Speedometer help
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 978
Likes: 1
From: Scranton Pennsylvania
Speedometer help
Looking for opinions as to whether I should try this repar myself. My car is a 63 and the speedo is not accurate and the odometer doesn't work at all. Think that I know why the speedo is not accurate. A prior owner changed the rear end and did make a corresponding change to the plastic gear that is in the cable where it connects to the trans. Re: the odometer, I figured I'd pull the cluster and replace the cable and all of the parts I know that pulling the cluster is a pain. I did it a few years ago when I replaced the wiring. My concern is that if I do all of that work, could I still end up with the same problem? Some may recommend sending the speedo to be restored. If that's the answer, should I send the tach too? Looks like another expensive winter.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 32
From: Columbia, SC
The odometer is probably a worn worm gear. It was easy to replace (removing the cluster was by far the worst part). The problem was that disassembling the whole thing means the speedo needs to be recalibrated. You can probably find a local shop to do it...I went to a Vette shop and paid $40.
If you're looking to get the cluster restored anytime soon, I'd just do it now. Pulling that thing out is a pain (lots of plugs and lights in the back, no room to work and no slack in the wires). I wouldn't just get one guage restored...either all or none, it would look WEIRD if you only got one done.
If you're looking to get the cluster restored anytime soon, I'd just do it now. Pulling that thing out is a pain (lots of plugs and lights in the back, no room to work and no slack in the wires). I wouldn't just get one guage restored...either all or none, it would look WEIRD if you only got one done.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 978
Likes: 1
From: Scranton Pennsylvania
$40 is super cheap. If I could find someone to do it for anywhere near that price, I'd jump on it. Thanks to instructions that I found in this forum, using 6 inch bolts make it a little easier to work on the cluster while it's still in place. I'd probably have to completely remove it to replace that parts that I need. I'd hate to do that and put it all back together and find out that it still needs to be re-calibrated.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 978
Likes: 1
From: Scranton Pennsylvania
Still having a problem with speedo accuaracy. As I stated in a prior post, I was hoping that the problem was due to the fact that a prior owner had changed the rear end and not changed the plastic gear drive where the cable connects to the trans. I pulled the old gear(25 teeth). I'm pretty sure that my current gear ratio is 3:55. I put a 21 tooth gear in the cable. I just came back from a short test drive and the new plastic gear didn't make too much differance. I was using my GPS to gauge accuracy. I'm still 15-18 mph off. (low). Would it make a differance if my trans wasn't 63? The engine is a 69 350. I have no idea what year the trans is. I've heard several forum members discuss speedometer calibration. What does that involve and who does it?
This problem is really driving me nuts!!!
This problem is really driving me nuts!!!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 978
Likes: 1
From: Scranton Pennsylvania
John,
The reason that I said that I'm pretty sure I'm running 3:55 is that's what the dealer told me when I bought the car. I was told a few other things about the car that weren't completely accurate. I'm 99.9% sure that it's a 3:55. I tach approx. 2500 rpm at 70 mpg if that's any indication.
The reason that I said that I'm pretty sure I'm running 3:55 is that's what the dealer told me when I bought the car. I was told a few other things about the car that weren't completely accurate. I'm 99.9% sure that it's a 3:55. I tach approx. 2500 rpm at 70 mpg if that's any indication.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
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