI stepped to the plate and sent me all new parts. When I went to change parts and wouldn't you know it wouldn't fire.
Disconnect the tach and it fired right up. Put all the old parts back in, and fired right up. No vdo parts for me, ever!

 

[TOM B]

some tachs are made different. some work from a ground and some dont, some VDO tachs work from a ground as do many stock tachs and they wont work with a aftermarket HEI ignition without a adapter. I installed a aftermarket MSD dist. and ignition box MSD6A and my tach stoped working, its not the tach, get a adapter or buy a tach that will work with your ignition system.

 

[hhead]

Works for two days and then stops??
I think if it needed an adapter, it wouldn't have worked from the get go. Or maybe the readings would be off.
Plus, NONE of the instructions said anything about adapters. If I remember, there was just a notation for 4,6, or 8 cyl.
Get an Autometer, and don't look back.