I have an 82 with 44K miles on it. I also have a 83 cluster that I want to put it for the 130mph speedometer.

The 83 has higher mileage than the 82 so I would like to know how to safely without breaking anything, return the mileage to the 44K that I have now on the '82

Thanks
Peter

 

A speedometer shop should be able to move the odometer from one speedo to another one as long as both instruments are the same.

When I was in that industry, we did stuff like this all the time when a car's OE speedometer died or if the customer wanted a speedo that had a higher MPH reading. This helped the customer maintain accurate mileage and it protected the value of the car. This process usually required us to recalibrate the speedometer after the odometer swap because we had to pull off the needle and gauge face to get to the odometer.

On some models we would change the odometer in the replacement speedometer because that was easier to do. Some makes - GM - were easier to pick that others.

Like all speedometer shops, we had some pretty strict rules regarding odometer mileage changes. We wouldn't change an odometer unless we pulled the speedometer from the car ourselves or the customer agreed to provide a notarized mileage statement.

 

Its easy to just futz with the number dials and set the mileage, at least on SAs. I know because
I did it when I swapped to the 79 120mph speedo because my 80mph speedo stopped working.

 

Some states require documentation when you do this; odometer fraud was so endemic with the older mechanical units that is some states it's a felony to change one without a proper documentation trail.

So be cautious and find our what the rules are in your state.

Mechanically, as TG said, it's not difficult. It's just legally perilous some places, even if you intend no fraud.

 

I think if the car is over 25 years old the odometer mileage on the title is exempt. At least it is on my title.

 

The way we looked at it, if we took the OE speedometer out of a car and replaced it with a new one, we saw no issue with either advancing the odometer on the new speedo or swapping in the old odometer. We did this in our shop or ordered replacement speedometers with the mileage adjusted. Either way, the car's actual mileage is maintained. So I fail to see the concern with what you are wanting to do.

Also, on a state by state basis vehicle mileage is meanless on a car past a certain age. The state of Missouri doesn't care that my 85 Mustang has 63K miles - the title has a mileage disclaimer because of the age of the car.

 

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/newsrel/...14/2014_13.htm

USDOJ: Civil: CPB: Open Cases

49 U.S. Code § 32703 - Preventing tampering | LII / Legal Information Institute

 

Doing this in the course of repairing a non-functioning speedo is probably not a crime. Especially
when you see in the U.S. Code this key condition:

"2. disconnect, reset, alter, or have disconnected, reset, or altered, an odometer of a
motor vehicle intending to change the mileage registered by the odometer;"

If there is not intent to defraud I don't think a case can be made against you. In good faith
if you set the odo to whatever the mileage of the old odo was, you should be ok.

 

Ya, I have pics of both odometer as well as a carfax to show the correct mileage was maintained besides, if you saw this car,it would be very obvious that the car has very low miles btw, it super easy to change the numbers just have to take your time and be careful I did this because the 80mph speedo topspeed look really stupid because of the relationship with the tachometer and the fact that we pretty much drive 70-75 all day here in CA and it's always looked pegged

 

I agree; just document what you do & disclose what you did when you sell it, and you're probably safe.