pippo350

Hi,
on my 81 the top speed on have 165 mph.
I know on the '81 yhe top speed was 85 mph used like deterrent to dscourage the high speed.
what year can it be made or it's just an aftermarket speedo?

Ciao !!!

KingRat

In 1977 the speedometer read 160mph. In 1978-79 with the new dashboard it read 140mph. In 1980 the speedometer was changed to 85mph with 55mph highlighted in yellow to discourage high speed and remind of the 55mph national speed limit in the United States. Your 165 mph speedometer is aftermarket.

C3 4ME

78 or 79 140mph speedometer is a direct bolt in for the later 85mph speedos.

pippo350

I'll post a pictur of it!

pippo350

GregX1

I am not sure, but I think for Export cars, they kept the old 140/165Mph speedo.
Could your car come from Canada or Europe?

Reaper19

That looks like an aftermarket. It has no Corvette Flag logo on it. You could always have the speedometer re-faced and geared to the speed you like. Mine had the original 85 MPH on my 1981, but I sent it off to be rebuilt and re-faced to 140MPH after the tripometer stopped working at 100,000 miles. The vendor I used to re-face the speedo mentioned most tripometers break at 100,000 miles due to the little plastic ribbon inside getting old and brittle.

Here are some before and after pictures.

pippo350

I have the original invoice,sent from the heritage corvette center.
The car was sold in Oregon by Moak Chevrolet inc. located in Camby 333 s w 1st 97013.
I've googled it but i can find the dealer.
It's can be a good think to find the first owner !!!


Can some one help me to find the original dealer if it's still in the business?

pippo350

In the same spot where the dealer was now there is a tyre dealer,is name is :
Les Schwab Tire Center.
Some one know the place or maybe know the history of the chevy dealer?


Thank you again.

pippo350

.
Really nice work !
When you take off the speedometer you have a free access to the lamp?
i want to switch from old one lamp to a RGB led light.

Reaper19

The lamps in my 81 are the wedge type and just plug in. You should be able to pull them out after removing the speedo. But you can also remove them from the rear by twisting a 1/4 turn to the left and pop out the base and bulb. It is really a tight space sticking your hand behind the dash unless you loosen up the gauge panel.

L-46man

so the real top speed of your 81 is appx 120mph...going downhill with a tailwind.
Back when I was a 'kid' EVERYBODY ASSUMED 160 speedos indicated TOP SPEED....ahh simpler times! Apparently to impress pre-pubescent boys who eventually turn into Corvette owners! LOL

L-46man

So my 82 CE has a 85 mph speedo.
Here in the desert...I frequently bury the needle.
The constabulary usually give you 11 mph over....JUST so you don't complain "c'mon I was just over the limit"!

Officer; Do you know HOW FAST you were going?
Me; Sure, my speedometer said 85.....speed limit is 75.
ME; END OF STORY RIGHT? NICE MEETING YOU!

The lock up tranny gears out at 36.9 mph/1000 rpm....so math is required! lol

The writer does not advocate speeding and always operate your Corvette at 10% of its TRUE capability....blah blah blah!

UNKAHAL

gbvette62

Almost from the day that Chevrolet started putting the 85 speedometer in 79's, the aftermarket came out with higher top speed, replacement speedometers. Most of the aftermarket speedometers left the Corvette logo off. If they added the logo, they had to be licensed through GM, and pay GM a royalty fee.

pippo350

Nobody live near Canby (Oregon)97013?