Aftermarket RPM Tach

[Unicornasaurus]

So my stock 91 Festiva L didn't come with an RPM gauge, and I was thinking of putting in an aftermarket one..nothing too fancy, just something that tells me what my current RPM is.

Is there any sort of modifications I have to do to hook it up? Or is the connection already there in the car(just not being used)?

[Gforcefd]

If your talking about putting in another festiva cluster that has the tach the wiring should already be there. If you mean putting in a tach from like autometer or something, you should only need a ground wire, a power wire, and a signal wire from the distributor. I could be wrong though.

[Unicornasaurus]

If your talking about putting in another festiva cluster that has the tach the wiring should already be there. If you mean putting in a tach from like autometer or something, you should only need a ground wire, a power wire, and a signal wire from the distributor. I could be wrong though.

Nah I'm keeping the Festiva cluster that's there right now..I was thinking of a gauge to the left of the cluster, right above the vent.

[Quickslick4444]

I have one on mine. I have a 88' L and it didnt come with the tach wires. Reguardless if you dont have the tach wires to your speedo its easy. If you do evvvvvven easier. Wire for power, wire for ground, and a wire for the coil, and a wire for the backlight if it has one. I pulled my dash but it was not neccesary.

[Unicornasaurus]

I have one on mine. I have a 88' L and it didnt come with the tach wires. Reguardless if you dont have the tach wires to your speedo its easy. If you do evvvvvven easier. Wire for power, wire for ground, and a wire for the coil, and a wire for the backlight if it has one. I pulled my dash but it was not neccesary.

Is there any way to check without pulling the dash?

[Quickslick4444]

Should be. Theres a plastic trim in front of the speedo... that should come off. Then the tach should have 4 screws i think then it will come out. From there u can check the connections and see if you have a tach wire... dont rember what color... yellow/green maybe? Like i said i didnt have this wire... so i went straight to the coil.

[Unicornasaurus]

Just tried to take the cluster off..didn't work very well. I got the trim and the 4 screws off, but the cluster wouldn't come out far enough to unplug it or even check the connections for that matter.

[Damkid]

i have an aftermarket tach in mine (which i still need to take out cause i got a tach cluster) i wired it to the coil, i can check what color wire it is and even take a pic to show you

[Unicornasaurus]

i have an aftermarket tach in mine (which i still need to take out cause i got a tach cluster) i wired it to the coil, i can check what color wire it is and even take a pic to show you

That would be awesome, thanks. Also, did you drill any holes for the wires? or did you route it through previous ones?

[Damkid]

i routed the wires through holes that were already there, i'll have to wait til tomorrow to get the pics and that for ya

[b3 madness]

Just tried to take the cluster off..didn't work very well. I got the trim and the 4 screws off, but the cluster wouldn't come out far enough to unplug it or even check the connections for that matter.

If you loosen the speedo cable from the transmission, then it will allow you to pull out the cluster further to reach the connections.

If you are real good, then you can reach up under the dash just to the right of the steering column and disconnect the speedo cable from the cluster, not having to pull it from the transmission. :wink:

Good luck!

[Quickslick4444]

Yea... your speedo cable it what is not allowing you to pull the speedo. Like B3 said loosen it at the tranny. From there your good to go

[Damkid]

this is where i wired in the wire for the coil signal, it's almost hard to tell but the green wire goes to the tach and it's tied in to the yellow

[EVOGUN]

this is where i wired in the wire for the coil signal, it's almost hard to tell but the green wire goes to the tach and it's tied in to the yellow

Hey wash your motor! Also if you plan to do the same make sure you solder and heat shrink the connection. Scotch locks are not a sealed connection!

Thanks :wink:

[25Horseplay]

You haven't EVEN seen how dirty his motor is!