Which speedo - series II with 1098 eng/gbox/diff?

[C6Dave]

OK in advance I apologise for starting yet another speedo post,but there is so much info on the board, it gets very confusing.

I have a 59 Convertible with a 53 split screen dash so it has a separate speedo fitted on the drivers side, not the centre one.

It has a 1098cc engine, gearbox and dif fitted from a later car and runs on 155 X 80 X 14 wheels/tyres

Checking against a Sat Nav (which is out 1 mph against my other car so I know it's accurate) I recorded the following:

At true 30mph speedo reads 36, at 40mph it reads 55, at 50mph it reads 70 and at 60mph (about it's limit) it's Reading 85mph+!

I know the legal implications of having a speedo so far out........

So for the experts out there, what speedo do I need to get those figures as close as possible to what they should be please?

The math is doing my head in

[mike.perry]

Check the speedo serial no and TPM. You have probably got an X70620/7 1000 from an early Series 2. The only other speedo available which fits is an X70620/2, TPM 1600 from a Series MM which is higher geared and will probably not be quite so optimistic. Try MMOC Club Spares. Failing that the other alternative is to have your speedo re calibrated by a company such as Speedy Cables

[bmcecosse]

You need a speedo with tpm ~ 1308. Where you will find such a thing for your early car I really don't know...........

[badobsession]

i removed the glass on the speedo and then removed the needle and with the help from a passenger and a sat nav
took the truck a run at a constant 60 passenger put the needle back on at 60 now the speedo reeds ok ....
simpels .....

[bmcecosse]

Good move there! The mileometer will still be 'miles' out of course............but perhaps that can be lived with.

[mike.perry]

The MM and S2 speedo drive gear to pinion ratios are different to the 5/13 of the later gearboxes so the normal TPM calculations would not apply, therefore it is worth trying the Series MM speedo.

[C6Dave]

Thanks guys, now I have an idea what to look for.

[stevey]

you could always send your speedo away to be recalibrated im sure theres some places over there that could do that for you.

[C6Dave]

Yes, I have had a look and think that Speedy Cables for speedo re calibration looks the best bet to get things correct

[bmcecosse]

Not inexpensive though!

[C6Dave]

Well it equates to 0.0075% of the cars insured agreed valuation and the same as an SP30 Fixed Penalty ticket but without the 3 points so in the great scheme of things pretty insignificant to have a speedo checked out and re calibrated?

[Neil MG]

Well it equates to 0.0075% of the cars insured agreed valuation and the same as an SP30 Fixed Penalty ticket but without the 3 points so in the great scheme of things pretty insignificant to have a speedo checked out and re calibrated?

That equates to an agreed value of about one million pounds?

[C6Dave]

Ahhh should have read 0.75%

Anyway off it's gone today in the post with all the measurements required for re calibration

[Neil MG]

Ahhh should have read 0.75%

Anyway off it's gone today in the post with all the measurements required for re calibration

Good move, Speedy cables have a very good reputation. Let us know how you get on.

[C6Dave]

Well so far I'm not overly impressed with the service from 'Speedy Cables'

I sent the speedo head off 2nd November Royal Mail Special Delivery as recommended by them and they signed for it on 3rd November.

Having heard nothing at all from Speedy Cables I rang them yesterday (16th November) to see what was happening, to be told that yes they have received it, but they have "a current approximate turnaround time is 4 weeks from receipt"

I don't mind the delay, it's the lack of communication and basic customer service that's not acceptable.

A quick call or e mail to confirm receipt and a note to indicate approximate time scale for any work should be the least a customer should expect, shouldn't it?

If anyone else is thinking about having any work done by them over the winter, don't leave it to long, or you may find your car is off the road next spring

[bmcecosse]

They don't call themselves 'Speedy Speedos'.......

[C6Dave]

Thought I had better post an update on this.

Sent the speedo off on 2nd November for re calibration and it finally arrived back today 9th December............

Worst part, zero communication from Speedy Cables on what was happening. I have had to chase by phone and e mail to confirm receipt originally, then for progress reports on more than one occasion.

The service I'm afraid, was decidedly poor on a communication front.

When it came back it had a sticker in the pack saying that it had been full of oil and the gearbox level should be checked or it would affect any warranty on the work.

I know though that it was't covered in oil, as I took a look before mailing it off, so I really don't understand the comments at all. It was only reading an incorrect speed and flickering, hmmmmmmmm

However, there is good news.

After a full days heavy rain yesterday, the roads were salt free and it was dry and sunny today, so fitted the speedo in the car and took the car out for a test run to check against the Sat Nav.

It's well within 10% of the Sat Nav reading, looks new at the rear with new drive input parts (I didn't take the covers off to check the interior) and there is ZERO flicker. It reads, rises and falls very steadily so all in all, I'm happy with the work, despite the very poor communication.

But, it cost, with Vat and courier carriage £93.54 to get overhauled and re calibrated.

One of the joys of running a classic car

[bmcecosse]

£93.54 - and it's only 'within 10%' - crikey. My speedo was less than £10 from ebay and is DEADLY accurate on both speed and distance - have you checked distance yet? £93.54 !!!!!! Going off for a lie-down...........

[C6Dave]

I only had the chance of a quick test and afterward I found the tyre pressures were low which may have had an impact

But like you, I was stunned at the cost as well