C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Rebuild speedo?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 5, 2015 | 08:10 PM
  #1  
Sayfoo's Avatar
Sayfoo
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Veteran: Army
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,213
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
Default Rebuild speedo?

It appears that my '69 speedo has shot craps. It just suddenly stopped working. I disconnected the cable at the manual trans and the inner cable didn't come out, so I think it is intact. I did spin it with a drill motor and the needle doesn't move.
So, the question is, rebuild it myself, have it rebuilt, or buy a new replacement.
I see that many of the parts suppliers offer a rebuilding service.
Has anyone recently had their speedo rebuilt and can recommend a vendor? What did it cost?
Are there any rebuild kits available with all the necessary parts, in case I decide to do it my self?

Last edited by Sayfoo; Dec 5, 2015 at 08:30 PM.
Reply
Old Dec 5, 2015 | 08:32 PM
  #2  
toobroketoretire's Avatar
toobroketoretire
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
Default

Originally Posted by Sayfoo
It appears that my '69 speedo has shot craps. It just suddenly stopped working. I disconnected the cable at the manual trans and the inner cable didn't come out, so I think it is intact. I did spin it with a drill motor and the needle doesn't move.
So, the question is, rebuild it myself or have it rebuilt.
I see that many of the parts suppliers offer a rebuilding service.
Has anyone recently had their speedo rebuilt and can recommend a vendor? What did it cost?
Are there any rebuild kits available with all the necessary parts, in case I decide to do it my self?

First of all the electric drill MUST be spun backwards to make the speedometer (or tachometer) work. So unless you were spinning your drill in REVERSE you were wasting your time. The C3's have two speedometer cables; the lower and the upper and they join right next to the bell housing. Its the lower cable that usually fails because it gets hotter because of it's close proximity to the transmission and exhaust pipe.

All of the Corvette vendors use Instrument Sales And Service to repair/rebuild speedometers and the average cost of a rebuild is about $165 plus parts versus about $290 for a new one.
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2015 | 12:34 PM
  #3  
Sayfoo's Avatar
Sayfoo
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Veteran: Army
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,213
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
Default

Thanks for the reply.
I did spin the cable counter clockwise/reverse direction.
It appears that the automatic trans cars do have a 2 piece speedo cable, but the 4 sp manual cars have a 1 piece.
It looks like Instrument Sales doesn't deal customer direct so I'll have to go through a retailer if I go that route.
I'm also going to check out some local speedo shops.
Anyone recommend a shop in the Los Angeles or Orange Co areas?
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2015 | 03:18 PM
  #4  
Alan 71's Avatar
Alan 71
Team Owner
15 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
Community Influencer
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,200
Likes: 4,287
From: Westminster Maryland
Default

Hi Sf,
You might consider Corvette Specialties Md West.
They aren't cheap but have a good reputation.
75100 St. Charles Place Suite A Palm Desert, CA 92211
(760)568-6450 (800)638-6450
Regards,
Alan
Reply
Old Dec 6, 2015 | 04:53 PM
  #5  
terry82's Avatar
terry82
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,664
Likes: 162
From: columbia city in
Default

this is who I want to do my 140mph conversion http://www.redlineg.com/redlineg/Speedometers.html

Last edited by terry82; Dec 6, 2015 at 04:54 PM.
Reply
Old Dec 7, 2015 | 12:44 PM
  #6  
Sayfoo's Avatar
Sayfoo
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Veteran: Army
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,213
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
Default

Thanks all
Reply
Old Dec 7, 2015 | 02:51 PM
  #7  
Sigforty's Avatar
Sigforty
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 281
From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
Default

I used Harrison speedometer in Florida. He did a great job on mine.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Rebuild speedo?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:53 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-1
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE