speedo help

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libram

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 13, 2017
Messages
313
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Location
Charlotte NC
My Car
72 Mach 1
Anyone have any suggestions to help correct my speedo, moving to max teeth (21) is still putting it off actual speed. I really don't want to change the analog interior dial so is there anything anyone knows about as maybe a device that installs somewhere in between that allows additional correction? An electronic box maybe that takes the 21 tooth output and then can be adjusted and outputs to the cable on the speedo at the correct speed?

 
Some of the Ford Drag Pak cars used a mechanical speed reducer mounted on the transmission.

http://www.gaugeguys.com/ratio-adapter-1.html

Another option is to change the drive gear on the output shaft, if you have a toploader. The automatics have the gear machined into the output shaft.

 
unfortunately it is an automatic c6, according to the math it seems that it would need a 45 tooth :(

looks like a ratio adapter might work though.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
unfortunately it is an automatic c6, according to the math it seems that it would need a 45 tooth :(

looks like a ratio adapter might work though.
??? I have never heard of a 45 tooth. What rear gear are you running? The link posted to a calculator on this site is a good one to figure your gear. I used it when I did my conversion to a T5 and rear gear change out and I am right on the money when compared to the GPS on my phone.

 
that's the point lol they don't make one that big :) I used the calculator on classic cougars website, the rear end is pretty tall at 3.63 or really close to that.

 
I have a c6 with a 3.50 gear and 25” tire. Every calculator I used and the guys at trans shop said to use a 21 tooth. But my speedometer is about 4-5 mph to fast. Could just be the speedometer is off a bit, not sure but close enough I guess.

I saw that there is a 23 tooth, but guys are saying they wear out really fast cause the teeth are so small.

 
I run a 23 tooth gear in my 70 mercury cyclone it has 3.50 gears and 25.9" tires. When its time to replace them I will go to a taller tire, but after 1500 miles the gear looks brand new. I don't know how long it will last but I going check it when ever I change oil and replace if needed.

70 cyclone.png

 
Last edited by a moderator:
i figured out where i screwed up, i used the rim diameter not the tire diameter, 21 should do me.

 
Hi to all,

Just wanted to follow up and pass on my own personal info on my selection of speedo gearing.

OK - My '73 Mustang 302W  vert runs a factory C4 trans with an 8 tooth drive gear. (verified)

My rear tires are 295/50 on a 15 inch rim. That gives 26.6 inch diameter of infated tire under no weight load.

My diff has just been upgraded to Tru Trac Posi with a 3.25 ratio. (the old factory ratio was a 2.75 i believe)

That new combo has thrown my mph speedo reading out close to 6mph too fast. The original factory driven gear was an 18 tooth.

Based on the Internet speedo gearing calculators, they told me a 20 tooth driven gear would be just right to bring my speedo

back to an accurate reading. I bought a 20 tooth driven gear, installed it, and it has proved to be giving me now an accurate reading again

based on many Sat Nav tests conducted by myself.Very happy with my results.This setup has worked for me.

So for all you guys with a similar setup to mine specs wise, this will work for you also.

Many thanks,

Greg. :)

 
ok so i ordered what should have been the correct 21 tooth gear, then I swapped it out with the one that was in it, more on that in a second. I tried it out and the speedo just kinda bounces and then floats around over 40. The one I pulled out was green and the center shaft on it was longer, much longer. So I figured eh I got the wrong one, so I went looking for another one from another shop and manufacturer, it looked like the shaft was longer but once it arrived its the same. What gives? The trans is a c6 auto, and the gears I've gotten say they are correct. So is there something I'm missing or do I need to look further down the line to the cable and connectors.

 
I think the green one is for a manual transmission. The shop where I had mine done said that would work. So the ones for a manual trans will work in the auto. Mine kinda does the same. Might need to be recalibrated?

 
As long as the shaft on the end of the speedometer driven gear inserts into the pilot hole (past the drive gear) it should operate properly. Are you sure it was inserted into the transmission all of the way?

If the gear is in properly and the cable housing firmly connected the problem is likely your cable and/or cable housing.

I believe the longer shaft was to make it easier to get the gear into place on the assembly line and the shorter shaft is used on replacement gears.

The green driven gear is for automatic transmissions.

 
I had a similar issue on a cable driven speedo several years ago on a different car. Tried new gear etc. same issue bounce and just float around. I ended up pulling the cable apart and being from 1962 there was a lot of built up crap. I cleaned it and lubed with graphite and reassembled. Worked flawlessly after that. You might also want to make sure there are not extremely sharp bends in the speedo cable as this will also bind it up and cause this.

 
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