Technical What Speedometer for Hot Rod

For my 32 Roadster with flathead and 39 box I am into the project enough to order a speedometer. I do not want a 160 mph version. I found this AutoMeter model 1779 that looks pretty cool https://www.autometer.com/3-3-8-spee...yme-black.html. Couple it with there model 5291 sencer
https://www.autometer.com/hall-effec...er-sender.html It says for GM and Chrysler but it has the correct thread.

Has anybody used one of these. Seems straightforward

 

Don't they make a mechanical version? Why introduce more electric stuff (sender) than needed. Henry drove his speedos with a cable. You should too.

 

Keep the old one and run a speedo app off your phone.I have a hall effect sender in one of mine and it does not work very well.Needed to re-teach the thing to much.Gave up and running a speedo app off my phone.

 

My problem is that i do not have a speedometer. And I have a 3.27 to one in a 36 ford rear end and am not sure where I will end up as far a tire size. Finding the correct speedo drie is a challenge. Maybe I should work towards that though

 

Cool! Where do you download this speedo app? I would be interested in that.

 

If you have an iphone there are several in their app store.The one I have been using is the 55 app its free and has navigational functions as well.

 

The phone app is starting to appeal to me

 

I've been looking for a speedo too. And I hate the 160 mph ones, really? How many cars need 160 speedo ?

I want a 100 to 120 old oem one myself but I've been looking at the GPS new style but I may have to check out this app you gents are taking about.

 

a flathead powered car will not run with new store bought gauges. it disrupts the space-time continueum

 

As far as the GPS based speedometer apps, I use the DigiHUD version on my Motorola Droid phone and it works well.

 

U can get an adapter to correct your stock feed from the transmission. I got mine from a instrument place in Texas... Highest gear for my car was a 3.21 and I put in 2.74's. the adapter brought it to perfect.

 

You may be correct.
some of my instruments are out of a totaled Peterbilt

 

Texas is a very big state. Can you narrow that down a bit. Do you have a company name

 

I use an old truck gauge in my hot rod. It’s a 1-1 piece and just swapped Speedometer turtles till I got it honed in. I’m within an MPH at most places on the dial.

Cliff Ramsdell

 

So over coming not having a way at the time, to hook up a speed-O in a 1928 "A" dash,to a 1957 Ford tranny on 1949 Olds rearend with 30in. high rear tires,,,Taking you back too how I know what speed I was going in 1959,got a Sun RPM Tach from J.C. Whitney. Made a 1/2in. wide ring alum ring to fit around out side of tach. With my buddy driving his reg car,I followed as he run first 10mph for a block and then 20 the next block an so on,up to 60. I marked the ring at the RPM at each speed in highgear.
So that made the tach also in too a speed-O. Now days you young spuuuus have GPS on the cell phone to tell what speed an were your lost butt is going too. LOL

 

Do you always drive with fuel cap off

 

Texas Industrial Electric. In San Antonio.

 

I can take care of any calibration issues you would have with the speedometer.
No problem to get it dialed in and can make up any cable you would need to get it up and running.

 

SW survey speedometer or something else a little different.
I like how the second one is split between "driving range" and "danger zone."

 

How much room do you have?
A 5-1/4 hole will give you a cool Studebaker speedometer that's 5-1/2 bezel size. Got one here if it will fit.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Don't know if it has been tried but there are a bunch of different bike speedometers...
.
Found a 4 5/8" speedo at the swapmeet… thought it was bike but looked and fit right...
$5.00, sold ! …
.
Is there a "screw to the back of speedo" converter to let it adjust to work with cars ?
.
pix of it set in from the "back" in a modified '38 dash...
it had the flange that also lets it mount from the front...
..... my $0.02...
.

 

"We don't need no stinkin' speedometer......"

 

Yeh, just use the one that the police car has that's in front of you.

 

If you don't want a 160 mph job, how about this 65 mph 1915 REO Speedwagon unit? It worked for a 100 years & it's still working. And, it was made in the U.S. & doesn't need a sender....lol.

 

Harley speedo most likely aftermarket...you can get them new from Harley catalogs but they are 40-50 bucks.
And they make two versions, one with a 1:1 ratio and another with 2:1.

Just to brag a bit, I made a speedo drive gear from my lathe and milling machine, used a large screwdriver handle, works fine. I could not get the correct tooth count on a gear that would fit a '57 ford-o-matic trans so I had to make it.

 

Or, a 70 mph Federal? Works like butter! But on a serious note, it is always a crapshoot to get accuracy with any speedometer (barring non-traditional GPS stuff, etc.) with all of our crazy gearing & tire sizes.
But, if you get a mechanical one & hook it up, you can quickly get an idea on where you're at in relative terms. I'm running an early 1950's S/W "Wings" 100 mph unit & I really never cared to much about a few MPH increments here or there. Ironically, every time I drive by one of those roadside gizmos that tells you how fast you're going, I find that my speedo is dead on. Go figure.

 

Or a vintage Harley speedo but those might be a little over done. I have an early 50’s speedo in the 34, been there since the late 60’s.