So my mechanical speedo has failed yet again, twice in less than 6 months. So I think I would like to try an electric speedo instead. What all is involved in the conversion when installing on carbureted engine and the reflection lighting style gauge cluster ( vs. a shine through style)

 

is it the speedo or the cable that failed? ive never seen the conversion on a carb car personally as guys just fix them when they break

 

I haven't had time to fully diagnose it yet. From what I can tell, the cable is still firmly connected to the speedo, so it either disconnected from the trany, the cable broke, or, like last time, the gear inside the speedo that connects to the cable eroded away. I have never heard of the gears doing that before but that's what my mechanic said and I could see it eroded away. I'm not looking forward to taking it apart as I't was a pain to remove the cable last time and I had to drop the steering column and everything. This being my daily driver I really need it fixed. Might just check the local speedo shop to see what they can do.

 

All you need to do is take the dash pad off and its right there from the back of the cluster. Its pretty easy to do. If the gear is new it most likey is the cable

 

I feel like a moron for never trying that, this whole time I have been tearing my hand apart trying to fit it under that cluster and all. Thanks, I will be diagnosing it today hopefully. My local speedo shop had no idea how to do a conversion either, oh well.

 

If the problem is not solved and your still interested in the electric upgrade...

I have done the conversion on my 82 bird. So once you get the electric speedo then you will need a VSS 'vehicle speed sensor'. The vss replaces the mechanical speedo sender on the side of the tranny. What i did is used a universal vss that had cable output and electric. I then connected this vss to a Dakota Digital SGI5-c converter box to make the proper signal.

So basically you need the speedo, the vss and, the dakota box. It's a pretty easy setup that has been documented a lot in this forum.

P.S. i happen to have a universal vss for sale that i no longer need since i upgraded to a t56. PM me if interested.

 

Alright thanks! Im tempted to do the swap, your vss will work with any trany? For now I have the th200c but once the money is available I'll have the 700r4 and would hate to be SOL for a speedo

 

My vss is a universal unit. It screws into where your cable screws on the tranny, then you can screw the cable to it or connect the wires. Here is a pic...