Installing after market Tachometer questions

[Cuse99]

1984 Chevy El Camino, standard model. Small block V8, no computer (its been modified)

Hello Forum members. I bought an Autometer mini tach for my car and I could use some help to install it. I worked on cars in my youth but not in a while. If I have good instructions I can get this done, but I'm not a mechanic so please be kind. I can mount the unit and run wires and I can splice wires, no worries. I'm having trouble identifing which wires to splice to. 4 wires model.
1. Ground - no problem
2.Connect to HEI distributor - no problem

3. Hot wire, on with ignition only - could use some help
4. On with dash lighting - could use some help.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[SS_Malibu]

The ground goes to a good ground source.
The green wire (I think it is) goes to the tach connection on the HEI distributor.
The red wire (I think it is) goes to a hot fuse when the key is on in the fuse block under the dash by the brake pedal. Use a test light to see what fuse is hot when key is on and off when key is off. You should be able to put a female end on the wire and just plug it in. There will be a spot for this to plug in.
The white wire goes to the lights. You will need to pull the light switch and find the wires that operates the dimmer on the lights. Use a test light to see which wire dims. You can put a male connector on that wire and slip it in next to the dimmer wire.

This is what I did and it works great.
Hope this helps.

 

[melloelky]

he's right^^the spot on the fuse block he's referring to will be next to a fuse where "ING" will be printed.that means it has power when the ignition is on and it's also protected with the fuse to next to it.there is a spot labeled "inst light" that will feed your white illumination wire. something like this:

1980 Monte Carlo Fuse Box Diagram

Thought this might be helpful to some people The labels are above each fuse or power take off. NB - most of the fuse values in my box are wrong! IGN are switched power, +12v with ignition on - fused through the gauges/inst fuse (10A) BATT are permanent +12V -the one under the power accy...

gbodyforum.com

 

[SS_Malibu]

he's right^^the spot on the fuse block he's referring to will be next to a fuse where "ING" will be printed.that means it has power when the ignition is on and it's also protected with the fuse to next to it.there is a spot labeled "inst light" that will feed your white illumination wire. something like this:

1980 Monte Carlo Fuse Box Diagram

Thought this might be helpful to some people The labels are above each fuse or power take off. NB - most of the fuse values in my box are wrong! IGN are switched power, +12v with ignition on - fused through the gauges/inst fuse (10A) BATT are permanent +12V -the one under the power accy...

gbodyforum.com

I forgot about the "ING" labeling.

 

[melloelky]

I forgot about the "ING" labeling.

I wish I knew about that in my youth,I did terrible things w/my first car😊

 

[Cuse99]

he's right^^the spot on the fuse block he's referring to will be next to a fuse where "ING" will be printed.that means it has power when the ignition is on and it's also protected with the fuse to next to it.there is a spot labeled "inst light" that will feed your white illumination wire. something like this:

1980 Monte Carlo Fuse Box Diagram

Thought this might be helpful to some people The labels are above each fuse or power take off. NB - most of the fuse values in my box are wrong! IGN are switched power, +12v with ignition on - fused through the gauges/inst fuse (10A) BATT are permanent +12V -the one under the power accy...

gbodyforum.com

That's good information, thank you. So how to I connect the wire to the fuse box? Is there a connector or adaptor?

 

[melloelky]

crimp on a male spade connector,it's a small flat blade that will press between those two spring loaded contacts.in a pinch you could flatten the wire and solder it flat and do the same thing press it between the contacts

 

[pagrunt]

These might be usful if you want it to be factory like.

ATO Fuse Box Power Tap Set

ATO Fuse Box Power Tap Set to easily add accessories to your GM based fuse panel!

americanautowire.com

 

[bracketchev1221]

That’s how I did mine 30 years ago. Man that was a long time ago.