New mechanical speedometer drive solution
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: West Mich
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Chambana, IL
It was mentioned as a suggestion a few pages ago, is there going to be some sort of 5v output for a speed sensor built into your box? The reason I'm asking is the Jeep I'm building has a cable drive and the new electronic speed sensor needs a 5v input to function. I can get 5v regulators at Radio Shack but if it's going to be built into your system that will be one less stop on my parts gathering trip.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 346
Likes: 7
From: Tampa, FL
Going back to the cost of this thing, this seems to be a refinded cable X, takes the only part that fails (cable) out of the system. To think it will be better and cheaper seems a little unreal, I would expect that the $150 they started at is closer to their cost not our cost. Keep after it Guys, we all hope it works out.
Going back to the cost of this thing, this seems to be a refinded cable X, takes the only part that fails (cable) out of the system. To think it will be better and cheaper seems a little unreal, I would expect that the $150 they started at is closer to their cost not our cost. Keep after it Guys, we all hope it works out.
Teching In
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Richard Hawkins Gentlemen,
I have been following your work with interest. I am British, living in Lincolnshire U.K. I am working on an old Lotus. I wish to retain as much of the original appearance whilst updating the car to make it more usable. I have changed the axle ratio and gearbox, and the only speedometer I can find has an LCD for the odometer. Your solution looks like it would solve my problem. Would you be able to to export to the U.k.?
Keep up the good work, and try to avoid being rushed.
Richard Hawkins
I have been following your work with interest. I am British, living in Lincolnshire U.K. I am working on an old Lotus. I wish to retain as much of the original appearance whilst updating the car to make it more usable. I have changed the axle ratio and gearbox, and the only speedometer I can find has an LCD for the odometer. Your solution looks like it would solve my problem. Would you be able to to export to the U.k.?
Keep up the good work, and try to avoid being rushed.
Richard Hawkins
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Registered User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Broomfield, CO
Hey Zipster,
You have yet another customer, waiting for your results. My 1951 cadillac wants your system once you get it ready for sale. I joined LS1Tech just for this (sorry I have a 1989 350 TBI system grafted into my caddy, not an LS) but at least it's still GM right, and related.... (don't hate
, please ). I will love not having to use my cell phone to know how fast i'm going... And after the horror stories I've heard about cable-X and Classic Instruments wanted $2700 min to make my orginal speedo work on a modern electrical signal, I'm so so thrilled you are filling this needed void in the aftermarket world! Please let me know if you need any addtional info from me (once you're ready) for this. THANKS MAN!!!
1951 caddy series 62 with:
custom tuned 350, AFR 190 Vortec Heads, 283/CompCams-Thumpr roller conversion cam, disc front brakes, fresh wires thoughout, shift-kit'd TH400, 20" rims with nitto invo 245/45R20Z's. No power steering or power brakes... Still to come: winter quick change rearend and much, much more.
You have yet another customer, waiting for your results. My 1951 cadillac wants your system once you get it ready for sale. I joined LS1Tech just for this (sorry I have a 1989 350 TBI system grafted into my caddy, not an LS) but at least it's still GM right, and related.... (don't hate
, please ). I will love not having to use my cell phone to know how fast i'm going... And after the horror stories I've heard about cable-X and Classic Instruments wanted $2700 min to make my orginal speedo work on a modern electrical signal, I'm so so thrilled you are filling this needed void in the aftermarket world! Please let me know if you need any addtional info from me (once you're ready) for this. THANKS MAN!!! 1951 caddy series 62 with:
custom tuned 350, AFR 190 Vortec Heads, 283/CompCams-Thumpr roller conversion cam, disc front brakes, fresh wires thoughout, shift-kit'd TH400, 20" rims with nitto invo 245/45R20Z's. No power steering or power brakes... Still to come: winter quick change rearend and much, much more.
Caddyman what transmission are you running?
Hey Zipster,
You have yet another customer, waiting for your results. My 1951 cadillac wants your system once you get it ready for sale. I joined LS1Tech just for this (sorry I have a 1989 350 TBI system grafted into my caddy, not an LS) but at least it's still GM right, and related.... (don't hate, please ). I will love not having to use my cell phone to know how fast i'm going... And after the horror stories I've heard about cable-X and Classic Instruments wanted $2700 min to make my orginal speedo work on a modern electrical signal, I'm so so thrilled you are filling this needed void in the aftermarket world! Please let me know if you need any addtional info from me (once you're ready) for this. THANKS MAN!!!
1951 caddy series 62 with:
custom tuned 350, AFR 190 Vortec Heads, 283/CompCams-Thumpr roller conversion cam, disc front brakes, fresh wires thoughout, shift-kit'd TH400, 20" rims with nitto invo 245/45R20Z's. No power steering or power brakes... Still to come: winter quick change rearend and much, much more.
You have yet another customer, waiting for your results. My 1951 cadillac wants your system once you get it ready for sale. I joined LS1Tech just for this (sorry I have a 1989 350 TBI system grafted into my caddy, not an LS) but at least it's still GM right, and related.... (don't hate
, please ). I will love not having to use my cell phone to know how fast i'm going... And after the horror stories I've heard about cable-X and Classic Instruments wanted $2700 min to make my orginal speedo work on a modern electrical signal, I'm so so thrilled you are filling this needed void in the aftermarket world! Please let me know if you need any addtional info from me (once you're ready) for this. THANKS MAN!!! 1951 caddy series 62 with:
custom tuned 350, AFR 190 Vortec Heads, 283/CompCams-Thumpr roller conversion cam, disc front brakes, fresh wires thoughout, shift-kit'd TH400, 20" rims with nitto invo 245/45R20Z's. No power steering or power brakes... Still to come: winter quick change rearend and much, much more.
Thats what i was thinking. The 400turbo would not need the VSS to work his Speedo all he would need is the right gears to make his speedo right and working.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Broomfield, CO
Hey guys,
Yep it's a TH400, however, I plan on running a winter's QC rearend, so I want my speedo to be re-adjustable. For road trips she's going to be in the high 2's where as normal driving prob 3.73, and when I want to take her out and find some "trouble" she'll be running 5.14's. Also for my final build for her, I'm still thinking of going with a TKO 5 speed. Nothing says ratty rod like slammin' those gears.
oh and Yep she's a VSS not mechanical. And oddly enough the 1951 speedo hookup looks like the nornal style plug on the back as all the other GM mechanical speedo hookups. Got to love GM, find a design that works and keep it.
Yep it's a TH400, however, I plan on running a winter's QC rearend, so I want my speedo to be re-adjustable. For road trips she's going to be in the high 2's where as normal driving prob 3.73, and when I want to take her out and find some "trouble" she'll be running 5.14's. Also for my final build for her, I'm still thinking of going with a TKO 5 speed. Nothing says ratty rod like slammin' those gears.
oh and Yep she's a VSS not mechanical. And oddly enough the 1951 speedo hookup looks like the nornal style plug on the back as all the other GM mechanical speedo hookups. Got to love GM, find a design that works and keep it.
Last edited by 51caddyman; Jun 14, 2012 at 10:49 AM.
Hey guys,
Yep it's a TH400, however, I plan on running a winter's QC rearend, so I want my speedo to be re-adjustable. For road trips she's going to be in the high 2's where as normal driving prob 3.73, and when I want to take her out and find some "trouble" she'll be running 5.14's. Also for my final build for her, I'm still thinking of going with a TKO 5 speed. Nothing says ratty rod like slammin' those gears.
oh and Yep she's a VSS not mechanical. And oddly enough the 1951 speedo hookup looks like the nornal style plug on the back as all the other GM mechanical speedo hookups. Got to love GM, find a design that works and keep it.
Yep it's a TH400, however, I plan on running a winter's QC rearend, so I want my speedo to be re-adjustable. For road trips she's going to be in the high 2's where as normal driving prob 3.73, and when I want to take her out and find some "trouble" she'll be running 5.14's. Also for my final build for her, I'm still thinking of going with a TKO 5 speed. Nothing says ratty rod like slammin' those gears.
oh and Yep she's a VSS not mechanical. And oddly enough the 1951 speedo hookup looks like the nornal style plug on the back as all the other GM mechanical speedo hookups. Got to love GM, find a design that works and keep it.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Broomfield, CO
Hey LS1Nova71,
Per the posts in this string #62-#72 (page #4) Zipster stated that this was going to have a calibration mode, and DBSJUNK's Jeep XJ with the TH350 and NP231 (I think on the T/C from the photo) T/C seems to have the same style VSS output, so, per Zipster on post# 72 "The vss sensor you have should work perfectly. Our controller will supply the 5V signal you need."
unless I'm missing something here... My TBI system is flash-able/tunable via my tuning guru's laptop pc (seeing the cam I have doesn't play well with the stock EFI tune from GM anyways). Let me know if I'm missing the boat here. Thanks!
Per the posts in this string #62-#72 (page #4) Zipster stated that this was going to have a calibration mode, and DBSJUNK's Jeep XJ with the TH350 and NP231 (I think on the T/C from the photo) T/C seems to have the same style VSS output, so, per Zipster on post# 72 "The vss sensor you have should work perfectly. Our controller will supply the 5V signal you need."
unless I'm missing something here... My TBI system is flash-able/tunable via my tuning guru's laptop pc (seeing the cam I have doesn't play well with the stock EFI tune from GM anyways). Let me know if I'm missing the boat here. Thanks!
Ok, let me see if I can clear this up or cloud things even more. The sensor on the T/Cs jeep has a vss, now if I know what pulse that has,(2k ppm, 4kppm, 12kppm 20kppm etc, etc) and supply it a 5volt signal we can make it work. But, you will not be able to change the ppm. We need to change the program in the speedo controller to be correct for your vss pulse.
The calibration mode is for calibrating the speedo ZDrive to your speedo face. Example, my speedo is a circle and has something like a 270 degree sweep. Now the speedo from the 67 Skylark has a 100 degree sweep. So, the ZDrive needs to know where 20mph and 80mph are in relation to the motor speed. This calibration can be changed and re calibrated any time.
Calibration happens in under 1 minute, sitting still in your driveway.
The calibration mode is for calibrating the speedo ZDrive to your speedo face. Example, my speedo is a circle and has something like a 270 degree sweep. Now the speedo from the 67 Skylark has a 100 degree sweep. So, the ZDrive needs to know where 20mph and 80mph are in relation to the motor speed. This calibration can be changed and re calibrated any time.
Calibration happens in under 1 minute, sitting still in your driveway.
