[350chev]

I think I got my tach fixed but it shows an idle of 1500. I was wondering if this is a normal idle for a 350. From the the way it sounds I am kinda skeptical about that high of a number. I could go make a video to let you all hear it yourselves but I was wondering if I could get an answer straight up.

Also I was told that some tachs have a switch from 6 to 8 cylinders. Perhaps this is the case? Where exactly would the the switch be located on the back on the tach? This is an original SS tach by the way.

 

[kettbo]

The original SS tach is wired for 8 cyl only

1500 rpm is way high
650-700 in neutral for a stocker
800 for a hopped-up engine
900 serious engine
1000 really serious engine

Someone you know should have a dwell meter. These have a tachometer function.
Try one of these for a second opinion

 

[350chev]

I have one of these

Would this work?

 

[MinionII]

No; that's just a multimeter...for measuring electical characteristic.

 

[442 Harv]

You need to get a Dwell tach testing type, and check it. I bet the car tach is off? I have had a lot off experience with Olds one, and after 40 years many are way off. Not sure about Chevy, but on the Olds there is a adjusting screw on the back, have to move it very little to change. But you need to hook up a good unit first, together with the car one then set it to be the same as the test one. If it is ideling at 1500 can can tell right away it is to fast, and you would have hard time putting it in gear if a auto, and at that speed it would be hard to turn off, it would want try to keep running,not good.

 

[350chev]

No I can tell that its way too high. I was just not 100% sure about it so I asked. I can usually tell from the sound of the engine as to how fast its moving. The main reason I want my tach fixed is so that I know where my redline is.

 

[67shovel]

I'd turn down the idle till it sounds right and then go read the tach. A mild 350 will idle below 1000 RPMs.