67-72 Electric speedo

[Ozzy2013]

Saw this thread and was wondering if you might be able to help me out.I have a 68GMC and i put a nv4500 with the vss on the tail shaft 95 P30 van tailshaft.How can i build something similar to what you are doing that would work with my set up?Any help you can give me will be greatly appreciated.Oz

[Captainfab]

I can't say for certain but I think you would need to run the speedo signal thru a ECM and then a DRAC module and then to the electronic speedo.

If you don't get the answer you are looking for here, contact a moderator and have this post moved to 'Engine and Drivetrain'

Originally Posted by Ozzy2013

Saw this thread and was wondering if you might be able to help me out.I have a 68GMC and i put a nv4500 with the vss on the tail shaft 95 P30 van tailshaft.How can i build something similar to what you are doing that would work with my set up?Any help you can give me will be greatly appreciated.Oz

[Ozzy2013]

Thanks i will have to figure out something else i wont run an ecm its all old school and carb .

[Captainfab]

That doesn't mean you can't use an ECM and DRAC to operate the speedo. You can pickup a ECM and DRAC cheap at a wrecking yard. If that just isn't an option, check with Dakota Digital. They have a electronic speedo unit, but I don't know the details on it.

Originally Posted by Ozzy2013

Thanks i will have to figure out something else i wont run an ecm its all old school and carb .

[jks67ss396]

Hey Eric

I cant seem to find the testors paint colors by the 180 101/180 111 codes. Are there other numbers that are on the bottle? Can you post them if you have them?

Ive also seem guys use krylon seafoam green for the inner tin. Would you happen to know if thats a close match for the lens numbers?

taking forever, and nowhere near as nice as these, but its fun

thanks man!!

[ls1nova71]

Originally Posted by jks67ss396

Hey Eric

I cant seem to find the testors paint colors by the 180 101/180 111 codes. Are there other numbers that are on the bottle? Can you post them if you have them?

Ive also seem guys use krylon seafoam green for the inner tin. Would you happen to know if thats a close match for the lens numbers?

taking forever, and nowhere near as nice as these, but its fun

thanks man!!

Im currently out of town, so I canr look at them, but its just straight green and white, shouldn't be hard to find I wouldn't think. As for the seafoam green, I never tried it so I can't say how close it would be.

[BigRed76]

So I have a question for ls1nova71 about modifying the original speedo faceplate. I understand that the original odometer hole in the faceplate needs to be widened to accommodate the extra digit of the new odometer, but when the old faceplate is centered over the new speedo assembly the odometer hole looks to be too high, as if the hole needs to be moved down just a bit. Was this something you had to do during your conversion, or is there another method to avoid that?

[jks67ss396]

Hey BigRed

Im not Eric/ls1nova, but ill try to help.

im doing the swap, and you dont reuse the old metal speedo face. you mount the new decal over the cutout plastic s10 speedo lens and align the s10 speedo lens with the fuel gauge in the right hole of the cluster

does that help?

[BigRed76]

Originally Posted by jks67ss396

Hey BigRed

Im not Eric/ls1nova, but ill try to help.

im doing the swap, and you dont reuse the old metal speedo face. you mount the new decal over the cutout plastic s10 speedo lens and align the s10 speedo lens with the fuel gauge in the right hole of the cluster

does that help?

Wow, that makes a lot more sense. I'm not sure how I misunderstood that

[ls1nova71]

Originally Posted by BigRed76

Wow, that makes a lot more sense. I'm not sure how I misunderstood that

Looks like jks67ss396 got you squared away (thanks btw), I tried using the metal face, but asyou found out, it just doesn't quite work as well as the s10 face.

[EightiesOnly]

Ls1nova71,

I'm using an s10 electric speedo with one of your face decals. I'm also using the exact same LED hi beam indicator but green as you. It steadily turns on and off in a flickering manner.

Did you have any issues? Did you ground everything to the tin and then ground the tin like I did? Do you or any one else know what the issue could be?

It seems ground related or a bad diode or resistor.

[ls1nova71]

I did ground everything to the tin and then another ground from the tin to the harness to a good ground under the dash, and have never seen the problem you are describing. Have you tried taking it out and hooking it directly to a battery and see what it does?

[BigRed76]

Has anyone found a paint that is the correct color for painting the new speedo numbers? I know ls1nova71 said he was just mixing paint to make the correct color, I'm just wondering if there's a premade color that will work...

[TBONE1964]

Originally Posted by BigRed76

Has anyone found a paint that is the correct color for painting the new speedo numbers? I know ls1nova71 said he was just mixing paint to make the correct color, I'm just wondering if there's a premade color that will work...

I think Eric was using testers model paint. He used green and white and mixed them until he got the color right on the money which is the way I would do it.

If you want something in a spray can ready, I would go with a Jade Satin Krylon.

Hope this helps.

Tom

[TBONE1964]

Hi Eric,
I am finally building my first electronic speedometer conversion cluster for a customer and have some questions for you.

First off, I wanted to let you know that I have found a way that works well that eliminates the speedometer mounting plate. Of course it requires some fabrication to the stock tin but in the end it will be all one piece. Not to take away anything you have done, just trying a different method.

Also my customer did not want a trip so that made my work a bit easier.

Now for my questions. I bought a gauge cluster for a 1996 S-10 from ebay. The high MPH on it is 100 MPH. Is this OK with the 120 stencil you provide? Will the speedometer actually work and be accurate over 100 MPH?

My other question was regarding testing the speedometer without a VSS signal. I have heard if you put power and ground to it, it will move to zero regardless of where the needle is positioned. Is this true?

I am trying to make sure I get this cluster built so that it will work for my customer. I may be able to find someone with a later model vehicle with VSS to test it on but I cannot say for sure at this time.

I will try to post some photos of my work soon. I had a camera mishap and don't care for my phone camera.

Hope you are well,

Take care,
Tom

[ls1nova71]

Originally Posted by BigRed76

Has anyone found a paint that is the correct color for painting the new speedo numbers? I know ls1nova71 said he was just mixing paint to make the correct color, I'm just wondering if there's a premade color that will work...

I have never found anything that was an exact match, but then I'm picky, so I knew that mixing it would get the best results.

Originally Posted by TBONE1964

Hi Eric,
I am finally building my first electronic speedometer conversion cluster for a customer and have some questions for you.

First off, I wanted to let you know that I have found a way that works well that eliminates the speedometer mounting plate. Of course it requires some fabrication to the stock tin but in the end it will be all one piece. Not to take away anything you have done, just trying a different method.
Interested in how you mounted it. My first one I didn't use the mounting plate, and got it to work, but making the mount seemed to be the better way. Post some pics when you get a chance.

Also my customer did not want a trip so that made my work a bit easier.

Now for my questions. I bought a gauge cluster for a 1996 S-10 from ebay. The high MPH on it is 100 MPH. Is this OK with the 120 stencil you provide? Will the speedometer actually work and be accurate over 100 MPH?
The S10 speedos are all 100mph. The reason for making the 67-72 speedo 120mph is to get the sweep to match. It should be accurate above 100mph since the sweep of the needle is linear in relation to the face/numbers. I have never checked it above 100 to be honest though. I have checked it to about 90mhp or so and it's pretty accurate.

My other question was regarding testing the speedometer without a VSS signal. I have heard if you put power and ground to it, it will move to zero regardless of where the needle is positioned. Is this true?
When you put power to the speedo, the needle will move to the 0mhp mark, you have to do this when putting the needle back on, or you may get the needle either too high or too low. Ideally, you want the needle to rest at 0mhp, with the needle just touching the little plastic stop.

I am trying to make sure I get this cluster built so that it will work for my customer. I may be able to find someone with a later model vehicle with VSS to test it on but I cannot say for sure at this time.
The only way I know to test it is to hook it up to a vehicle and run it. I have a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire that I use to test mine. I just unhook the cruise control module and put the wires in to the connector for power, ground, and VSS, it works great since then I not only get to see it work, I can verify how accurate it is by comparing it to the speedo in the car. If you can find a later modle GM car with a cable drive cruise control, that would be the easiest way to make sure it is going to be right on the money.

I will try to post some photos of my work soon. I had a camera mishap and don't care for my phone camera.

Hope you are well,

Take care,
Tom

Hey Tom, I answered your questions in the bold text. If you need anymore help, don't hesitate to ask.

[TBONE1964]

Originally Posted by ls1nova71

I have never found anything that was an exact match, but then I'm picky, so I knew that mixing it would get the best results.



Hey Tom, I answered your questions in the bold text. If you need anymore help, don't hesitate to ask.

Hi Eric,

I appreciate the information. I will get some photos posted when I get time and the camera working. I am also working on making a wiring harness that I think will work nice.

I have limited time to work on this so my progress is slow.

Stay tuned...

Thanks again,
Tom

[BigRed76]

Originally Posted by TBONE1964

I think Eric was using testers model paint. He used green and white and mixed them until he got the color right on the money which is the way I would do it.

If you want something in a spray can ready, I would go with a Jade Satin Krylon.

Hope this helps.

Tom

Thanks Tom, I was hoping to find something in a spray can, and just from pictures that jade satin looks real close.
My electric speedo cluster is still in the works but I went the route of modifying the tin to eliminate the plate like you mentioned you were doing for a customer.

[tinsoldier]

Is there anymore faceplate available? I am interested in purchasing one if possible.

[elimontfort]

Also interested in a faceplate.

[ls1nova71]

Originally Posted by tinsoldier

Is there anymore faceplate available? I am interested in purchasing one if possible.

Originally Posted by elimontfort

Also interested in a faceplate.

PMs sent

[71blksuper4x4]

Eric, do you still have any of these? Debating this route on my dmax swap. Trevor

[ls1nova71]

Originally Posted by 71blksuper4x4

Eric, do you still have any of these? Debating this route on my dmax swap. Trevor

I will have some as soon as the printer gets the blade it takes to cut the number parts out of the stencil. I'm having a few more made up because I keep selling the ones I have stashed back for my own projects. I'm currently putting together 2 clusters so I won't have that problem anymore.

[Marty68]

i may do this after i kill a couple other jobs.

[eagleuh1]

Anybody found a source for the light sockets other than junk yard? Only thing lacking on mine. Thanks. Jim