47-59 Speedometer

[Matt_50]

My truck runs but I dont have a speedometer so I havent actually driven it on the street yet.

My original speedometer is in bad shape and even if I could clean it the needle is broken inside. See picture. My goal is to eventually get some electric original looking gauges. Kinda pricey though. In the meantime I need a cheap gauge setup. I have 3 small gauges hooked up for oil, temp, and volts.

Couple questions then. If I find an old but working original speedometer, will it work just fine with my 350/th350?

If yes, do the reproduction gauges match the originals enough that I can purchase a quad gauge later and it'll match?

If an original wont work or wont match at all to a new quad gauge, do you guys have a cheap idea for a speedometer until I get the money for new ones? I dont want the shark gauges. I really want the original repo electric quad gauge but that'll have to wait.

I have other hobbies and make a little money on the side with them, it's how I have paid for most of the truck. Expensive stuff I save up for, the wife might be a little upset if I buy 700 dollar gauges out of the blue on our teacher salaries lol

[Tempest67]

I am in the same situation as you, as I do not want to pay $700+ for new gauges, so for the time being, I am using an App called Digihud.

I am not a techy kind of guy, but this App is so easy, even I can use it, and its free.

I got the idea from someone on this board, it works great in my daily driver, and I thought I would buy a suction cup for my cell phone and attach it to the glass of the speedo for now.

just a suggestion

[mongocanfly]

That's what I was thiking... I've got a buddy that uses his phone for a speedometer...

[Matt_50]

That's a good idea. What about an odometer? I need a reading for registration I think in TX. Clean old one enough to install for looks? Part of reason i was thinking of finding another if it will work with my newer trans.

[_Ogre]

i haven't had much luck with repop speedos. i went thru 3 new speedos on my 58 before buying one from this forum. it's not very accurate so i use an old g2 android phone with the same app tempest uses. i have the same app on my phone, handy in the golf cart, but for some reason it doesn't work in airplanes

[Matt_50]

I dont remember where but I think I saw a conversion box that you plug into trans and then have your speedo cable also go into. The gears inside give you an accurate reading. When you buy it they put gears in it for you according to wheel size, rear axle specs, transmission, ect.

[Matt_50]

I'm finding speedo cables online that say for 1947 and up and will work on a th350. So I think I'll keep an eye out a speedometer. Any suggestions for good used part suppliers?

[Second Series]

You could rebuild your speedometer. There are re-facing kits available, basically a sticker that goes on the face. I just did a search and found a replacement head for about $120. That's not bad for a new mechanism. I have a newer transmission, so I'm building a motor to run my original speedo, but I too will need to rebuild the speedo at some point.

[nvrdone]

try an ap called WAZE. its not only a speedo but it alerts you to accidents and where cops are. I use it in my truck and my DD

[Matt_50]

Well I took this one apart and the needle fell out. So not lost... but the shaft the needle attached to is broke so I guess this one is no good. Debating buying decal stickers just so I can put it in so there isn't a big hole in dash. I'm looking around for a used gauge.

[Matt_50]

Picture of shaft. Other end is still on needle base.

[mr48chev]

You can buy needles from Classic parts for pocket change/

A correct speedometer by Goodmark from rock Auto is 13.45 That includes housing. GOODMARK GMK4140372471

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ter+cable,1440

Most all US made speedometers have the same internal ratio.

I've picked up smaller round speedometers at swap meets or wrecking yards for as little as 5.00 that worked fine. I've got one in my 48 in the hand made dash.

I've never seen any inspector check the odometer reading on the vehicles I had inspected and if the speedo in the dash has a reading on it that's the mileage.

I use my phone with a speedometer app in my 77 dualie because the speedometer evidently locks up and breaks the cable. The one I use has an odometer on it that picks up the next time you run it.

[Matt_50]

I dont think a new needle will fix this. Part of shaft is broke off. I'm starting to think I broke it a couple years ago... but I dont remember putting it back together. Either way I think I need a new one.

[Volfandt]

I use a Chinese GPS speedo that works pretty well. It has a large display which is nice for my well worn eyes, tracks travel time and mileage per trip and also stores total mileage.
I'm running a 350/TH350 combo and my stock 49 GMC's speedo's needle is busted and I haven't fully tackled it's repair yet. The GPS is cheap and works fine until I do dive into getting both gauge clusters working again.

[mr48chev]

I haven't seen that GPS speedo, I've used my Garmin stick it in the car GPS as a speedometer on my 77 as much as I have used my phone. You can usually find working older models that someone has replaced with a newer one for pocket change on FB market place, Craigslist or Ebay that has out of date maps but works fine.

The last speedometer I pulled out of one of these trucks looked worse than the one you have. I don't think I kept any in the shed either.