I had just rebuilt my gauage cluster and installed it. I was out testing everything and all of a sudden the speedometer starting boucing and making a heck of a noise. Before I got home the speedometer needle was laying at the bottom of the gauge. It had been bouncing and going 360 degrees around the gauge. I figure it pretty much destroyed the speedometer so I started looking for a replacement. I found someone selling the complete cluster, totally rebuilt, and was pretty excited. So excited I bought it and then I realized it is for an automatic and mine is a standard. This brings me to my question. Is it possible to convert the rebuilt speedomenter to a manual configuration? Hopefully its just a matter of changing the front of the speedometer gauge, removing the automatic display. I appreciate any one that may have done this in giving me some advice.
When you say replace the "Speedo Mechanism" are you talking about the physical speedometer? My issue is the speedometer I have is internally damaged, I believe. I am just wondering if I can replace the front part of the speedometer that shows P R N D L to the blank display of my speedometer that is blank for the manual transmission?
The face plate on the speedometer is held to the mechanism with two small screws, but the needle is pressed onto the shaft after the plate and it's retaining screws are installed. So you might have to remove the needle, and then swap the face plate, then reinstall the needle. Maybe that's too much of a challenge for you? I never seem to have any trouble with it, although it is delicate work. I've probably done this operation a few dozen times in the past several decades. Maybe more. It's not rocket surgery, but it's close. Be careful, support parts so you don't damage the mechanism, take your time, take pictures, ask questions.
Hey Squirrel, Thank. I was hoping it would be something like that. This is the greatest site on the internet. You guys have a great new year.....
Did you check the drive cable? I’ve never had one get that bad, but a bouncing needle is often a binding cable. Bind it bad enough, it breaks or strips itself in the transmission gear.
I've had several do just what he described, it's depressing... something about the jewel inside the thing, between the magnet and cup.
>>Before I got home the speedometer needle was laying at the bottom of the gauge. It had been bouncing and going 360 degrees around the gauge.>>>My issue is the speedometer I have is internally damaged, I believe. >>> What do you mean by "I believe"? It might be fine by simply pressing the needle back on. Sounds to me like internal cable was sticking inside the sheath. Probably being pinched or bent too sharply by something up under the dash directly behind the speedo's cable port. When the cable sticks, it winds up like a tight spring that suddenly lets loose and pegs the needle. Only to repeat the process as the spring repeatedly lets loose and tightens up again
It's worth make sure the cable is in good shape, disconnect it at the speedometer end, and pull the inner part out (it will make a greasy mess, so be prepared). Clean and lube it and put it back in, and crawl under the car to make sure there are no bends in it other than gentle sweeping curves. Then take the cluster apart and see if the needle broke off, or if it fell off. If it fell off, then put it back on (very carefully to not damage the speedometer guts! know where you're applying force to). and re***emble and go for a drive, and don't expect much. If the needle broke, then continue with replacing it (or send off the guts to Rusty for the overhaul it really needs)
I agree i have had bad speedometer cables and the bouncing needle.... but i never have the needle to a 360 spin around the gauge . But i'll pull and lube the cabe and give it a shot. I do know that when i rebuilt the cluster i took the speedometer outm removed the spounge and lubed the speedpmeter with machine oil. then soaked the spounge and reinstallled everything. It really surprised me when it failed. Again thanks guys, I'll let you know how it goes.
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