warwickben

iTrader: (1)

i searched all ready so please dont flame me. i couldnt find the answer i wanted. i just got a 79 cluster and want to put it in my 1980 sa.
what will i have to do to the speed-o so it will work, ie is it like i just install it and my speed-o will be right or do i have to change any parts.

for those who dont know the 79 is a 120mph speedo and my 80 goes to 85mph.

warwickben

iTrader: (1)

any one?
all i need to know will i have to change my speedo gear or will my speed read right with just placeing it in.

Mazdax605

iTrader: (5)

I woulkd think it should just read right,but I really don't know for sure.I would think it is just a longer sweep,but the again both my 83,and 79 had the 120mph speedos.

I would just install it,and see what happens.Have a friend follow along side you in a car with an accurate speedo,and see what happens. Good luck,and I am sure someone who has done this in the past will chime in.

Scott1982

I don't know.. but I did pop an 83 120MPH speedo in mine, no issues.

Jeezus

iTrader: (4)

Go for it. I had an 82 with the stupid 85mph gauge, and swapped in a later year. The gauge has everything internal needed, so just swap the gauges and your gold.

bad 83

iTrader: (3)

The different drive ratios are built in the speedo cluster, not in the drive gear running the cable. The drive gear is the same no matter with speedo you run. I have a 79 cluster in my 80 SA. So yes, it will read accurate.

heyjoehedd

my 83 has a 140 speedo, not sure what it came out of tho figuring im kinda new to these cars lol

warwickben

iTrader: (1)

cool thanks alot, so now before i put it in iam gonna replace the bulbs with some led's. i wish there was some one who made different faces for this cluster i rember seeing white faces witha cool rotor behind the tach in one car.

7aull

iTrader: (2)

Likewise I have a 79 cluster in my 80 - no prob - swap the WHOLE unit as one, not just speedo itself (tho you could do that too). All but the very latest LED bulbs are surprisingly DIM compared to the originals, so you might be disappointed in the output. Let us know how it works out...
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

warwickben

iTrader: (1)

i didnt check this post since my last one, till today.

last night i pulled one of the bulbs out and moded it the same way ive done on a few cars, remove the bulb drill a hole in the center of the part that holds the bulb, pull the two wires for the led thru the hole and connect the wires to the metal tabs that send the power to the bulb. thank good i only did it to one and not all of them with out testing.

the one i moded i put 12v on it to see how bright it would be in the cluster, you couldnt even see it. the plastic must not be as thin transparent ect as most cars. i helped my buddy do this to his s10 and a few fox body mustangs, most of the time the led's are so bite you have to use the dimmer . not sure why it didnt work in this car.


o yeah swaping clusters is some thing you wouldnt want to do on your lunch break.
i removed all 4 screws started to shimmey out the cluster then i heard a pop and the cluster came right out. i figured the speed-o cable would be long enough to remove this way not so. the connect on the end of the cable poped off and could not get it back on. the main reason i did it on lunch break is cause i wanted to see how fast i could get my rx-7 going. theres a old airport near by and cops dont go out there to much.

well i wound up driveing home with no speed readings thank good i know my speed by the tach.

i had to push a drill bit thru the conecter to expand it enough to get back on the cable, then i crushed it slightly with pliers. it was such a pain in the *** to get it to plug back in since i had to reach under my dash ect. my had wound up getting all cut up ect.


good news my speed is only off by 1mph ish instead of being to fast by 5 to 10.