scottyp99

Hi, folks, is there a way of telling if the odometer on my 1980 'vette has flipped? Like maybe the numbers don't quite line up anymore once it turns over, or something like that? My 'vette shows 63,000 miles, but it was in pretty rough shape when I bought it at 61,000, maybe it's just from being 29 years old? Or maybe it has 163,000 miles! I don't know, it's only a 5 digit counter. Thanks,


Scott

Ron R

Other than typical signs of wear, there isn't any sure way to tell. If it was "pretty rough" as you describe it, it was probably a 163,000 mile car. One way is to look at the pedals, on a 63,000 mile car the gas and brake pedals would look fairly new. On a 163,000 mile car they would be worn.

vett us all

Back in the 80s I am thinking that , when the odometer rolled over 100.000 miles, a small set of crossed flags appeared in the odometer window, if you tried to reverse the mileage. I know the mid size cadillac had a feature like this.

Jclgodale3

RunningMan373

Why would they do that, and not just add another didget? no law against another didget.

Bobz08C6

Not a sure thing but I think the numbers not lining up might be an indication. I had a '63 Impala that I rolled over 100,000 and the number were in line and after it rolled over they were not in line and never were again. The odo was also clicking as it tried to index the numbers. I found a previous ower and, in fact, the mileage had been rolled back by the used car dealer. I was 20 years old and naive so what did I know? It was back in the mid 60's.

Paul Borowski

PETKAH

I think there are a lot of Vettes and other cars that should have a "1" in front of the mileage reading. Remember that in those days quality was not job #1 and most cars we not expected to go over 60,000 without wearing out.

RIJVETTES

Hey Scott. I have an 80- at 99,000 miles. It should flip within about a month or two, since I drive her a lot. I believe the milage is correct. I'll post if anything really crazy appears on the odometer when she flips. Jim

RunningMan373

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...light=odometer

7T1vette

The condition of the interior is probably a good indicator of the actual mileage. A 60K mile interior isn't worn out.

vett us all

A buddy of mine tried rolling back an odometer in a Cadillac Cimmiron (spelling) and a set of flags popped up in the small window. I saw this happen. I asked him what he was doing, and he laughed, and said that his buddy asked him to roll the milage back
He just put it back together and that was that. I think Mercedes was the first to add more digits, because the american cars were not expected to get to a 100,000 miles.

TERRY CLARK

That was true with cars like the Vega( 75,000 miles and they were done),...but not V8 cars, some 283s,327s &350s would roll over 2 or 3 times !

Easy Mike

Count it as 100K+ and work from there.

RunningMan373

What do you mean, 'Small window'? What Small window? So, what your saying is,, if your not right there when the odo flips and see the flags, then you don't know the odo fliped because you didn't see the flags? What, they show up then disappear? Look at the video,, there's no flags, or antything else that pops up, it's a myth. for the OP, just assume every car over 30 years old has had the odo fliped over at least once, unless you'ver got a really good paper trail back to it's very early years- continous service records showing the recorded millage all the way through it's life. too much

Binnie77

The C3 odometer wheel locks are lined up and then inserted into a thin strip of fiber to keep them in place until the odometer is installed over a permanent steel alignment bar which locks all wheels. Here is the catch: there is a cutout on the steel alignment bar where only the thin fiber holds one wheel in place. This was intentional by GM. If you try to reverse or fast forward the odometer, guess what? The fiber breaks and then a couple of the locks start to spin with the wheels. Then you are finished.

RunningMan373

Here's another right before and after pic, What, no flags?
But I think a tiny horn shot some tiny GM confetti in the speedo

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...996&highlight=

Raphiki

I think the European cars had more digits because they were counting kilometers. Not uncommon to 100,000 KM!

TimAT

I've never done this, but if you tear the speeo apart there is a thin stip of white plastic across the back of the odo wheels. At 100k that strip is supposed to tear and let the spacers between the wheels turn. So now the black wheels will have a white stripe between them.

Bowerss2

my 1980 has an HONST 65K on it, and i can tell you, check the petals, if the rubber looks worn at all then its probably 100K plus what it shows. Also check out the steering wheel, and if the drivers seat is in ok condition, if the leather is messed up, or if the cushion is flat, then its been well loved.