Speedo Cable Question

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fiasco
Posts: 885
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:10 am
Your car is a: 1969 Fiat Spider
Location: Ontario, CA

Speedo Cable Question

Post by fiasco »

I have a question about the speedometer cable. I'll give as much info as I can, including everything that seemed relevant when I was working with it this afternoon.

The car is a '69 and has a 2 liter engine. When I brought it home it had the gauges pictured below. I would like to replace the speedometer with the one from my '76, which matches the style of the tach. The two speedos are pictured below. The one that came in the car is the shallower one with the MPH/KPH scales on the right. The one I want to put in is the deeper one with the MPH scale only in the middle.

Image

When I got the car, the speedo was not functioning. As I took things apart this weekend, I took a look at the speedo and cable. The inner cable pulled right out of the sheath with no resistance. I pulled it all the way out.

Here is the end of the existing speedo cable.

Image

Image

Here is the back of the existing speedo. The connector on the back of the speedo appears to be consistent with the connector on the end of the cable.

Image

Here's the back of the other speedo (the one I want to put in). The connector on the back of the speedo appears to take a screw on connection to the speedo cable.

Image

So my question is... What to do I need to buy to make my preferred speedo work? My fear is that the 2 liter engine won't work with whatever speedo cable with work with the speedo I want to use. On the other hand, my hope is that I just need to order the correct replacement cable and hook it up.

All insights and suggestions appreciated!
-- se
Steve Eubanks
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1969 Fiat 124 Spider AS | 2108 Fiat 124 Spider Classica | http://calstylestudio.com
User avatar
fiasco
Posts: 885
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:10 am
Your car is a: 1969 Fiat Spider
Location: Ontario, CA

Re: Speedo Cable Question

Post by fiasco »

It occurs to me that the speedo cable probably comes out of the trans, and not the engine, so having the 2 liter shouldn't make any difference. I guessing I can just order a new speedo cable with the screw on connector for the deep-well speedo.

Can I get an "amen"?

-- se
Steve Eubanks
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1969 Fiat 124 Spider AS | 2108 Fiat 124 Spider Classica | http://calstylestudio.com
So Cal Mark

Re: Speedo Cable Question

Post by So Cal Mark »

you just need a cable for a 78 or earlier car that has the threaded connector rather than the push on connector. The later cable should work if you can line up the connector with the back of the speedo when you put the cluster in. It's not as positive a connection since the quick connect doesn't lock onto the gauge quite as tightly, but I've seen them used that way
User avatar
fiasco
Posts: 885
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:10 am
Your car is a: 1969 Fiat Spider
Location: Ontario, CA

Re: Speedo Cable Question

Post by fiasco »

Thanks Mark. I'm now shopping for a new speedo cable. Let me know if you have one. IAP has it for $15.50.

-- se
Steve Eubanks
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1969 Fiat 124 Spider AS | 2108 Fiat 124 Spider Classica | http://calstylestudio.com
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thechadzone
Posts: 220
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2008 3:31 pm
Your car is a: 1969 Fiat 124AS Spider
Location: Eugene, Oregon

Re: Speedo Cable Question

Post by thechadzone »

One of the cool features of the '69 & earlier Spiders was their unique chrome gauges. I wonder where they're not in your '69. I know taste is a highly individual thing, but I really like the OEM gauges for our year of Spider. Below is the best pic I could find in my laptop of my car's gauge set-up:

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/thech ... .jpg[/img]
Fiat garage 003 by thechadzone, on Flickr[/url]

Here's one from the Intertubes:

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/thech ... .jpg[/img]
fiat 124 as gauges by thechadzone, on Flickr[/url]
User avatar
fiasco
Posts: 885
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:10 am
Your car is a: 1969 Fiat Spider
Location: Ontario, CA

Re: Speedo Cable Question

Post by fiasco »

This car looks like it's been through a number of POs. Doesn't surprise me that the gauges are not original That's ok with me though. I like the deep-well style, and I I decide to, I can always put chrome bezels on. I know, not the same, but the truth is, I probably won't do that anyway. :)

-- se
Steve Eubanks
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1969 Fiat 124 Spider AS | 2108 Fiat 124 Spider Classica | http://calstylestudio.com
baltobernie
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 3466
Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2007 6:00 pm
Your car is a: 1973 Spider [sold]
Location: Baltimore, MD

Re: Speedo Cable Question

Post by baltobernie »

fiasco wrote:This car looks like it's been through a number of POs. Doesn't surprise me that the gauges are not original
Yes, but yours still has the seal on the case to discourage odometer tampering. Don't see many of those. And thanks for the photos; these always help diagnose.
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manoa matt
Posts: 3442
Joined: Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:28 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider 1800
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii

Re: Speedo Cable Question

Post by manoa matt »

If you stick to originality and get the 1969 gauges you'll only be able to go 120mph....but now you can go 140mph whoohoo!
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