change from mechanical to electrical speedo?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

P

peyton

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2019
Posts
8
Reaction score
3
Location
houston, tx
First Name
peyton
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
c20 suburban
Engine Size
diesel 6.5l na
hi folks,

the speedo in my '86 diesel suburban began to moan and the needle to bounce around a bit the other day and so i decided to lubricate the cable today. to make a long story short, it turns out someone put in a modified later model cluster and it was about 1/8" larger in both width and height than the space it was put into. i did get it out but it was brittle and i broke several mounting tabs and other odds and ends. don't know what plastic it is but tomorrow i'm going to try a little plastic welding on it and if that works it goes back in.

however, i have a 1990 (i think) cluster in pretty good condition but it has what looks to be an electric speedometer. i would really like to eventually use that one because of the 6 digit odometer and trip odometer. anybody know if it's possible to easily replace my mechanical one with the electric one? and if so, what will i need to get the right signal to it?

thanks,

peyton
 
R

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
4,055
Reaction score
5,891
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
Are you trying to be original or just functional? There tons of universal electric Speedos some magnet triggered some GPS.
 
P

peyton

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2019
Posts
8
Reaction score
3
Location
houston, tx
First Name
peyton
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
c20 suburban
Engine Size
diesel 6.5l na
Ricko1966 said:
Are you trying to be original or just functional? There tons of universal electric Speedos some magnet triggered some GPS.
Click to expand...

i don't know how to answer that question ... probably stay semi original if that makes any sense. i got the '90 speedo with some other stuff i bought years ago and thought then that it would be neat to have a trip odometer.

flash forward to yesterday: since i had to remove the speedo cable, and managed to break some things on the cluster box in the process of getting it out, wondered if it would be fairly simple and inexpensive to get this cluster with electric speedo to work on my '86. i don't know if true or not but was thinking the '90 square bodies must have a speed sensor to drive the speedo which could possibly be brought across to the '86. any thoughts?

thanks,

peyton
 
eskimomann209

eskimomann209

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2019
Posts
1,849
Reaction score
2,000
Location
Modesto
First Name
Marcus
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
5.3
78C10BigTen said:
You LS guys! I tell ya what! :emotions34::D
Click to expand...

Cummon! Great fuel mileage, awesome power and super easy maintenance!
It’s the one thing that can make the c10s even better than they were off the assy line!
 
78C10BigTen

78C10BigTen

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2017
Posts
15,575
Reaction score
23,966
Location
pennsylvannia
First Name
Ted
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C10 BIG TEN
Engine Size
350
eskimomann209 said:
Cummon! Great fuel mileage, awesome power and super easy maintenance!
It’s the one thing that can make the c10s even better than they were off the assy line!
Click to expand...

LMMFAO!!!

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media
 
78C10BigTen

78C10BigTen

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2017
Posts
15,575
Reaction score
23,966
Location
pennsylvannia
First Name
Ted
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C10 BIG TEN
Engine Size
350
eskimomann209 said:
Cummon! Great fuel mileage, awesome power and super easy maintenance!
It’s the one thing that can make the c10s even better than they were off the assy line!
Click to expand...
Honestly to each their own but id rather see a huge blown BBC with a roots blower poppin up out. Kinda like @CoggedBelt75
 
C10MixMaster

C10MixMaster

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2016
Posts
756
Reaction score
1,420
Location
Kingman AZ
First Name
Ben
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
C10 BIG10
Engine Size
ZZ4 350
peyton said:
hi folks,

the speedo in my '86 diesel suburban began to moan and the needle to bounce around a bit the other day and so i decided to lubricate the cable today. to make a long story short, it turns out someone put in a modified later model cluster and it was about 1/8" larger in both width and height than the space it was put into. i did get it out but it was brittle and i broke several mounting tabs and other odds and ends. don't know what plastic it is but tomorrow i'm going to try a little plastic welding on it and if that works it goes back in.

however, i have a 1990 (i think) cluster in pretty good condition but it has what looks to be an electric speedometer. i would really like to eventually use that one because of the 6 digit odometer and trip odometer. anybody know if it's possible to easily replace my mechanical one with the electric one? and if so, what will i need to get the right signal to it?

thanks,

peyton
Click to expand...

I've done that swap. transmission needs to have a reluctor in place of the drive gear and a pick up inplace of the driven gear 700r4 the pieces are readily available, im sure they are available for the manual box or th400 also. You will also need a DRAC module its a little white box that is in between the sender and the speedometer that calibrates the speedometer. the pinout on the 86 cluster and the 90 cluster will be a little different plus you will have to add the extra speedo wire. All the clusters are the same size just hard to get in and out with the dash pad inplace, thats why so many get broken. One nice thing about this swap is it makes adding a later model cruise control easy

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach
 
78C10BigTen

78C10BigTen

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2017
Posts
15,575
Reaction score
23,966
Location
pennsylvannia
First Name
Ted
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C10 BIG TEN
Engine Size
350
eskimomann209 said:
I mean that’s cool too. But I spent a lot less than that set up and get fantastic MPGs for a daily driver!
Click to expand...
TBH im just not a fan of new motors and tech in old trucks.... LS swaps are getting like mustangs.... enough said :happy175:. And please dont take offense because im a peaceful member and respect everyone and their views. I love this site and all here.
 
R

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
4,055
Reaction score
5,891
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
2001 Suburban 5.3 325ft lbs 285hp 13 mpg 2000 escalade 330 ft lbs 255hp 13 mpg. Hmm . lots of time and money for 5 lb's less torque and 30 more hp. Numbers for both I just now looked up, both on Edmunds.
 
Last edited:
I

idahovette

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2016
Posts
6,539
Reaction score
14,034
Location
Weiser Idaho
First Name
Perry
Truck Year
1975-1979
Truck Model
K20-K10
Engine Size
350
78C10BigTen said:
TBH im just not a fan of new motors and tech in old trucks.... LS swaps are getting like mustangs.... enough said :happy175:. And please dont take offense because im a peaceful member and respect everyone and their views. I love this site and all here.
Click to expand...
Hey Ted, you could be a politician, you gots GOOD fence ridin qualities!!!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Mechanical temp gauge in head?
Replies
2
Views
185
fast 99
fast 99
T
87 Mechanical Issues Need Help!
Replies
0
Views
428
TruckCo
T
samblnc
Black Fuse-like Electrical Connector?
Replies
11
Views
542
75gmck25
75gmck25
E
Back yet again with an electrical problem
Replies
2
Views
544
emb2060
E
randomTruckKid
700r4 speedo port not spinning at all.
2 3 4
Replies
47
Views
2K
Wumbo
Wumbo

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
42,070
Posts
908,402
Members
33,545
Latest member
GrayWK
Top