Swap Canadian Instrument Cluster with Kms for US cluster with Miles?

Diescipel · 12-21-04, 02:57 PM

The odometer on my BJ42 is stuck at 359999 kms, and I would also like to get a cluster with the MPH in big numbers. What would it entail to swap a US cluster in that would read MPH and miles accurately?

Yes, I am on winter break and have little to do but tinker with my new toy.

Thanks again,
B

crushers · 12-21-04, 03:01 PM

just switch face plate, no biggie at all, use the BJ42 guages and lights. pull the hoods off the 2 bulbs and you wil have to actually use the dimmer switch...

Landpimp · 12-21-04, 03:15 PM

isn't the speedo geared different for KM, vrs Miles? I don't know but would think so.......prolly I am wrong.

on the cluster lights, I have done the shield trick(on old 45), works good but the light is very anoying to the passanger. On my 82 fj40's I didnt feel like hacking up a spendy to replace cluster so I found some higher output bulbs, work great.

and also, my odo(in my 82 fj40) went tits up last year, I discovered that a fj60-2 odo guts are the same and MUCH more plentifull then late fj40 odo's

Diescipel · 12-21-04, 03:20 PM

I'm wondering about the gearing too. But where does the 'gearing' happen--at the pickup for the speedo cable on the tranny, or in the instrument cluster???

Just ordered the bulb kit from 4wheelauto which includes the higher wattage bulbs for the instrument cluster...

...I think I'll leave my FJ60 Od alone, but the thought of a swap jumped into my head...

B

crushers · 12-21-04, 03:46 PM

why is it bothering the passenger?
the cables ends are the same from 76-84...

Stone · 12-21-04, 03:47 PM

I guess it depends if the scale that's used in the MPH face is the same as the one used on the KMH face. My speedo goes from 0 to 160 km/h, so I figure if the MPH face goes from 0 to 100 mi/h then it would have the exact same gearing...no?

Oh, and in my BJ74 the "gearing" happens at the t-case...I'm trying to hunt down a speedo correction kit right now to compensate for going from the stock 29" tires to my current 255/85r/16. According to my WAAS enabled GPS, I'm off by about 14%.

crushers · 12-21-04, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NorCalCruzr

But where does the 'gearing' happen--at the pickup for the speedo cable on the tranny, or in the instrument cluster???

Just ordered the bulb kit from 4wheelauto which includes the higher wattage bulbs for the instrument cluster...

B

the gearing at at the t/case.
the removal of hoods makes it much brighter...
cheers

Diescipel · 12-21-04, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crushers

the gearing at at the t/case.
the removal of hoods makes it much brighter...
cheers

So if the cables are the same from 76-84, and the speedo face reads at the same rate but different scale depending on if you have a Kms or Miles face, how does the odometer know it's reading Kms or Miles? Wouldn't there have to be a different gearing in the odometer to account for the difference between miles and kms?

Stone · 12-21-04, 04:48 PM

Yup, the odometer will definitely be off if you just change the face. It will read faster because it's in kms...1.6x faster in fact.

jzilla · 12-21-04, 10:49 PM

Stone, I'm thinking of having something made up as well to correct my speedo, since I went to 33's.
North Shore Off Road told me they can get a new speedo gear or something made up for about 100bucks, I keep forgetting to do that though.

Stone · 12-21-04, 11:23 PM

Jzilla: Really? I was looking at all the complicated solutions, contacting Marks in Oz and everything. If NSOR has a part then I would probably pick up a couple. Thanks for the tip...I'll try and call them tomorrow.

crushers · 12-22-04, 06:27 AM

you can also swap out the plastic drive gear for one of different teeth and that will do the trick, local pick and pull...

Landpimp · 12-22-04, 09:16 AM

because the light is now VERY visible from the passanger seat, its kinda anoyoing. Going to a brighter bulb works almost as good and no light shining and no hacking.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crushers

why is it bothering the passenger?
the cables ends are the same from 76-84...

crushers · 12-22-04, 09:34 AM

hacking...OUCH!!
i thought i did a very clean job when i do them...
;^)

beanz2 · 12-22-04, 09:53 AM

Ratio converters are available for speedometer shops. I used United Speedometer Service to make a couple of ratio adapters. You can use their methods of testing your odometer against a measured mile or measuring the revolutions the cable makes as you push the vehicle a certain distance.

An idea I have in mind for the speedometers that read in kilometers: Do the ratio testing like the measured mile method and report the km readings as if they read in miles. It will be off by some 1.6 or whatever the km to mile conversion is, but then the ratio box takes care of the metric conversion too, so now your odometer reads in miles!

But then you'd have a 160 mph speedometer

Dave

Landpimp · 12-22-04, 10:12 AM

I have no issue cutting/hacking up an old cluster, but they don't grow the milliion mile late model 40 clusters on tree's.........at least not around here

Quote:

Originally Posted by crushers

hacking...OUCH!!
i thought i did a very clean job when i do them...
;^)

jzilla · 12-22-04, 01:13 PM

Stone let me know how it goes with NSOR,
thanks

Wherlwind · 12-22-04, 02:49 PM

I think you should be able to trade one for the other without any problem.I have a pre metric speedo with MPH in large numbers and kmh in small and a post metric with KMH in large and mph in small and I've traded back and forth without any noticable difference. 100 mph in same spot as 160 kmh. pete

Stone · 12-22-04, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzilla

Stone let me know how it goes with NSOR,
thanks

Jzilla: I've got a line on someone who makes these adapters locally. I'm going to order one after the holidays, try it out, and then let you know how well it works. Cheers, Have a Merry Christmas.

jzilla · 12-22-04, 07:49 PM

thanks stone, looking forward to hearing about it.
You can always email me at johnzilla80@yahoo.com
john

12-21-04, 02:57 PM	#1
Diescipel IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: 95570 TLCA# 14854 Posts: 841	Swap Canadian Instrument Cluster with Kms for US cluster with Miles? The odometer on my BJ42 is stuck at 359999 kms, and I would also like to get a cluster with the MPH in big numbers. What would it entail to swap a US cluster in that would read MPH and miles accurately? Yes, I am on winter break and have little to do but tinker with my new toy. Thanks again, B __________________ Brendan 1983 BJ42 bioD, lots o' Aqualu, TIC Parabolics/DT8000s, Tuffy, 33x9.5 BFG ATs, SOLD

12-21-04, 03:01 PM	#2
crushers IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 9,793	just switch face plate, no biggie at all, use the BJ42 guages and lights. pull the hoods off the 2 bulbs and you wil have to actually use the dimmer switch... __________________ pulling this info out of my ass so take it with a pound of salt "People are poor because they don't spend money wisely, tough sh!t !!! " John Galt 09/22/08 "educate yourself. Sorry if that seems too blunt." John Galt 11-01-08 Wayne in Ontario http://www.ivoac.ca join today

12-21-04, 03:20 PM	#4
Diescipel IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: 95570 TLCA# 14854 Posts: 841	I'm wondering about the gearing too. But where does the 'gearing' happen--at the pickup for the speedo cable on the tranny, or in the instrument cluster??? Just ordered the bulb kit from 4wheelauto which includes the higher wattage bulbs for the instrument cluster... ...I think I'll leave my FJ60 Od alone, but the thought of a swap jumped into my head... B __________________ Brendan 1983 BJ42 bioD, lots o' Aqualu, TIC Parabolics/DT8000s, Tuffy, 33x9.5 BFG ATs, SOLD

12-21-04, 03:46 PM	#5
crushers IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 9,793	why is it bothering the passenger? the cables ends are the same from 76-84... __________________ pulling this info out of my ass so take it with a pound of salt "People are poor because they don't spend money wisely, tough sh!t !!! " John Galt 09/22/08 "educate yourself. Sorry if that seems too blunt." John Galt 11-01-08 Wayne in Ontario http://www.ivoac.ca join today

12-21-04, 03:47 PM	#6
Stone IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: May 2004 Location: BC, Canada TLCA# 13772 Posts: 1,992	I guess it depends if the scale that's used in the MPH face is the same as the one used on the KMH face. My speedo goes from 0 to 160 km/h, so I figure if the MPH face goes from 0 to 100 mi/h then it would have the exact same gearing...no? Oh, and in my BJ74 the "gearing" happens at the t-case...I'm trying to hunt down a speedo correction kit right now to compensate for going from the stock 29" tires to my current 255/85r/16. According to my WAAS enabled GPS, I'm off by about 14%. __________________ Stone's Land Cruiser & Flyfishing Pics Flyfishing British Columbia: www.flyfishbc.com bcfishingreports.com

12-21-04, 03:15 PM	#3
Landpimp IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gig Harbor WA TLCA# 5506 Posts: 11,565	isn't the speedo geared different for KM, vrs Miles? I don't know but would think so.......prolly I am wrong. on the cluster lights, I have done the shield trick(on old 45), works good but the light is very anoying to the passanger. On my 82 fj40's I didnt feel like hacking up a spendy to replace cluster so I found some higher output bulbs, work great. and also, my odo(in my 82 fj40) went tits up last year, I discovered that a fj60-2 odo guts are the same and MUCH more plentifull then late fj40 odo's

12-21-04, 04:48 PM	#9
Stone IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: May 2004 Location: BC, Canada TLCA# 13772 Posts: 1,992	Yup, the odometer will definitely be off if you just change the face. It will read faster because it's in kms...1.6x faster in fact. __________________ Stone's Land Cruiser & Flyfishing Pics Flyfishing British Columbia: www.flyfishbc.com bcfishingreports.com

12-21-04, 10:49 PM	#10
jzilla IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: N Vancouver, BC Posts: 267	Stone, I'm thinking of having something made up as well to correct my speedo, since I went to 33's. North Shore Off Road told me they can get a new speedo gear or something made up for about 100bucks, I keep forgetting to do that though. __________________ 81 BJ60 turbo, intercooler, snorkel, etc.

12-21-04, 11:23 PM	#11
Stone IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: May 2004 Location: BC, Canada TLCA# 13772 Posts: 1,992	Jzilla: Really? I was looking at all the complicated solutions, contacting Marks in Oz and everything. If NSOR has a part then I would probably pick up a couple. Thanks for the tip...I'll try and call them tomorrow. __________________ Stone's Land Cruiser & Flyfishing Pics Flyfishing British Columbia: www.flyfishbc.com bcfishingreports.com

12-22-04, 06:27 AM	#12
crushers IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 9,793	you can also swap out the plastic drive gear for one of different teeth and that will do the trick, local pick and pull... __________________ pulling this info out of my ass so take it with a pound of salt "People are poor because they don't spend money wisely, tough sh!t !!! " John Galt 09/22/08 "educate yourself. Sorry if that seems too blunt." John Galt 11-01-08 Wayne in Ontario http://www.ivoac.ca join today

12-22-04, 09:34 AM	#14
crushers IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 9,793	hacking...OUCH!! i thought i did a very clean job when i do them... ;^) __________________ pulling this info out of my ass so take it with a pound of salt "People are poor because they don't spend money wisely, tough sh!t !!! " John Galt 09/22/08 "educate yourself. Sorry if that seems too blunt." John Galt 11-01-08 Wayne in Ontario http://www.ivoac.ca join today

12-22-04, 09:53 AM	#15
beanz2 IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,126	Ratio converters are available for speedometer shops. I used United Speedometer Service to make a couple of ratio adapters. You can use their methods of testing your odometer against a measured mile or measuring the revolutions the cable makes as you push the vehicle a certain distance. An idea I have in mind for the speedometers that read in kilometers: Do the ratio testing like the measured mile method and report the km readings as if they read in miles. It will be off by some 1.6 or whatever the km to mile conversion is, but then the ratio box takes care of the metric conversion too, so now your odometer reads in miles! But then you'd have a 160 mph speedometer Dave

12-22-04, 01:13 PM	#17
jzilla IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: N Vancouver, BC Posts: 267	Stone let me know how it goes with NSOR, thanks __________________ 81 BJ60 turbo, intercooler, snorkel, etc.

12-22-04, 02:49 PM	#18
Wherlwind IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Willies Puddle B.C. Posts: 175	I think you should be able to trade one for the other without any problem.I have a pre metric speedo with MPH in large numbers and kmh in small and a post metric with KMH in large and mph in small and I've traded back and forth without any noticable difference. 100 mph in same spot as 160 kmh. pete

12-22-04, 07:49 PM	#20
jzilla IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: N Vancouver, BC Posts: 267	thanks stone, looking forward to hearing about it. You can always email me at johnzilla80@yahoo.com john __________________ 81 BJ60 turbo, intercooler, snorkel, etc.

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