I'm doing a T-56 swap into my 84 camaro and i know i need to convert to electronic drive speedometer.

Anyhow,i've heard that an 87 and up from a Firebird will work or a 90 and up from a Camaro.My question is,will i need the whole guage cluster or just the speedometer itself and just run the wire from the tranny to the speedometer? Or am i missing alot here here,i have the odd feeling that it wont be anywhere nere that easy

Anybody in the ottawa area got the speedometer that i'd need for sale?

 

I think you're missing out on some info..

First, I do believe the 3rd gen electric speedo's use a different pulse per mile signal than the T56 speed sensor provides. Look in to this first of all, this will determine what will and won't work.

Also, have you looked into getting
a) your tailshaft on the T56 modified to accept mechanical drive gears? This is what I did myself and it works great, I have some drawings you can use as reference if you're up for it yourself. (need a milling machine and tools of course) or
b) get a converter box that accepts the signal from the T56 and drives your speedo cable. These cost about 2-$300 I think.

The pic shows the mechanical drive mods I did. The drive is behind the white baloon. This is from before I had to put the original sensor back in for the LT1 computer, you can see the hole on the tailshaft centerline that has been plugged.

 

I went through some speedo problems recently.
The electric speedo runs off a VSS that puts out a 4Kppm signal. If you can get an electric speedo (or entire gauge cluster), then you will need something to translate the VSS signal to the gauge. In TPI cars '90 and later, the ECM did this, in TBI cars there was a VSS Buffer installed.
Some guys have bought a buffer from Dakotal Digital - it is a unit that can be calibrated for various rear end axle ratios, and VSS sending units. If you are not going to be swapping rear gears often, IMO it's a pricy part.
I went with a VSS buffer box that can be found at local yards for next to nothing. It was very easy to wire up.
I hope this helps. With a t56 the VSS signal is a 40 pulse per driveshaft revolution. This needs to be converted to a 4000 (or 2000) pulse per mile signal for your VSS buffer input. In this scenario - I would go with the Dakota Digital SGI-5 unit. It will recalibrate the signal for you.
-Andrew

 

About to do this swap in a couple weeks myself. Easiest and cheapest way is to get the Dakota Digital SGI-5 box for $70US and wire it up(if you already have a electric speedo). There's posts all over TGO on how to get it working with an electric speedo. Other option is to buy a $300US autometer electrical 5" speedo. Fits nicely into your dash actually but pricey of course. Some also have had to wire in a capacitor into the circuit to keep the speedo from jumping around. Helps filter out some noise/interference.

 

i have 2 complete clusters from 88 and up...first year of the elecrtic speedos in firebirds....i would be more then happy to part one out to u cheap if u need it...i dont live in ottawa but my gf gose to skool there...so if ur intrested maybe we can work sompthin out...

hope ur swap turns out good