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Aftermarket speedometers
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=59555		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Reed [ Fri Apr 29, 2016 7:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Aftermarket speedometers
I have only ever run factory speedos in my vehicles. I am not overly in love with the dash layout and guages in my 76 D100 and I am contemplating building my own instrumentation using gauges I already have. I don't have a speedo, though.

Can anyone tell me if aftermarket mechanical speedos will hook up to the factory speedo cable and work with the stock speedo drive gea rin the trans? Or will I have to run an aftermarker drive mechanism? Or will it vary by manufacturer?
Author:  Joshie225 [ Fri Apr 29, 2016 9:46 pm ]
Post subject: 
The mechanical speedos I've seen in the aftermarket use a threaded connection like the 60s and older cars and trucks. I don't know when exactly the switch was made to the clip-on-at-the-speedometer cable, but it was done by the early 70s. If you can find a Mopar cable of the right length that is threaded on both ends that's really all you need. Unless you also have the clip on end at the trans in which case you will need the thread-on gear holder.
Author:  Reed [ Fri Apr 29, 2016 10:58 pm ]
Post subject: 
OK, thanks. I might try and re-use the factory speedo head but mount it differently. Or in the same location but in a different mount.
Author:  slantvaliant [ Mon May 02, 2016 11:10 am ]
Post subject: 
Alternative: Cap the transmission hole and use a GPS Speedometer.
Author:  Reed [ Mon May 02, 2016 12:39 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Alternative: Cap the transmission hole and use a GPS Speedometer.
I don't need no gub'mint tracking my every move! They're out to get you! :lol:
Author:  DusterIdiot [ Mon May 02, 2016 6:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Alternate #2
If you had a few $$$, you can remove the cable, speedo, and buy a pulse sensor that plugs into the speedo gear socket at the tranmission, and just wire the speedo in...there is a calibration setup on the digital versions, but the beauty of the setup is you won't have to change speedo gears when you change tire sizes or rear gears...you just recalibrate it....

I did this on my Duster when I went to 4.56's... mopar didn't have a gear for this combination (was like a 48 tooth gear...gears stop at 45 teeth....), worked great.
Author:  coconuteater64 [ Mon May 02, 2016 7:06 pm ]
Post subject: 
I ran a VDO mechanical no problem.
Author:  Reed [ Mon May 02, 2016 7:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
Clipped into the factory speedo cable? Any modifications to the factory equipment?
Author:  Joshie225 [ Mon May 02, 2016 10:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
Yes, there is an electronic sender that fits directly in place of the cable adapter. I got one from a '96 Dakota.
Author:  Reed [ Mon May 02, 2016 11:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
Wait- he said VDO mechanical. If VDO makes an electronic gauge that lets me use a factory sending unit instead of the drive gear, cool beans. But if VDO makes a mechanical speedo that will hook to the factory mopar speedo cable and drive gear, then cooler beans. I will look into VDO speedos.
Author:  Joshie225 [ Tue May 03, 2016 7:51 am ]
Post subject: 
If the cost difference were reasonable I would choose the electronic speedometer over the mechanical one for ease of calibration and zero lubrication requirements.
Author:  coconuteater64 [ Tue May 03, 2016 1:57 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Wait- he said VDO mechanical. If VDO makes an electronic gauge that lets me use a factory sending unit instead of the drive gear, cool beans. But if VDO makes a mechanical speedo that will hook to the factory mopar speedo cable and drive gear, then cooler beans. I will look into VDO speedos.
I bought one off eBay years ago and I forgot about it. It is identical to the one I ran in my D100 IIRC. If I can find it, how about I send it to you to try out?
Author:  Reed [ Tue May 03, 2016 6:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
Sure, I'm game! No rush, but let me know if you find it.
Author:  coconuteater64 [ Tue May 03, 2016 7:07 pm ]
Post subject: 
The wife is sick so I'll have to wait until Thursday to look for it (she needs a lot of help), but I'm certain I'll find it by the end of the weekend. Won't hurt to try it out. I don't remember right now if it was threaded or not, but the rotation count was correct.
Author:  Reed [ Tue May 03, 2016 8:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
Cool, thanks. I won't have time to tinkeron my truck until next week at the earliest, so there is no rush.
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