boat tachometer in car?

[billy]

i found this thing at a yard sale.

after trying to research it on line it seems that it was used on 8 cylinder engines.

i don't have a sender (or whatever it is called)

i wonder if it would work in the 27 Chevy?

in a worst case scenario would i just burn the tach up?

or would i cause damage to other electrical components of the car?

 

[billy]

the problem is airguide made tachs for many types of engines and they all look the same.
2-4-6 and 8 cylinder
there is supposed to be a number on the back to tell what it is for.
mine has no number.
so i guess i will hook it up.
if it fries it will go on the wall of shame.

 

[ronnysplymouth]

Tachometers are usually either electrically controlled or run off a magneto......yours appears to be electrical......one wire is for the distributor reference and one is for the light in the tach I believe..................If its for a 4 or 6 cylinder and you hook to an 8 cylinder it'll just read wrong but wont damage it

 

[hearseman]

Tach

3 types of tachs:
Electric
Mechanical
Ear

Almost all electrical tacs that are single pole will work on any disributor that has the plug for it.

You should have two wires:
1. Light
2: Distribtor

4,6 or 8 cyl don't matter, only the distribtor.

 

[rex1927]

Use it

I have used marine tachs before.They work fine.
Had one off 4 cyl in a V8 vega,It worked,just was way fast.I had a lot of fun watching tack redline when driving.
I thought I could score one off of 1934 Elco yacht the other day.I forgot it was cable drive back then.Would be too much trouble for me to make work.
Boat has flat head Dodge engines.I think they are a little later model then boat.
Cool old boat.Shame it sank and is junked.