I have a 1985 Trans Am with a Chevy 350 carb in it, lots of go fast parts. the speedo only goes up to 85, I can get it up to 85 in like 3rd gear [ 5 spd trans]

how can I change the speedo to something like a 145? do I have to change the whole gauge cluster?

can i buy an aftermarket gauge and put it in? even thou there is a circuit board thing on the back of the cluster?

any help would be much appreciated.

 

I know Auto Meter is has a good reputation for gauges and for 82-89 Camaros they sell a gauge and panel combo with Covan's Classic. I don't think they made one for your year Firebird. I'd check the size of the gauges and see if you could get like a 160 speedometer from Summit Racing. What I've done with a problem is to call Summit and talk to someone long enough to have them find a few gauges.
GOOD LUCK!

 

You can swap out just the speedo or the cluster. Some of the clusters may be different for different years so you could check the difference in the pin outs to be sure.

 

well Id rather just swap out the speedo

 

I'd check like ebay. I'd bet you can buy one pretty cheap new used or refurbished from a firebird the same year. Theres lots of stuff out there. As a backup try craigslist, but I'm not real fond of craigslist. Or if you didn't already, post something in the parts wanted. I'm sure between those you can find a speedo

 

yeah, I think ima just buy an aftermarket one, would an aftermarket one fit in place of the stock one inside the cluster ? and use the same speedo cable?

 

Umm thats a good question. I'm more of a mechanical than cosmetics guy. I would say yes. You can buy speedometers that are cable driven. The main thing you need is the gauge diameter. Its probably 3 3/8 as a guess. Its a common size.

 

so as long as I get a mechanical speedo thats the same size I am fine?

 

I just bought a 160 mph speedo from Street side for my 86. It is a 3 and 3/8 cable drive. I'm doing a custom autometer set up. However they carry dozens of different types, electric and mechanical. Just click the link below and then click the face style you are interested in and it will give you a bunch of options.

http://www.streetsideauto.com/catego...638&brand=BDHZ

 

cool thanks

 

Check Summit Racing's website too it might be a little cheaper.

 

yea

 

no aftermarket gauge will fit directly in the stock pod. And your 85 has a cable driven speedo. With some work you can convert to an electric speedo signal and use a 86-92 stock 145mph gauge

 

didn't really want to do anything electrical, I think I am going to just throw in an aftermarket 160 speedo and make it fit

 

If that's the direction you want to go, some people have done some really nice aftermarket Firebird dashes on here if you do a search.

 

well im not doing the whole dash, just the speedometer, but I am gonna try and make it look somewhat stock, like im going to keep it black with white #'s

 

Let me know how it goes. If you can post a finished picture. I have a Firebird in the shop that needs some electrical work

 

cool. I am actually soon going to start rewiring my whole car. the wiring in this car is horrendous.

 

Me too. I'm doing a BBC carb'd swap so I'll probaby save like 20 lbs of wiresno joke.

 

ha, im gonna be taking out 20 pounds of wires too. because mine was swapped to a carbed 350, like i said, anyways they left in all the ecu and all that ****. and they added a buncha ****, its horrible.

 

Go digital... My Speedo goes up to 300 haha...

 

im kinda on a budget, and a whole brand new digital dash over a speedo isnt in that budget. haha

 

If only they made one of those clusters for the Firebird/Trans-AM I'd do exactly that.

I thought they went to electronic speedometers in Firebirds starting in 1987? So anything from 1987 on up is an electric and 1982-1986 are mechanical. At least for the Firebirds. The Camaro may be a different story.

 

I know a guy that has a digital dash for a firebird not sure the year maybe 87. If someone needs one I'll ask him a price and info. Its in pretty good shape

 

man i realy like the digital gague you got going on here.....what company sells them?...i remember finding this specific one on a site before, but i forgot what the company was called

 

They are by Nordskog Performance

 

aww they dont sell them anymore i cant find them on their site

 

Mark's Custom kits.com "Knight Rider" sells a gauge cluster for firebirds, a lot like the digital camaro gauge cluster posted. It's a bit expensive but you get a clean setup. I think they are the exact same aftermarket gauges.

 

does any one know the size of the small stock gauges? i think there 52MM but just makeing sure

 

Hey likeing the gauges. How how much did the gauges cost doing something like that with my camaro ls1 swap

 

hey all, i am in the process of swapping and truing to figure out if i need to keep the wires running from the ecm to the buffer box