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Testing the speedometer and tachometer out of the car cheaply

Old 07-07-2019, 07:14 PM
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Car: 1989 Firebird
Engine: 5.7 LS1
Transmission: T56
Testing the speedometer and tachometer out of the car cheaply

So i wanted to upgrade to the 140 mph speedometer and the V6 tach to better match the LS1 in my car. Right after my swap my odometer stopped working. So I picked up a 140mph speedometer and low and behold its odometer is also dead.
So I ordered http://m.odometergears.com/mobile/products/Pontiac/Firebird-Trans+Am/178 and rebuild the odometer. But I wanted to verify I had the needle on right.

So I ordered a cheap signal generator that outputs the same voltage as the input voltage at the selected frequency.

Signal generator on Amazon Signal generator on Amazon

Here is the results.


It's as accurate as it was before, I will replace all the capacitors before I install it in the car to be prudent.

This works for the tach also.

Speedometer is 4000 pulses per mile so the formula is.
4000*speed/60/60=frequency in hz for that speed in mph.

For a v6 tach it's 3 pulses per revolution(ppr), and for a v8 tach it's 4 per revolution.

So for example at 2000rpm on a v6 tach the math is.
2000rpm*3ppr/60=frequency in hz.


Speedometer wire, red 12vdc, black ground, green signal

Red 12vdc, black ground, green signal

Last edited by Aviator857; 07-07-2019 at 07:37 PM.
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