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shorter speedo cable ???? gauge problems ??? [message #153148]

Thu, 15 December 2011 22:14

glacierfl

Messages: 444
Registered: June 2011

Karma: 0

Senior Member

Hello,

Looking into new dash gauges, after looking at the current setup OEM inside the dash, the speedo cable is basically in the way pretty much..., and does not want to move around much at all.

Does anyone know of a matching cable thats shorter, perhaps they can be made????.

Wonder if an adapter could be fited, from where the current cable leaves the engine??

I did wonder given the age of the GMC, if an RPM meter could be fitted. I found out that you can connect a RPM meter also, to the gmc fairly easily, Basically a wire connection.

This may be on the later models only ??

Does anyone know the basic generic setting for our engine, regarding a digital speedo. I know some gauges allow you to set for different wheels size, gear size etc. Guess i am asking if in general digital gauges will work..., with our older vehicles.

The digital gauge Oil pressure sensor is 0-100, i assume thats going to work ok. What size is the OEM oil pressure fitting to the engine??. I assume adapters can be obtained to make any size fit the OEM hole...

Sorry so many questions at one time .....

Not wishing to buy stuff thats not going to interface correctly,
due to the old tire size, 16.5 and other things ....

have a nice day Y'all

Steve & Debbie Monticello, FL 77 Palm Beach :- Aurora EX G4WDT

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Re: shorter speedo cable ???? gauge problems ??? [message #153172 is a reply to message #153148]

Fri, 16 December 2011 07:54

shawnee

Messages: 422
Registered: February 2004
Location: NC

Karma: 0

Senior Member

glacierfl wrote on Thu, 15 December 2011 23:14

Gene Dotson
74 Canyonlands
www.bdub.net/Motorhome_Enhancements New Windows and Aluminum Radiators

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Re: shorter speedo cable ???? gauge problems ??? [message #153174 is a reply to message #153148]

Fri, 16 December 2011 08:01

Matt Colie

Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan

Karma: 7

Senior Member

glacierfl wrote on Thu, 15 December 2011 23:14

Hello,

Looking into new dash gauges, after looking at the current setup OEM inside the dash, the speedo cable is basically in the way pretty much..., and does not want to move around much at all.

Does anyone know of a matching cable thats shorter, perhaps they can be made????. (1)

Wonder if an adapter could be fited, from where the current cable leaves the engine?? (2)

I did wonder given the age of the GMC, if an RPM meter could be fitted. I found out that you can connect a RPM meter also, to the gmc fairly easily, Basically a wire connection.

This may be on the later models only ?? (3)

Does anyone know the basic generic setting for our engine, regarding a digital speedo. I know some gauges allow you to set for different wheels size, gear size etc. Guess i am asking if in general digital gauges will work..., with our older vehicles.

The digital gauge Oil pressure sensor is 0-100, i assume thats going to work ok. What size is the OEM oil pressure fitting to the engine??. I assume adapters can be obtained to make any size fit the OEM hole... (4)

Sorry so many questions at one time .....

Not wishing to buy stuff thats not going to interface correctly,
due to the old tire size, 16.5 and other things ....(5)

have a nice day Y'all

Steve,

You have asked at least 5 questions (now numbered above).
1- Yes
2- Yes
3- No
4- Yes
5- OK

Discussion:
1 - There are shops that make up speedometer and tachometer cables to order, but you have to know what you want.
2 - An adapter for what??
3 - Actually connecting a tachometer to an HEI engine is stupid simple. There is a terminal for that purpose waiting, it is the older than HEI that get interesting.
4 - Oil pressure adapters are basic instrument (less than 1/2) pipe fitting and are available at almost any auto parts stores.
5 - The rolling diameter of an 8.75x16.5 is about identical to the replacement 225-R75-16.

Not too many questions, but some of them could use some clarification for better answers.

Matt

Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit

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Re: shorter speedo cable ???? gauge problems ??? [message #153220 is a reply to message #153174]

Fri, 16 December 2011 19:44

glacierfl

Messages: 444
Registered: June 2011

Karma: 0

Senior Member

Hello,

The adapter to which i refer, would fit into the speedo cable connection that comes out of the engine.

It takes the engine rotation and changes it into electronic pulses, that the digital gauge reads.

I am trying to irradicate the old speedo cable totally.

So i am wondering if such a thing exists, to replace the regular speedo cable.

As i mentioned the speedo cable takes up lots of room, and one would think the best option would be remove it totally.

Now where the speedo cable comes from the engine would get VERY HOT. SO that leads me to wonder if a "rotation sensor"!!, in that position "if available", direct from the engine, would last very long with all the heat...

One solution would be to get a shorter regular speedo cable, "that a few of you have told me can be obtained".

Then fit the revs to pulses device away from the dash.

So i am trying to find the best way out for this application.

Being able to ask you guys "with expertise", i can come to the best solution, for this problem.

Hope that makes more sense this time around.

cheers and beers

Steve & Debbie Monticello, FL 77 Palm Beach :- Aurora EX G4WDT

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Re: shorter speedo cable ???? gauge problems ??? [message #153225 is a reply to message #153220]

Fri, 16 December 2011 20:47

mike miller

Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon

Karma: 0

Senior Member

glacierfl wrote on Fri, 16 December 2011 17:44

... The adapter to which i refer, would fit into the speedo cable connection that comes out of the engine.

It takes the engine rotation and changes it into electronic pulses, that the digital gauge reads.

I am trying to irradicate the old speedo cable totally.

So i am wondering if such a thing exists, to replace the regular speedo cable. ...

Yes.

You are looking for a pulse generator or speed sensor. They are required for most fuel injection and modern cruise control systems. Here are a few Junkyard ones that will fit our TRANSMISSION (NOT engine) <http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=35186> Some will need the output "massaged" a bit for your uses.

There are speedometers that use the output of one of these (rather than the cable) they are called electronic speedometers. Most newer vehicles come with them. Google them... lots of after-market ones... most are not cheap, but there are some interesting modules out there. If using an electronic speedometer you might be better off with the speed sensor designed for the speedometer.... IE from the same source. They are also "not cheap."

There are also speedometers that work by GPS. I have also seen a GPS driven speed sensor... outputting pulses for an electronic speedometer! I am not sold on GPS speedometers, but you might be. They also fall into the "not cheap" catagory. (As far as I am concerned.)

Just a little time with Google will give you an idea of what is out there... and what to call it when you ask questions.

Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo' http://m000035.blogspot.com

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Re: [GMCnet] shorter speedo cable ???? gauge problems ??? [message #153227 is a reply to message #153220]

Fri, 16 December 2011 20:53

Kosier

Messages: 834
Registered: February 2008

Karma: 1

Senior Member

Steve,

You want a Vehicle Speed Sensor. They come in two different
types. They GM units go in the tranny,
replacing the speedo gear and bullet. Aftermarket units go
inline in the cable. Do a search on the
photosite, there are several listings.

Gary Kosier

----- Original Message -----
From: "steve & debbie" <zzdebz@yahoo.com>
To: <gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org>
Sent: Friday, December 16, 2011 8:44 PM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] shorter speedo cable ???? gauge problems
???

>
>
> Hello,
>
> The adapter to which i refer, would fit into the speedo cable
> connection that comes out of the engine.
>
> It takes the engine rotation and changes it into electronic
> pulses, that the digital gauge reads.
>
> I am trying to irradicate the old speedo cable totally.
>
> So i am wondering if such a thing exists, to replace the
> regular speedo cable.
>
> As i mentioned the speedo cable takes up lots of room, and one
> would think the best option would be remove it totally.
>
> Now where the speedo cable comes from the engine would get VERY
> HOT. SO that leads me to wonder if a "rotation sensor"!!, in
> that position "if available", direct from the engine, would
> last very long with all the heat...
>
> One solution would be to get a shorter regular speedo cable,
> "that a few of you have told me can be obtained".
>
> Then fit the revs to pulses device away from the dash.
>
> So i am trying to find the best way out for this application.
>
> Being able to ask you guys "with expertise", i can come to the
> best solution, for this problem.
>
> Hope that makes more sense this time around.
>
> cheers and beers
>
>
>
>
> --
> Steve & Debbie
> Monticello, FL
> 77 Palm Beach
> EX G4WDT
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

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Re: [GMCnet] shorter speedo cable ???? gauge problems ??? [message #153228 is a reply to message #153220]

Fri, 16 December 2011 21:00

Ken Henderson

Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA

Karma: 9

Senior Member

Steve,

The name for what you're seeking is Vehicle Speed Sensor, usually "VSS".
They're readily available in a number formats, to fit various mechanical
arrangements and with various electrical outputs, either sine wave (analog)
or digital, and at different frequencies.

Any source of electronic speedometers will also have appropriate VSS's for
them. For most GMC products, the VSS will fit a 7/8-18 threaded connection
with a 0.104" square drive. If you intend to continue to use the OEM
cruise control, you'll need a feed-through type VSS. Most electronic
speedometers are adjustable to accept from 2000 ppm to over 100,000 ppm.

When you consider using an Electromotor cruise control, which uses 4000
ppm, or EFI, the most common input to which is 2000 ppm, then you have to
get into electronic dividers and perhaps wave shapers. More complex but
not unduely so.

Here's a good gauge source: http://www.egauges.com

Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI+ & EBL
www.gmcwipersetc.com

On Fri, Dec 16, 2011 at 8:44 PM, steve & debbie <zzdebz@yahoo.com> wrote:

> The adapter to which i refer, would fit into the speedo cable connection
> that comes out of the engine.
>
> It takes the engine rotation and changes it into electronic pulses, that
> the digital gauge reads.
>
> I am trying to irradicate the old speedo cable totally.
>
> So i am wondering if such a thing exists, to replace the regular speedo
> cable.
>
> As i mentioned the speedo cable takes up lots of room, and one would think
> the best option would be remove it totally.
>
> Now where the speedo cable comes from the engine would get VERY HOT. SO
> that leads me to wonder if a "rotation sensor"!!, in that position "if
> available", direct from the engine, would last very long with all the
> heat...
>
> One solution would be to get a shorter regular speedo cable, "that a few
> of you have told me can be obtained".
>
> Then fit the revs to pulses device away from the dash.
>
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach

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Re: [GMCnet] shorter speedo cable ???? gauge problems ??? [message #153242 is a reply to message #153148]

Fri, 16 December 2011 22:31

David Greenberg

Messages: 222
Registered: September 2010

Karma: 0

Senior Member

On Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 11:14 PM, steve & debbie <zzdebz@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> Hello,
>
> Looking into new dash gauges, after looking at the current setup OEM inside the dash, the speedo cable is basically in the way pretty much..., and does not want to move around much at all.
>
> Does anyone know of a matching cable thats shorter, perhaps they can be made????.
>
>
Go to Advanced Auto Parts and ask for a cable repair kit. You'll get a
cable (in my case I got an 83" cable), a new tip and a staking tool.
Cut the cable to the length you want, insert the tip, and stake it
with the tool and a hammer. Real simple.

My problem: A '77 Cadillac tranny (GM screw-on on one end of the cable
and a plug-in on the speedo end) The Packard speedo uses a srew-on not
a plug in.......so I had a make a cable with two non conforming ends.
--
David Lee Greenberg
Port St Lucie, FL
skype: david.lee.greenberg

http://www.picturetrail.com/gmcregistry
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Re: shorter speedo cable ???? gauge problems ??? [message #153255 is a reply to message #153148]

Sat, 17 December 2011 05:47

GMC Cruse

Messages: 606
Registered: June 2009
Location: SE Michigan

Karma: 3

Senior Member

glacierfl wrote on Thu, 15 December 2011 23:14

Hello,

....................Does anyone know the basic generic setting for our engine, regarding a digital speedo. I know some gauges allow you to set for different wheels size, gear size etc. Guess i am asking if in general digital gauges will work..., with our older vehicles...............................

Digital gauges will work fine with older vehicles. You can get about anything you need here: www.dakotadigital.com They can even fit the gauges to your instrument panel.

Mike K. '75 PB Southeast Michigan

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Re: [GMCnet] shorter speedo cable ???? gauge problems ??? [message #153296 is a reply to message #153220]

Sat, 17 December 2011 14:12

Greg and April

Messages: 263
Registered: December 2011

Karma: 0

Senior Member

You still run into an issue of how you are going to connect it to the dash.
A wireless data link, just doesn't work well in the electrically noisy
environment of the engine, so that still leaves a wired data link not all
that different from a classical speedo cable except that you lack the
mechanical movement along the entire length of the cable.

So would it still be worth it?
.

Greg H.

"Your health is bound to be affected if, day after day, you say the opposite
of what you feel, if you grovel before what you dislike... Our nervous
system isn't just fiction, it's part of our physical body, and it can't be
forever violated with impunity."

Doctor Zhivago

----- Original Message -----
From: "steve & debbie" <zzdebz@yahoo.com>
To: <gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org>
Sent: Friday, December 16, 2011 18:44
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] shorter speedo cable ???? gauge problems ???

>
>
> Hello,
>
> The adapter to which i refer, would fit into the speedo cable connection
> that comes out of the engine.
>
> It takes the engine rotation and changes it into electronic pulses, that
> the digital gauge reads.
>
> I am trying to irradicate the old speedo cable totally.
>
> So i am wondering if such a thing exists, to replace the regular speedo
> cable.
>
> As i mentioned the speedo cable takes up lots of room, and one would think
> the best option would be remove it totally.
>
> Now where the speedo cable comes from the engine would get VERY HOT. SO
> that leads me to wonder if a "rotation sensor"!!, in that position "if
> available", direct from the engine, would last very long with all the
> heat...
>
> One solution would be to get a shorter regular speedo cable, "that a few
> of you have told me can be obtained".
>
> Then fit the revs to pulses device away from the dash.
>
> So i am trying to find the best way out for this application.
>
> Being able to ask you guys "with expertise", i can come to the best
> solution, for this problem.
>
> Hope that makes more sense this time around.
>
> cheers and beers

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GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

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Re: [GMCnet] shorter speedo cable ???? gauge problems ??? [message #153311 is a reply to message #153225]

Sat, 17 December 2011 15:38

Greg and April

Messages: 263
Registered: December 2011

Karma: 0

Senior Member

The problem I have found with GPS based speed sensor, that that you have to
have satellite lock on - no lock on such as when in a blind spot, no speed
reading and what worse, it's more of an average than an actual speed reading
pick up a little to much speed going down a hill and you may not find out
that you exceeded the speed limit until after you have been clocked by a
radar unit.
.

Greg H.

"Your health is bound to be affected if, day after day, you say the opposite
of what you feel, if you grovel before what you dislike... Our nervous
system isn't just fiction, it's part of our physical body, and it can't be
forever violated with impunity."

Doctor Zhivago

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Miller" <m000035@gmail.com>
To: <gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org>
Sent: Friday, December 16, 2011 19:47
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] shorter speedo cable ???? gauge problems ???

>
> There are also speedometers that work by GPS. I have also seen a GPS
> driven speed sensor... outputting pulses for an electronic speedometer! I
> am not sold on GPS speedometers, but you might be. They also fall into the
> "not cheap" catagory. (As far as I am concerned.)
>

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Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

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Re: [GMCnet] shorter speedo cable ???? gauge problems ??? [message #153316 is a reply to message #153311]

Sat, 17 December 2011 15:58

Matt Colie

Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan

Karma: 7

Senior Member

Greg and April wrote on Sat, 17 December 2011 16:38

Greg,

You need to get a better GPS. Mine are all about a 1 second update. The oldest one reports current vector every 750 seconds to 1� and 0.1 mph resolution. My googlephone does as much but is a little slower. I can ask some of them for a several second average, but I have to ask (nicely).

Matt

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