aftermarket speedometer that works with stock gauge cluster?

[slickrock]

Installing a Dana 18 T-case and the speedo will not work with the stock speedometer. I do not want to swap out my stock cluster. I want to keep it looking as stock as possible (like the factory gauges for no other reason than it is a Cruiser thing).

Is there some type of aftermarket speedo that can fit where the stock speedo fits or some way to retrofit just that part of the cluster?

 

[nspctr1]

check out amaurers recent post. He has a great idea on replacing stock gauges with newer ones but using the old housing.

 

[slickrock]

I saw that, but he keeps the stock speedo from what I have seen. Thanks for the post.

 

[amaurer]

Anything is possible. Having spent lots of time inside these clusters and with aftermarket gauges, my opinion is:

a) It will be impossible to find a drop-in replacement.

b) With some effort you could probably get a disemboweled aftermarket speedo into the stock housing similar to what I've done here with my replacement brackets and a tachometer:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/366152-tach-instead-speedo.html

 

[Poser]

Get a speedometer cable made...

Go to the FAQ, again, and READ.


This has been covered, and covered, and covered...

 

[slickrock]

Poser: I saw your posts on having cables made. My speedometer part of my gauges looks like it made a train take a dirt road 20 years ago on its best day. Thought I might see about swapping just that part of my cluster with something that has a bit more pizazz like a cyberdyne electronic one.

Amaurer: Seems like you have tried just about everything one can do to upgrade and keep a stockish look to the cluster. But just looking at your picture, made a light go on. Do you think it would be possible to use a section of thin metal or plastic, paint it black and put that in place of the entire stock opening in the cluster for the speedometer.

Then cut a whole in the black plating big enough for an electronic speedomiter that is like 2 1'16 around.

Would that be possible?

 

[slickrock]

Forgive the hack using paint but you can see the idea. The speedo would be on the insdie fo the glass covering the cluster.

Never would have thought of this without your post. I was thinking in a totally different way.

What are your thoughts on something like this?

 

[amaurer]

Forgive the hack using paint but you can see the idea. The speedo would be on the insdie fo the glass covering the cluster.

Never would have thought of this without your post. I was thinking in a totally different way.

What are your thoughts on something like this?

I think it looks pretty bad, but if you like it then it should work fine... but not inside the glass due to the depth of the gauge.

The glass is held in with a rubber channel very much like the windshield and hardtop windows are. So pop the glass out, use it as a template for a piece of ABS or aluminum with a gauge-sized hole in it, and pop it right back in.

Depth will be borderline, but eyeballing it I'd say some gauges (2 1/16") would fit inside the cluster without needed to hack up the back of the housing if you ditch the glass.