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Thread: Convert L-body speedo from cable to electric

  1. #1
    turbo addict
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    Convert L-body speedo from cable to electric

    Is it possible to do this? I had to remove the cable drive out of my transmission because it was leaking badly. When I removed it it came out in two pieces. I had two of the electric drives in my spares so I stuck one of them in there to plug the hole. It is a total ----- to get to that bolt with the cable style drive and a568...I had to cut a 10mm wrench in half so that I could even get on it. At this point I'd like to just convert the dash if it's not a big pita. any info appreciated. Thank.

  2. #2
    turbo addict
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    Re: Convert L-body speedo from cable to electric

    My Omni has a electric only speedo sensor.


  3. #3
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    Re: Convert L-body speedo from cable to electric

    Do you have details of what's needed to convert? I was hoping that the later model Omni's/Horizon's would have an analog dash with an electric speedo.

  4. #4
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    Re: Convert L-body speedo from cable to electric

    http://www.geocities.ws/shelby_driver/digdash.html

    It's not an easy convert, but it can be done.

  5. #5
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    Re: Convert L-body speedo from cable to electric

    That looks to be too much for me. Do the later l-bodies use an electric speedo? analog gauges are fine just want to ditch the cable driven speedo if possible.
    Last edited by wallace; 03-18-2013 at 09:58 AM. Reason: sp

  6. #6
    Super Moderator Turbo Mopar Staff contraption22's Avatar
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    Re: Convert L-body speedo from cable to electric

    rx3mazda has a 90 Omni dash for sale which will have an electronic speedometer i think.
    Mike Marra
    1986 Plymouth Horizon GLMF "The Contraption" < entertaining sponsorship offers
    Project Log:
    http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/showthread.php?69708-The-Contraption-2013-14&highlight=

  7. #7
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    Re: Convert L-body speedo from cable to electric

    I did PM him earlier to see if he still had it. Any idea how hard it is to convert it over? I am thinking the two dashes should be almost the same with the exception of the speedo. I THINK I have a 90' wiring schematic for the Lbody I definitely have one for the 87'.

  8. #8
    Super Moderator Turbo Mopar Staff contraption22's Avatar
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    Re: Convert L-body speedo from cable to electric

    1990 is a completely different one-year-only dash. I like it better than earlier ones. It was reconfigured so that Chrysler could say they sold the least expensive air-bag equipped car.
    Mike Marra
    1986 Plymouth Horizon GLMF "The Contraption" < entertaining sponsorship offers
    Project Log:
    http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/showthread.php?69708-The-Contraption-2013-14&highlight=

  9. #9
    Supporting Member Turbo Mopar Contributor supercrackerbox's Avatar
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    Re: Convert L-body speedo from cable to electric

    http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/sh...eedometer+dash

    Sorry, didn't have time to retype it.

  10. #10
    Basic Vendor (MSD, Hawk, etc) Turbo Mopar Contributor rbryant's Avatar
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    Re: Convert L-body speedo from cable to electric

    Quote Originally Posted by contraption22 View Post
    1990 is a completely different one-year-only dash. I like it better than earlier ones. It was reconfigured so that Chrysler could say they sold the least expensive air-bag equipped car.
    It looks nicer in some ways. Has anyone added the airbag to an older car (might make sense for a 2 door).

    BTW I did look at putting the newer cluster in the older dash one day at a junkyard and it would have taken some non trivial modifications to make it look right.

    -Rich

  11. #11
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    Re: Convert L-body speedo from cable to electric

    How many pins does the L-body electric speedo sensor have? I have two here one with 2 pins another with 3. Does anybody know if its possible to keep the earlier dash and just use the electric speedo in that housing? Wiring wise it should just be a couple wires. Any info appreciated.

  12. #12
    Basic Vendor (MSD, Hawk, etc) Turbo Mopar Contributor rbryant's Avatar
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    Re: Convert L-body speedo from cable to electric

    Quote Originally Posted by wallace View Post
    How many pins does the L-body electric speedo sensor have? I have two here one with 2 pins another with 3. Does anybody know if its possible to keep the earlier dash and just use the electric speedo in that housing? Wiring wise it should just be a couple wires. Any info appreciated.
    I know that the full cluster doesn't fit into the old dash well. I believe that I also looked at just the speedo and it would have also taken a bunch of physical modifications. It also wouldn't match the other gauges well IIRC.

    -Rich

  13. #13
    Supporting Member Turbo Mopar Contributor supercrackerbox's Avatar
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    Re: Convert L-body speedo from cable to electric

    Part of the reason the newer gauge box is bigger is because of the speedometer. Then you also have to worry about the printed circuit board matching both the speedometer and the older gauges. I'm not saying it couldn't be done, but it might be more effort than it's worth.

    Which pins are you looking at for the speedometer? I'm slightly confused.

  14. #14
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    Re: Convert L-body speedo from cable to electric

    Quote Originally Posted by supercrackerbox View Post
    Part of the reason the newer gauge box is bigger is because of the speedometer. Then you also have to worry about the printed circuit board matching both the speedometer and the older gauges. I'm not saying it couldn't be done, but it might be more effort than it's worth.

    Which pins are you looking at for the speedometer? I'm slightly confused.
    The part the screws into the transmission. I have two adapters here on has 2 pins and the other has 3. I didn't know which one was the correct one. I wanted to go ahead and install the correct one with the right gear in it while I have the cv shaft out. Thanks.

  15. #15
    Supporting Member Turbo Mopar Contributor supercrackerbox's Avatar
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    Re: Convert L-body speedo from cable to electric

    Oh, gotcha. I'm using the 2 wire one in my car. The 3 wire one is the Hall Effect style which is supposedly an upgrade, but I've never taken the time to figure it out.

    The newer box can be made to fit the older dash, but you do have to do a little cutting and molding to the dash and the HVAC system.

  16. #16
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    Re: Convert L-body speedo from cable to electric

    Cool I just sent Carrol the dough for the dash and harness so I'll be figuring out how bad it is. Thanks for all the info. I'll post in here how it goes.

  17. #17
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    Re: Convert L-body speedo from cable to electric

    I used a VDO cable/electric sending unit. You have to make your own adapter to thread it on. Making a factory sensor work would be much better, I didn't take the time to figure one of those out.

  18. #18
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    Re: Convert L-body speedo from cable to electric

    Quote Originally Posted by fishcleaner View Post
    I used a VDO cable/electric sending unit. You have to make your own adapter to thread it on. Making a factory sensor work would be much better, I didn't take the time to figure one of those out.
    Are you using the 90' instrument cluster? If so, did you make it work in the existing dash?

  19. #19
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    Re: Convert L-body speedo from cable to electric

    Quote Originally Posted by wallace View Post
    Are you using the 90' instrument cluster? If so, did you make it work in the existing dash?
    No, aftermarket speedometer (VDO). There are GPS speedometers out now, a little pricey but the prices are dropping.

  20. #20
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    Re: Convert L-body speedo from cable to electric

    Quote Originally Posted by fishcleaner View Post
    No, aftermarket speedometer (VDO). There are GPS speedometers out now, a little pricey but the prices are dropping.
    Are there pics in your build thread of that setup? No money to do something like that right now but would like to in the future.

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