Tom Piper

I recently had an elderly gentlemen (80) here in Tallahasse rebuild my speedometer. He's been doing mechanical speedometers for years (I think he said 45 years) -- doesn't do the digital stuff.
He did an excellent job for $40. I took the '64 past one of the local police department radar trailers that post your speed. I did this several times at different speeds -- he's got my speedometer dead on.

The only problem I've had is with the speedometer cable and housing. First, I tried replacing the internal cable -- didn't do much good, needle bounce. Then, I replaced the entire unit, housing and all. That made a world of difference.

My only problem now is: how do you put the new housing through that firewall grommet? Talk about a tight fit.

Thanks.

Tom Piper


[Modified by Tom Piper, 8:17 PM 11/1/2003]

waynec

Usually the grommet has a split in it (a cut through one wall), generally at an angle rather than directly towards the center of the circle. Remove the grommet, remove the old cable from it (through the split) and pull the cable from the firewall hole; substitute the new cable, then force the grommet back into the firewall hole in a spiral motion, starting with one of the "ends" of the split grommet circle.

JohnZ

The original/correct speedo cable grommet had no splits/slits in it at all. The plant used a long pointed cone-shaped aluminum tool with a recess in the big end that accepted the threaded ferrule at the end of the cable; they put the cable end in the back of the cone tool, dipped the cone in liquid soap solution, stuffed the tool and cable through the hole in the grommet, and removed the tool. "Tales from the assembly line...." :thumbs:

Tom Piper

Mine has no splits.

I thought maybe the grommet was put on before the ends were crimped on the cable housing. That clears it up. But, I don't have that tool to do it with.

Thanks

Tom Piper