I called Mallory Tech support and they guy told me Mallory does not make the tach drive cables and they havent since 1990. They told me they didnt know who made the cables or how to make it work. I was like Oh great support buddy.

I need to know what cable to buy and from where and specs even a part # would be great. Someone has to have answers here becuase 3 Mallory dealers were lost when I phoned them as well.

Also Mallory said I can get a black distributor replacement cap from Morroso or Summit. once again nobody knows the part number or ever heard of this. Mallory told me I just need a 209M replacement cap and that they are availible but he didnt know from who.

If anyone can answer my questions i can be driving my car in peace this weekend.

I don't know the answers to your questions, but I would suggest you go ahead and install the Mallory with the wrong color cap and if the tach cable doesn't fit, run in without the tach for this weekend.  Those items can always be changed later, and you can find out how the car runs and can take your bride for a ride this weekend. 

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

on the phone now with another Mallory dealer, they said Morroso used to make cables but not longer.

Mallory, Jegs, and Summit said the guys with old Vettes use their factory tach cable but this Y Block unit is Y block specific so I cant see my Bird cable fitting the drive.

Alan Frakes ~ Tulsa, OK

Alan Frakes ~ Tulsa, OK

I asked to no avail and they wont share info i guess thinking I will buy elsware for a huge markdown because I see them selling for $699-$895 all for the same part. SOunds like a 50% markup over what its worth.

My take on all of this was since the T Bird is going on 56 years of age there must be an old design or specific type of cable to mate with the old tach and the new Mallory unless its generic but I am not familiar at all with this.

The connection at the tach end is pretty generic.  Same as the speedometer, and that size was used for many years by many manufacturers.  The distributor  end I'm not sure about, but a speedo cable maker may be able to find an end to fit the Mallory if the original doesn't.  If the distrubutor is Y specific, it should have the Bird connection and gear, but who knows.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"