The Stovebolt.com Forums Home | Tech Tips | Gallery | FAQ | Events | Features | Search
Help is a click away!

VEHICLE
INFORMATION
KITS


at the

GM Heritage Center
All the details are here.

Searching the Site - a click away
click here to search
New here ??? Where to start?
Click on image for the lowdown. Where do I go around here?
====
Who's Online Now
4 members (Gray_Ghost, BillCollins, Still At It, 1 invisible), 134 guests, and 2 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics128,078
Posts1,056,054
Members48,433
Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026
Step-by-step instructions for pictures in the forums
Brad Allen's photos

AD Chevy Trucks

Pictures galore
Over 6,000 pictures

Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips.

Check them out!

Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!

Big Thanks!

THANKS!

For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for

over 30 years!

and not clogged down
with Ads!


Again, thanks!

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 6
B
New Guy
New Guy
B Offline
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 6
I recently replaced my original instrument cluster, as none of the gauges worked, with one i bought from classic Industries. After installing a new wiring harness(for the whole truck) we hooked up the cluster and the speedometer reads about 30 mph's faster than the correct speed. Any suggestion how i can calibrate this or at least get it closer to correct speed?

The Truck has a 350 small block with an automatic transmission that replaced the original 6 and 3 speed (this was done before i bought the truck).


Thanks,
Bobby

1958 Chevy 3100 Project
In the Stovebolt Gallery
Pictures!
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,029
F
Cruising in the Passing Lane
Cruising in the Passing Lane
F Offline
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,029
the problem is the speedo drive in the trans, you need to find a different speedo gear for it or use something like a GPS to figure out the accuracy and live with it .... if it's a "steady" 30 fast at all speeds you might move the needle down

Bill


Moved over to the Passing Lane

"When we tug a single thing in nature, we find it attached to the rest of the world" ~ John Muir
"When we tug a single thing on an old truck, we find it falls off" ~ me
Some TF series details & TF heater pics
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 10,279
5
Renaissance Man
Renaissance Man
5 Offline
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 10,279
Have you checked to see if the odometer is as far off as your speedometer? Mine doesn't register speed nor miles accurately, and by different percentages.


1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,066
Bolter
Bolter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,066
boy, that would drive me crazy if I was using a mile marker for a check and did not know my odometer was off.. I dont have nor know how to use a gps.. I am falling behind in my old yrs.. sometimes I do check how fast cars are going in my block by a mental time/count
and using certain aids. I have previous timed them with my count and speedometer, clever, huh. This would be when I am out side watching them go back.. it is a 25 mph zone and most dont even come close to it..wife thinks I am crazy when I point one out and tell her..

Last edited by joker; 06/17/2016 2:48 AM.

Redryder pix
My Hotrod
A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of "up to and including my life."
I am fighting cancer and I am winning the fight | Pain is part of life; misery is an option.

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
W
back yard wrench turner
back yard wrench turner
W Offline
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
I have a speedometer app on my phone. I used it to determine my speedometer was reading 10 mph slow. I moved the needle and it's very close now.


Wayne
1938 1-Ton Farm Truck
Stovebolt Gallery Forums
1989 Silverado
1996 Mustang GT convertible
When I die, I hope she doesn't sell everything for what I told her I paid for it!

Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 236
4
DLBrooks
DLBrooks
4 Offline
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 236
If the speedometer is in working order, I was told it needs to spin 1000 rpm for 60 mph. I am not sure what trans you have probably a 350 turbo or 700r4 you need the gearing to match your rear gears and tire diameter. There are calculators on the web. You may need only a diff speedo gear but it could be a housing and gear as Flxible said above.

http://www.tciauto.com/tc/speedometer-gear-calculator/

As Carl and Wayne said above --check actual speed with a garmin, tomtom or a phone app for a sanity check.

I would guess you are now running a 4.10 gear and the trans was set up for a 2.73, 3.08, or 3.42 or so. If I am thinking correctly.

Last edited by 42465967; 07/09/2016 3:20 AM.

1959 GMC 100 Fleet
Follow in the DITY
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,384
J
Shop Shark
Shop Shark
J Offline
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,384
Using the odometer to calculate the is the easiest way to determine where the problem. The odometer is gear drive and the speedo is magnetic drive.
If the problem is the trans drive gear (most possible) the error will be a ratio.
Drive some miles 10 is best, 2 is about minimum, checking the mile markers. Then compute the error. Lets sau it's 10% low, then when the steedometer is reading 20mph you will be going 22, 60 indicated will be 66 actual. Change the gear accordingly or add a ratio adapter. Moving the needle can't help this.
If the mileage check is a perfect 1:1 then move the needle.


Moderated by  ndkid275, Phak1 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Home | FAQ | Gallery | Tech Tips | Events | Features | Search | Hoo-Ya Shop
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0