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Speedo Head Question

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Old Sep 26, 2004 | 01:16 AM
  #1  
bluegoose's Avatar
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From: San Diego, CA
Car: Firebird
Engine: 383
Transmission: 700R4, lots of Mods
Speedo Head Question

Hell all
I have is a '89 Firebird 305, the transmission and rear end have been calibrated for my stock Speedo which is 120 Mph, if I put in the 140 Speedo will I reading the correct speed? if not what will I have to do to correct it. Or can I just buy the 140 Mph gague overlays and I will be ok? Any information will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Brad
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Old Sep 26, 2004 | 04:38 AM
  #2  
Apeiron's Avatar
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From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
No other changes are necessary to make the 145 mph head work other than swapping the head itself.
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Old Sep 26, 2004 | 08:17 AM
  #3  
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From: San Diego, CA
Car: Firebird
Engine: 383
Transmission: 700R4, lots of Mods
if I dont replace my 120 MPH speedo head and buy the 140 MPH overlays, will this work? or must I have the 140 MPH speedo installed with the 140 overlays to make everything work good?
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Old Sep 26, 2004 | 11:58 AM
  #4  
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From: Lawrence, KS
Car: Met. Silver 85 IROC/Sold
Engine: 350 HO Deluxe (350ci/330hp)
Transmission: T-5 (Non-WC)
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip 3.23's
As I understand it, speedometers are geared for their specific speed so an overlay with a different 'face' would not read correctly.

JamesC
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Old Sep 26, 2004 | 12:57 PM
  #5  
Apeiron's Avatar
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From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
The speedometer doesn't look at it's face to figure out how high it's supposed to read.
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Old Sep 26, 2004 | 01:36 PM
  #6  
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From: conway, s.c.
Car: 1989 Iroc-Z
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Originally posted by Apeiron
No other changes are necessary to make the 145 mph head work other than swapping the head itself.
So this chart wouldn't apply to making the speedo work accurately?
Attached Thumbnails Speedo Head Question-specifications.gif  
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Old Sep 26, 2004 | 03:29 PM
  #7  
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From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Originally posted by Trickster
So this chart wouldn't apply to making the speedo work accurately?
Not at all. He already has the correct speedometer gears.
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Old Sep 26, 2004 | 06:01 PM
  #8  
Petes 84Z28's Avatar
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From: out of my mind; be back in 5 minutes....
Car: 1989 Firebird Formula
Engine: Internal Combustion
Transmission: Completed
Axle/Gears: ones that turn.
The gearing might work if he figured ut the percentage of change needed to read properly.
With the Firebird electric speedo, he'll likely have to swap over the circuit board attached to the head as well.
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Old Sep 26, 2004 | 06:24 PM
  #9  
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From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
No, there is no gearing change required. The circuitry is part of the head.
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