I was wondering what the details are on a swap on speedo heads from an 85 mph to a 145 mph. The VSS is located in the one I currently have but and has been giving me fits with surging/hunting for gears. I want to ditch it and put in a 145 speedo. Is there a straight across swap for the 145 head w/VSS swap available? Any information would be greatly apprecitated.

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Stephanie
CRCC
Multnomah Hot Rod Council
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85 IROC Z-28
LB9/305 TPI

Minor Mods: New 305 HO Crate Motor, Edelbrock Cat Back Performance Exhaust System, Grant GT Steering Wheel, Standard Automotive disc-type Fuel Injectors
Next Mods: Hypertech Prom Chip, K&N Filters, Paint

Most Computer Illiterate Member of The Cascade Crew!

 

Stephanie, I did this exact swap on my '84 Z28. All you have to do is remove your old OEM gauge cluster and replace it with the 145 speedo gauge cluster. Or just swap the speedo itself (including the odometer and tripometer), but the needles wont look the same. HTH

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George P. Lara
1984 Z28 High Output
Proud Member of SCFB
V6 T5 For Sale

 

George, is the VSS also located in the head or outside the body itself? And how much did you pay for the 145 speedo head, just outta curiosity?

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Stephanie
CRCC
Multnomah Hot Rod Council
-------------------------
85 IROC Z-28
LB9/305 TPI

Minor Mods: New 305 HO Crate Motor, Edelbrock Cat Back Performance Exhaust System, Grant GT Steering Wheel, Standard Automotive disc-type Fuel Injectors
Next Mods: Hypertech Prom Chip, K&N Filters, Paint

Most Computer Illiterate Member of The Cascade Crew!

 

Stepanhie,

I have a very nice cable-driven 145 Camaro speedo with working trip odometer. Pics available. If you'd like more info, please feel free to e-mail me.

JamesC

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I also did this swap in my 83. I put a speedo from (I think) a 86 in it. Just as George said, you don't have to change anything else, with one exception. You will also need the clear plastic lens because the reset stalk for the trip meter comes out in a different place. I bought a new one at the dealer for about $35. You don't have to change the gears in the trans.

The VSS is an optical thing in that car. It is a little yellow box with a short wire pigtail that screws onto the back of the cluster; it sort of "looks" into the cluster and "sees" the little magnet thing that the cable spins around, and counts its turns as it spins. Your old one will work fine with the other speedo, or you can use the one that comes with another cluster if you get it.

The VSS and the ECM will not make it "hunt" for the right gear. The computer is not involved with shifting gears, only applying the torque converter clutch. In my experience, if the car has trouble hunting for the right gear, especially between 3rd and 4th when driving around 35-40 mph, the problem usually is the carb; it leans out, makes you have to give the car a bit more gas after it shifts up, and then it wants to shift down, then the car accelerates and you let off, then it shifts up, then the cycle repeats itself. Also, adjusting the TV cable sometimes helps, by making it stay in lower gear slightly longer.

The 140 mph cluster usually costs anywhere from $50 to $125, depending on condition etc. IIRC I paid $75 for mine.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."

 

I have seen 145s where the trip stalk comes out in a different place as RB83L69 mentions; however, that said, I've had several, and all have used the same lens as the 85, including the one I currently have.

JamesC

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Yes, the VSS is located at the back as well. I don't remember at the moment how much I paid for my 145 cluster, I believe it was ~$80 from iroczdave@aol.com . He is an excellent person to deal with, I highly recommend him. As for the trip reset as RB and James mentioned, I think this was a special option for the Z28 (it has a cool Z28 on the face as seen in the Classic Industries catalog), but I got one from an '87 IROC and the reset is in the exact same position as my '84 Z28's. Thereby I didn't need the clear lens, but did have to retain the OEM cover plate (the black one with the brake light, choke light, check engine light covers) because the IROCs have an upshift where my brake light cover goes. I can send you pics of both if you'd like.

 

Been planning this swap, too. Incidentally, my factory tach isn't working consistently. Finally just added a column mounted tach I had laying around. Anybody got some advice on how to test my factory unit to determine where the problem is?

 

I'd like to do the speedo swap, too. However, I'm not that big a fan of the speedometer style tach on my 85Z. Are there any different factory tachs out there I could look for. If so, what style are they? Thanks guys (and gals)

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`85 Z28 5.0L TBI
Don't ever be:
Found On Road Dead!

 

Hey, I've made some new friends on this board! Thank's the information and for validating I'm still sane after 9&1/2 years of owning my IROC (most of those are using my car as daily driver.)

JamesC: Yes I'd love a pic and I'll be e-mailing you soon, to exchange my own pic of my car too!

RB83L69: Bingo, this is exactly my problem but I could never pinpoint the problem of surging and repair shops just looked at me like I was nuts, and had no clue what I was even trying to explain!

RussMan: My tach is very tempermental too and sticks all the time so I have no clue what my RPM's are. Maybe once a month it works and I can't determine if it's environmental or situational!

MRZ28HO: Thanks for your input and I will give that e-mail addy for the other information about the speedos a try!

Thanks again for the info you all have shared!

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Stephanie
CRCC
Multnomah Hot Rod Council
-------------------------
85 IROC Z-28
LB9/305 TPI

Minor Mods: New 305 HO Crate Motor, Edelbrock Cat Back Performance Exhaust System, Grant GT Steering Wheel, Standard Automotive disc-type Fuel Injectors
Next Mods: Hypertech Prom Chip, K&N Filters, Paint

Most Computer Illiterate Member of The Cascade Crew!

[This message has been edited by 85ROCZLADY1 (edited July 27, 2000).]

 

Steph, I installed one out of an '87 in mine, it was real easy. If you want I can help you install it, and I know a few places to look if want to find one.

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'86 Camaro Sport Coupe

 

Thanks Lance! It's a future project, prolly won't be done in time foor the PNWG next month, though. I'll prolly need help trying to find one here in PDX area if ya know of any great salvage yards. Mark and I sometimes get Z-parts out at 205 Auto Wrecking, they might have one.