It seems I'm out a few $$ either way, either swap out my mech. Autometer speedo for an electric for $200, or buy the modified tailhousing for $350. Anyone found a cheaper alternative? Kinda sucks that as popular as the T56 is, there's not a cheap speedo solution. Even for the stock gauges, don't you have to buy a converter box or something?

 

I thought the VSS box from dakota digital was 80 bucks?

that converts T56 vss signal to something our fbody's can work with from what i've read. SHould allow your speedo to work, for a cable driven speedo i THINK but i have to read up on it as i'm hopefully doing this swap

 

I just remember reading about it on one of the T56 threads, I haven't looked into it. But like I said, I have an Autometer speedo, and mechanical at that. So either way, I'm screwed

 

my speedo is an 89 camaro factory unit and it uses the speedo gears in the trans. i thought it takes those gears and converts the mechanical signal into a electronic signal for the ECM to use. I'm not sure so dont quote me.

I thought somehow you take the digital box and convert the T56 signal back into something the thirdgens can use. i havent done my research yet so i could be wrong and probly am

 

from what I understand, the T56 VSS is different than the T5 or 700r4 VSS. But that only matters if you're using the stock 3rd gen gauges or an aftermarket electronic speedo, and I'm not using either of those. Either way though, I've seen guys take the reluctor ring off the output shaft and install speedo gears and run the modified tail housing, but it just looks relatively simple to do so I'm wondering if someone has found a different route.

 

Yes you can, but its electric signal to electric signal. Either way its about 300 bucks, or you can just get another autometer gauge, which is what ill be doing.

 

I've been trying to sell/trade my mech. autometer gauge, no one seems to want it. From the sounds of it, I think that's what I'll end up doing too. Anyone hears of someone needed a 3 3/8" Ultralite 160 mech. speedo, just send em my way

 

what else is needed? the digital box is 80 bucks

 

I think there is some company out there that makes a cable-to-electric box, but i think its around 300 as well.

 

yup called cable x thats what i used and it works perfectly had it for 5 years now i just needed to get a different speedo cable since i put the box under my pass seat its like 300 and u can adjust for wheel tire size and diff gears

 

Actually it's not $350, I do the cable mod for $325 plus shipping.

 

tha hell, are ya sure? i thought that VSS would be not an issue i would run into when doing a T56 swap.

 

sorry, I couldn't remember. Either way, I'm still trying to find a cheaper alternative, and something thats under $300 if possible. I'm a cheap a$$ I know. And if I'm spending that kind of money, for me at least, I would rather get an electric speedo
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no, I'm not sure. you'd have to check on that, I haven;t looked into it that far yet. I'm not sure if the VSS in T5s and 700r use a gear or a reluctor ring, but I do know that my T56 has a reluctor ring

 

No problem. I also searched for an alternative and couldn't find any to run my stock computer with the T56 other than the Cable-X box. Given a choice I'd rather have a tried and true mechanical connection than some wiz-bang gadget that may fail and have to be replaced for another $300. It took a lot of work to perfect this mod, and a lot of time to build the fixture to hold the tail housings, but I now have a rock solid repeatable setup that's worked perfectly on well over 20 housings now. DeanJ just shipped his housing out to me, and I just finished up and shipped out one for DB3. Was also able to repair a stripped mounting hole for him while I was at it.

 

according to this link, You can just use a VSS out of a camaro....

http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...wap/index.html

is a t5 VSS is mechanical?

 

The T56 they used is an aftermarket designed for the swap into a 3rd gen.

 

Hi guys, I just had Alloy convert my t56 tailhousing to mechanical speedo hookup. My 88 camaro has factory mechanical speedometer. When I looked at the other options vs cost and the amount of work to swap in another dash, it seemed the logical choice. I don't think I would have saved much money any way. I know I saved a ton of work. Also no funky electronics to mess with. He also provided the correct gears for my gear ratio and tire size= nothing else to buy. He had a pretty good turn around time too. Just my guys. Later,Dean....

 

Thanks for the good words Dean. Funny you mentioned turn around time. Your turn around time was delayed by almost a week by a 8' snow drift at the end of my driveway, and no power at my shop. I felt bad it took the extra time, but didn't have a lot of say in the matter at that point.

 

Alloy maybe you can help me out also, I'm putting a LS1/T56 into my 69 Camaro and would like to keep the factory gauge setup (mech. speedo). How much would it be to convert my tail housing to the mechanical setup?

 

I do them for $300 plus shipping. This includes a new speedometer drive and driven gear. Turn around time is about 1 week.

Here is a quote from DeanJ in another thread about my conversion.