Speedo

[Nathan parker]

Hi guys can anyone help me with what I need to get a speedo working on my kit car. I have no idea what to do and what I need any help would be great.

[nelmo]

We'd need some more details; what engine, gearbox, which type of speedo dial and some pics of these.

Are you happy to work on the car yourself? This will probably require taking the dash and panels off and possible wiring changes.

If it helps, you can change to a GPS speedo - again, if you're happy re-wiring...

[Nathan parker]

29 minutes ago, nelmo said:

We'd need some more details; what engine, gearbox, which type of speedo dial and some pics of these.

Are you happy to work on the car yourself? This will probably require taking the dash and panels off and possible wiring changes.

If it helps, you can change to a GPS speedo - again, if you're happy re-wiring...

Thanks for helping. I have a 2 litre pinto engine and not sure on the gear box maybe a type 9. I have a sierra clock in there but with no cable. I would like to put a universal speedo in if I can thanks for your help.

[Foz]

Hi Nathan,

Your easiest option might be to fit a GPS speedo which will only need a 12V supply to it but they don't always work in tunnels, built up areas, under power lines and such.

An electronic speedo is easy enough to fit but you will need to fit a sensor somewhere to give it a speed signal.  You can maybe fit the sensor near the diff to pick up the propshaft bolts or stick a magnet to the propshaft or a drive shaft for the sensor to detect. Basically you just need a signal from something that moves at a rate proportional to your road speed, (not you engine speed).  So anything from the propshaft, through to the wheels will do.

If your gearbox still has the speedo drive output, where the drive cable would have fitted, to go to your existing mechanical speedo, then you may be able to find a sensor that picks up on that - I seem to remember you could buy them for type 9 boxes a while ago.

Steve

[Sparepart]

The simplest way is to buy the ford cable that connects the Type 9 gearbox speedo drive to the Sierra instrument cluster. You need to check that the speedo drive output is still there, it should be, but you never know, you cant miss it, it's on the driver's side of the gearbox not far forward of the gear stick and points down slightly. A circular hole with a female end in the middle, that a square section cable end can push into.

Here is a photo from the Sierra manual.

The circlip is likely to be missing, however these are available, along with a new cable, on eBay etc. The only other issue that you may have is how to route the cable from the gearbox to the cluster. As you see, it sticks out at right angles to the box, and almost certainly will not bend through 90 degrees to run down the transmission tunnel. On my car I have a hole in the transmission tunnel and route the cable on top of the drivers side floor in an arc to rise in the corner of the scuttle and then continue to the cluster. In order to do this you need to measure how long a cable you need, as the standard Sierra cable might be too short. I believe that a Mk2 Sierra cable (part no 6151472) is 2940mm long which should do. Oh! I just re-read your post.....a "universal speedo" .... I'd of thought then that a free standing, off the shelf GPS based speedo is your answer. Double Oh! I just realised something else ... you probably can't see this part of the gearbox because its hidden in your enclosed transmission tunnel ?  ... in which case just to look at it might mean taking the engine/gearbox out of the car ..... maybe thats why it's not connected at the moment... the builder put it all together and then discovered that to connect the speedo meant taking the engine out. So another good reason for a GPS speedo.

Edited July 28, 2022 by Sparepart
add PS and PPS

[alanrichey]

If all else fails (as it did for me trying to connect a Granada MT75 to an Escort instrument cluster on my Superspec) Speedy Cables will build you a bespoke one.   Cost me £40 inc VAT and P&P.

Edited July 28, 2022 by alanrichey