Keeping the '69 roadster mechanical odometer display and trip reset with different transmission

[fairlane292]

I would like to keep the mechanical odometer display rather than a digital display. The trans will be a Ford T5 that has cable driven speedometer (about 76" in length and I have no idea yet if its input profile and threaded coupling to the roadster speedo is the same but that is very unlikely of course). (The cables are available with and without VSS). A GPS type or maybe the Ford VSS, with a buffer box or other mech converter to the roadster cabling input would do the trick but I don't know if that's available; I can start checking around if folks here have seen this yet. I'm thinking it is a thing because there are so many classics where restorers want to upgrade the gauges incl speedo but keep the speedo mechanical look of the odometer. (Tach and other gauges will be all electronic but in original style). Have any of you folks done this? Thanks, Jim

[Nissanman]

There is a (pricey) product that I intend to install if and when I win Lotto: -

https://www.rodshop.com.au/speedhut-ele ... ble-driven



I have seen it ebay at various times but the price is still right up there

[Habitat.pat]

I posted earlier, but i doesn’t seem to have made it. Sorry if it’s a repeat.

Jon Frampton in Southern California is well versed in our instruments he does restorations & custom mods. Give him a try.

Peace, Pat

[fairlane292]

I posted earlier, but i doesn’t seem to have made it. Sorry if it’s a repeat.

Jon Frampton in Southern California is well versed in our instruments he does restorations & custom mods. Give him a try.

Peace, Pat

Thanks Pat. I will def ask him. After I created this post today I saw the low windshield car of Mike Spriso that had a ClassicInstrument speedometer with a mechanical looking odometer. Exactly the idea I have in mind though there was no trip odometer. I’m not familiar with the low windshield cars but I suspect that they did not have the trip odo. If I had to I would settle for that as a solution with a trip odo that just showed 0’s and the reset button did not do anything. I’d rather have the trip odo function as well as the reset but I’ll see what I can find and figure out. Thanks again. Jim

[fairlane292]

There is a (pricey) product that I intend to install if and when I win Lotto: -

https://www.rodshop.com.au/speedhut-ele ... ble-driven



I have seen it ebay at various times but the price is still right up there

Yeah, that’s the idea but as you say, all in it’s very expensive. I kinda don’t want go gps because of the antenna and I just don’t know if there are times when satellite signal is an issue. The Ford T5 cable is available in both with and without VSS but that VSS is not for the cars speedometer but I think for the ecu to control MAF.
I did pose the question to Speedhut so I’ll see what they say. I don’t mind an all mechanical speedometer especially if I could simply run the T5 trans cable (modified as needed) to connect to the Datsun speedo. The gear on the T5 cable can be easily changed to adjust for gear ratio and tire size. Maybe there’s someone out there who modifies speedometer cables. I’ll update this post as I get new info. Thanks for the info on the Speedhut box. Jim

[fairlane292]

Here’s a good video of an install on the Speedhut box. I’m looking to have a very Spartan engine bay and with a 302w swap, space is a real premium. The gps version has a constant battery draw and I wouldn’t be able to find a suitable place for the OE cable, the box and the test wire/button anyway. I’ll see what Speedhut says but I don’t see this particular option as one that would work well in my case.

https://www.google.com/search?q=speedhu ... vV8u0,st:0

[theunz]

I had my speedometer converted to GPS by Jon and frankly it’s been a big disappointment. First let me state that this was not a refurbishment just a simple conversion. I have never heard a bad word about his instrument refurbishments. My main reason for the conversion was to have a working odometer and an accurate speedometer that would work with different differential gearing. Long story short, I have had to return it to him 3 times at my expense and still don’t have a working odometer. The odometer will for no reason reset itself to zero after an hundred or so miles and I’m not talking about the trip feature but the permanent memory itself. This has been the case on two completely different units. Just yesterday I pulled the unit out again in order to adjust the needles resting position because it read 2 to 3 mph high compared to multiple other portable GPS units. Another issue is that being analog it doesn’t seem to react to speed changes as smoothly as a mechanical unit. Let me be clear, I don’t think that this is an issue with Jon’s work I just think that the unit he uses has issues.

[fairlane292]

I had my speedometer converted to GPS by Jon and frankly it’s been a big disappointment. First let me state that this was not a refurbishment just a simple conversion. I have never heard a bad word about his instrument refurbishments. My main reason for the conversion was to have a working odometer and an accurate speedometer that would work with different differential gearing. Long story short, I have had to return it to him 3 times at my expense and still don’t have a working odometer. The odometer will for no reason reset itself to zero after an hundred or so miles and I’m not talking about the trip feature but the permanent memory itself. This has been the case on two completely different units. Just yesterday I pulled the unit out again in order to adjust the needles resting position because it read 2 to 3 mph high compared to multiple other portable GPS units. Another issue is that being analog it doesn’t seem to react to speed changes as smoothly as a mechanical unit. Let me be clear, I don’t think that this is an issue with Jon’s work I just think that the unit he uses has issues.

Gee, sorry to hear of the issues you are having. I think you are right that it's likely not Jon's work but the device components. I'm not yet convinced that GPS is the best approach, though I suppose one day it will be.

I haven't spoken with the folks at Speedometer Cables USA (links below) yet but it looks like I can either have them make a custom cable for the Ford T5 to the roadster speedo OR use one of their gearbox adapters (likely would need two OE cables [Ford and Datsun roadster] shortened for that option. It doesn't look like there will be any issue with speedo accuracy as gear swaps are plentiful and easy to do. I'll be speaking with a contact at ClassicInstrument later today about a new roadster speedo with mechanical looking odometer. I'm trying to keep things as simple and stock appearing as possible. I'll update this post with what I learn from ClassicInstrument. Hope you can get your odometer issues resolved soon. Thanks for the info. Jim

https://speedometercablesusa.com/cables ... embly.html
https://deluxespeedometer.com/services.html

[fairlane292]

Classic Instruments does do the rolling odometer, electronic but it looks mechanical (not a digital display). They do not offer the same for the trip odometer; which of course would also require trip reset capability.

Speedometer Cables USA can make a cable for the T5 trans to the roadster speedometer.