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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
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Aftermarket Speedometer

  • Thread starter Thread starter gcwh02
  • Start date Start date Sep 21, 2007

gcwh02

New Member
Jun 20, 2005
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0
pottstown, PA
Sep 21, 2007
#1
  • Sep 21, 2007
  • #1
Im looking to install a new speedo with my new cluster I am going to assemble. What is easier to install, mechanical or electrical?
 

Darkwriter77

Resident Ranting Negative Nancy
5 Year Member
Jul 1, 2005
314
281
134
Apache Junction, AZ
Sep 21, 2007
#2
  • Sep 21, 2007
  • #2
Electrical would be easier to install, I'd imagine, because all you'd need to do is install a sending unit down on the tranny end, run your wire however/wherever you want the speedo to be, and then hook up that signal wire to the speedo along with your 12v switchable power, ground, and backlighting wires. They're also kinda nice for the fact that some will allow you to calibrate the speedo to correct for gears and tire sizes n' such. Biggest drawback is that they usually cost quite a bit.

Mechanical speedos are simpler in design and, theoretically, more reliable in that you don't have a sending unit that could possibly fail somewhere down the road. The pain, however, is fitting it to your stock speedo cable, or maybe to a universal cable, and putting that exactly into a spot where you like it. Plus, cable-driven speedos have issues (such as with OEM speedos) with the cable going dry or somehow otherwise causing the infamous bouncing needle symptom.
 

gcwh02

New Member
Jun 20, 2005
515
0
0
pottstown, PA
Sep 22, 2007
#3
  • Sep 22, 2007
  • #3
Darkwriter77 said:
Electrical would be easier to install, I'd imagine, because all you'd need to do is install a sending unit down on the tranny end, run your wire however/wherever you want the speedo to be, and then hook up that signal wire to the speedo along with your 12v switchable power, ground, and backlighting wires. They're also kinda nice for the fact that some will allow you to calibrate the speedo to correct for gears and tire sizes n' such. Biggest drawback is that they usually cost quite a bit.

Mechanical speedos are simpler in design and, theoretically, more reliable in that you don't have a sending unit that could possibly fail somewhere down the road. The pain, however, is fitting it to your stock speedo cable, or maybe to a universal cable, and putting that exactly into a spot where you like it. Plus, cable-driven speedos have issues (such as with OEM speedos) with the cable going dry or somehow otherwise causing the infamous bouncing needle symptom.
Click to expand...

how hard is it to run the electrical one to your tranny?
 

Darkwriter77

Resident Ranting Negative Nancy
5 Year Member
Jul 1, 2005
314
281
134
Apache Junction, AZ
Sep 22, 2007
#4
  • Sep 22, 2007
  • #4
Again, you'd just need to run some wire from a sending unit that either piggybacks onto or goes on just after the VSS (Vehicle Speed Sensor) on the tranny up to the speedometer.
 
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