Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Programmable speedometers
| Programmable speedometers [message #272903] |
Mon, 02 March 2015 21:22  |
cbryan
Messages: 451
Registered: May 2012
Location: Ennis, Texas
Karma: 3
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Ladies and Gentlemen,
Of discriminating taste -- Thought I would throw that in since we are so smart on the forum and wise, being reputedly all over 50. Do many of you run programmable electronic speedometers? I saw one on Ken H's dash project.
They are almost as pricey as the original equipment speedometers. I have had some problems with my OEM speedometer, to wit:
When it was working without wobbling the needle, it was "optimistic" by about 15%, even with a high dollar speedometer reducer. (I run a Cinnabar 3.42 final drive ratio.) Those reducers are over $100 and somehow the PO miscalculated the ratio. (Needle wobble was due to an inoperable cruise control transducer.)
Benefits (apparent) of the electronic speedometer, you can program and reprogram the accuracy within a gnat's eyebrow, electronically. It then will display accurate data. It is durable enough to function a long time, no cable to lubricate. (Note with some sending units, you can retain the GM OEM cruise control. Just no cable back to the speedometer.) Odometer will be accurate, and can't be easily reset if at all, but the N.O. probably won't know that or care. There is a trip meter. LED backlight, a courtesy to the N.O. (Next owner). No need to lubricate the cables. You can use the time saved to lube the bogies an extra time or two.
Aggravations: May have to put a metal braided shield on the sense lead to prevent noise from the ignition causing inaccuracies. Will have to buy a sending unit. Or may spend about as much and get a GPS sending unit that does not depend on connection to the transmission at all. Have to be careful to route it away from exhaust. Dummies like me can miswire them, and cause a six month delay. Only six leads, and it can be done. And, they can be pricey. The odometer is LCD and may not be easy to read day and/or night, not uncommon with cars.
At present if one would want to search on that big auction site for a "New speedometer programmable", they would find one for $65, free shipping. No brand name mentioned. The sending units that go with it are reasonably priced. Your desire or need for a speedometer will vary. I bought a programmable VDO a year ago that they were closing out. It only goes to 85 mph, so will have avoid Bonneville. It also shows KPH on the inner face. I'm pleased with this solution. Truthful gauges are nice.
Carey
Carey from Ennis, Texas
78 Royale, 500 Cadillac, Rance Baxter EFI.
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| Re: Programmable speedometers [message #272924 is a reply to message #272923] |
Tue, 03 March 2015 06:49  |
Joe Weir
Messages: 769
Registered: February 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
Karma: 7
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I have a link to a set of these in my favorites. A little pricey, but 6 gauges in the stock gmc dash config. Very easy to add one or two more (vacuum, trans temp) to the dash and retain a basically stock look.
http://www.speedhut.com/kit/GL4.5-DUAL-GPSQKIT-ST-01T/2-gauge-custom-set---Dual-Gauge---120mph-GPS-speedometer---8K-Tachometer,-Quad-Gauge
Larry wrote on Tue, 03 March 2015 06:08You might take a look at these. GPS speed-O's. Expensive , but no need for hook-ups other than 12v. Accurate, and no need to program. Install it and run it. JWID.
http://www.speedhut.com/gauges/GPS-Speedometers-Revolution-Gauges-Only/1:3%7C39:1%7C36:1?gclid=CN-JnIGSjMQCFXJp7Aodyx0AjQ
76 Birchaven - "Wicked Mistress" - New engine, trans, alum radiator, brakes, Sully airbags, fuel lines, seats, adult beverage center... those Coachmen guys were really thinking about us second hand owners by including that beverage center...
Columbia, SC.
[Updated on: Tue, 03 March 2015 06:51] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Programmable speedometers [message #272925 is a reply to message #272924] |
Tue, 03 March 2015 06:52 |
Joe Weir
Messages: 769
Registered: February 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
Karma: 7
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Forgot the link for the email folk.
http://www.speedhut.com/kit/GL4.5-DUAL-GPSQKIT-ST-01T/2-gauge-custom-set---Dual-Gauge---120mph-GPS-speedometer---8K-Tachometer,-Quad-Gauge
76 Birchaven - "Wicked Mistress" - New engine, trans, alum radiator, brakes, Sully airbags, fuel lines, seats, adult beverage center... those Coachmen guys were really thinking about us second hand owners by including that beverage center...
Columbia, SC.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Programmable speedometers [message #272961 is a reply to message #272959] |
Tue, 03 March 2015 13:39 |
dwayne jacobson[1]
Messages: 345
Registered: July 2009
Karma: 0
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Here is why you should buy only a GPS that is designed for RV's.
There's several on the market now. We now have a Rand McNally RV 7730
model and love it. Now here is a True Story of why to have the proper GPS
in your coach.
In Sept of 2012 there were 2 Coaches the Gregory's from Thunder Bay, Ont.
and our coach both having the regular Garmin GPS and following it almost to
the T. we are headed for Liberty Harbor RV in Jersey City. We are coming
down headed south and it gets us to turn towards New York however it is
soon to be discovered the road we are now on has a height restriction and
the flashing light banner tells us to make a right turn. Our GPS is
telling us we are 40 minutes from our destination. Soon we find we are in
the Bronx finding our way along under the overhead transit. The scenery
has changed setting my wife on edge. I go through 3 orange lights while
the Gregory's follow right behind hitting the lights when Red. We actually
weave out way along. The air is tense inside the coaches. How do we get
out of here. The GPS shows straight ahead and about 40 minutes to go. I
cut off a guy who comes up beside me, I push open the window and say
sorry. He responds OK. at a stop/go light a van full of colourful youth
stop and motion to me to open the window, I do and he says "love your
wheels but man you is in the wrong place. Where u goin? I tell him we're
headed to Jersey City. He says we are way off where we should be. then he
takes off. Slowly the graffiti gets less and the apartments start looking
better and we find we are on Park Ave. The site streets say "Cars Only"
the GPS says straight ahead and about 40 minutes to go. We see the Met
Life building ahead right in the middle of the road. soon we are in among
yellow cabs. Woooo. That one turned the corner in front of us and stopped
to let out its passenger. I am right behind in the intersection and Glenn
right behind me. No way was he going to lose me. We come to the Met Life
building and thru the opening we go finding ourselves on a ramp that takes
us down onto broadway. Now it's about 630pm - rush hour and we are
following our GPS diligently never questioning her wisdom of directions.
we then find ourselves before the entrance of the Holland Tunnel. 2 lanes
and we stop blocking the right lane. Before us is a Sign "No Campers No
Propane" and to the left sits a policeman. I get out and turn off our
propane and Glenn does the same. Back in the drivers seat and at that
moment the policeman gets out of his car and crosses over to our side in
front of us , not once looking back at us, and goes into a small building.
That was a SIGN. Get out of here now!!!
so Off we went thru the Holland Tunnel reaching our campsite at 7:30pm -
about 3 1/2 hrs from when the GPS told us 40 minutes.
And that's the Truth.
Best regards as you travel the highways and byways in your classic coach.
Dwayne and Sharon Jacobson
White Rock, BC
77 Kingsley
On Tue, Mar 3, 2015 at 10:57 AM, Matt Colie wrote:
> You could always do what I did...
> I have an aged car I drive a lot (it cannot depreciate). The speedometer
> went out. A new replacement would be ~250$us and a day to install. (Did
> you know that you have to start by removing the center console?)
> So, I first dedicated an older GPS to the program. (This was a great
> excuse to buy a new one for the coach's driver position.) This was well
> timed
> as it died shortly after. So, we looked at the Sunday fliers and bought a
> new 85$ Garmin. Works for me.
>
> Matt
> --
> Matt & Mary Colie - Members GMCMI, GMCES
> '73 Glacier 23 - Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brake with Applied Control Arms
> SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
> _______________________________________________
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--
Dwayne Jacobson
White Rock BC
Cell: 604-Six Four Four 8090
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| Re: Programmable speedometers [message #273011 is a reply to message #272903] |
Wed, 04 March 2015 02:26 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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cbryan wrote on Mon, 02 March 2015 19:22... Needle wobble was due to an inoperable cruise control transducer. ...
Disconnect the CC transducer and run the speedometer cable straight to the transmission.
It'll reach, I have done it.
Then I tossed the OEM CC and installed a junkyard CC.
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: Programmable speedometers [message #273013 is a reply to message #272903] |
Wed, 04 March 2015 07:26 |
rcjordan
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
Karma: 1
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>We now have a Rand McNally RV 7730 model and love it.
Based on info gleaned here, I have the RV 7720. Love it.
ON Topic: The 7720 is a great GPS speedo. I carry it in other vehicles with working dash speedos because it gives me "speed warnings" (configurable. mine is +5). But another speed-related feature is just continually showing what the posted speed limit is along a stretch of road. On familiar routes which span a couple of hours, I tend to zone out. I slow down for a 55mph section but sometimes miss the restart of the 65-70mph speed limits. In eastern NC, these high-limit areas tend to look alike --farm land or pine trees. A glance at the 7720 reminds me to get back up to speed.
It does elevation and I see some odometer and fuel-use screens but it does so much that I only skim the no-brainer functions.
Related: At 7", the 7720 is hefty. I've reconfigured the mount to be low center-of-gravity on a big dashboard beanbag to make a portable pod. I've added USB power jacks & a camera mount to this pod. A Mobius dashcam now accompanies the 7720 anywhere I use it.
The 7720 also has video input and excellent firmware to handle other hardwired cams, such as a rear cam. (I do not wire the dashcam to this, that is in standalone mode loop-recording.) There's an icon that let's you toggle the screen between cam or gps. I soldered in a 12v barrel connector into the pod's power supply. I can now easily wire any vehicle to be "monitor ready" and just plug in when I decide to bring the 7720 along for the trip.
SOLD 77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
76 Eleganza
Elizabeth City, NC
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| Re: [GMCnet] Programmable speedometers [message #273014 is a reply to message #273013] |
Wed, 04 March 2015 07:57 |
bdub
Messages: 1578
Registered: February 2004
Location: Central Texas
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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Sounds great, RC. Any chance of seeing some photos of your setup?
bdub
On Wed, Mar 4, 2015 at 7:26 AM, RC Jordan wrote:
>> We now have a Rand McNally RV 7730 model and love it.
>
> Based on info gleaned here, I have the RV 7720. Love it.
>
> ON Topic: The 7720 is a great GPS speedo. I carry it in other vehicles
> with working dash speedos because it gives me "speed warnings"
> (configurable.
> mine is +5). But another speed-related feature is just continually showing
> what the posted speed limit is along a stretch of road. On familiar routes
> which span a couple of hours, I tend to zone out. I slow down for a 55mph
> section but sometimes miss the restart of the 65-70mph speed limits. In
> eastern NC, these high-limit areas tend to look alike --farm land or pine
> trees. A glance at the 7720 reminds me to get back up to speed.
>
> It does elevation and I see some odometer and fuel-use screens but it does
> so much that I only skim the no-brainer functions.
>
> Related: At 7", the 7720 is hefty. I've reconfigured the mount to be low
> center-of-gravity on a big dashboard beanbag to make a portable pod. I've
> added USB power jacks & a camera mount to this pod. A Mobius dashcam now
> accompanies the 7720 anywhere I use it.
>
> The 7720 also has video input and excellent firmware to handle other
> hardwired cams, such as a rear cam. (I do not wire the dashcam to this,
> that is
> in standalone mode loop-recording.) There's an icon that let's you toggle
> the screen between cam or gps. I soldered in a 12v barrel connector into the
> pod's power supply. I can now easily wire any vehicle to be "monitor
> ready" and just plug in when I decide to bring the 7720 along for the trip.
>
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bdub
'76 Palm Beach/Central Texas
www.bdub.net
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| Re: Programmable speedometers [message #273079 is a reply to message #272903] |
Thu, 05 March 2015 08:29 |
Gatsbys' Cruiser
Messages: 91
Registered: August 2014
Location: Illinois
Karma: 0
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Short story, maybe outdated now...
When I first bought GATSBYS' Cruiser, she had a questionable speedometer, though I didn't know it. I knew with tire changes, the circumferance changes and so goes the speedo accuracy, right?
On the way home the person following me keeps telling me to slow down, which by my Speedo was below the speed limit. We compared and I kept to the speed that the Jimmy said was accurate.
We arrived home ok and I started reading GMC forum messages and the help pages for everything I could find GMC but especially interested in any speedo comments. One caught my eye.
One fella had bought a bicycle cyclometer and put it on his dash, putting the sensor one of the front axels. Having had experience with Bicycle cyclometers, I kept an eye open and found one that you could program an alarm for miles, timing, etc. The miles works for that magic 300 miles when you need to gas up again. running time is good if you care to know how much time you have had in a run from point a to point b.
I installed the sensor on the front driverside wheel in the rear. The front axle was too complicated with turns and such and I don't weld for a bracket that may be needed. I used a piece of flexible aluminum cable, about 1/4 inch diameter to hold the sensor, and put the magnet on the wheel. Ran the wires up front and put in two clips for the cyclometer, one in front of the driver and one in front of the passenger, if the passenger wants to be the boss. (wink).
Figuring the circumferance of the wheel was not too bad and it seems to be right on with added benefit of a clock.
Some years later, I find the GPS units are coming out with the speed indicator on them. This is nice and I do use them in the cars but they are physically a bit large to place in the GMC and not block view of the road. They do have the benefit that they will tell you if you are going too fast or if a speed camera is at an intersection that I am approaching. OF course you have to keep the software up to date, something I am not the best at.
Just a thought, when I went through tunnels, the GPS units would lose it's signal and go all zeros. I seem to recal a problem with those satelite radios too, so line of site seems prevelant here.
I still use the Bicycle cyclometer in the GMC. It has been right on since it was installed and I use the GPS for the maps. One hint, if you go the bicycle cyclometer method, be sure to write down the steps to reprogram the unit, when the battery goes dead they forget everything, and write down the number for the tire circumference to be input when you re-program it.
Just what I did.
An Afterthought.............
They sell a little box with a floresent type display that you see the speed on the window. Simpley plugs in your cig lighter and uses GPS to computer your speed. Very simple, plug and play, LOL, ( I couldn't resist, HA ).. I had found one for $50 at Amazon, and they have several types. I just needed the simple one so I could check my speedos on the cars and RV.
[Updated on: Thu, 12 March 2015 01:27] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Programmable speedometers [message #273083 is a reply to message #272903] |
Thu, 05 March 2015 09:07 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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I note, Speedhut lists an 80MPH GPS speedo. I wish they had a programmable one which did 80 full scale - it makes more sense for the GMC. Kinda like my 4K rpm tach.
Kerry, get her interested in the history of the missing toll booths at the Bankhead Tunnel. You'll be through it before she figures it out!
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] Programmable speedometers [message #273130 is a reply to message #273119] |
Thu, 05 March 2015 17:55 |
k2gkk
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
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A 9.6% grade!!!
And the cost!!! I guess that also has something to do with gas prices, too!!
Holy cats!!!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
~~ k2gkk + hotmail dot com ~~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
______________
|[ ]~~~[][ ][]\
"--OO--[]---O-"
> Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2015 16:18:29 -0700
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> From: bimet@online.no
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Programmable speedometers
>
> The answer is pretty simple, our tunnels are not flat but also the steepest and deepest in the world and by now we have close to 1000 of them
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiksund_Tunnel
>
>
>
>
> kerry pinkerton wrote on Thu, 05 March 2015 15:37
>> Loffen wrote on Thu, 05 March 2015 06:17
>>> Our longest tunnel is just above 15 miles long with a couple of automatic speed traps, no way I would relay on the tach through that one :)
>>
>>
>>
>> Why not Loffen? You know that XXXX RPM equals Y MPH, just drive at that RPM.... Am I missing something?
>>
>> I'd have to sedate my wife before I could go through a 15 mile tunnel. We drove through a couple in Northern Italy and she was freaking out. In
>> the GMC last year we went under Mobile Bay and it was only a half mile but she informed me we NOT going back that way....
>
>
> --
> 1973 26'-3 # 1460 Parrot green Seqouia Known as the Big Mean Green Machine,
> And just sold my 1973 26'-2 # 581 White Canyon lands under the name Dobbelt trøbbel
> in Norway
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| Re: Programmable speedometers [message #273149 is a reply to message #273083] |
Thu, 05 March 2015 21:29 |
Joe Weir
Messages: 769
Registered: February 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
Karma: 7
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Kinda like Speedhut might have a GMCer on staff. 80 mph speedo/4k tach combo:
http://www.speedhut.com/gauge/GR4.5-DUALGPS-ST-02T/1/Dual-Gauge---80mph-GPS-Speedometer---4K-Tachometer-(w--turn-signal-and-high-beam)
Johnny Bridges wrote on Thu, 05 March 2015 09:07I note, Speedhut lists an 80MPH GPS speedo. I wish they had a programmable one which did 80 full scale - it makes more sense for the GMC. Kinda like my 4K rpm tach.
Kerry, get her interested in the history of the missing toll booths at the Bankhead Tunnel. You'll be through it before she figures it out!
--johnny
76 Birchaven - "Wicked Mistress" - New engine, trans, alum radiator, brakes, Sully airbags, fuel lines, seats, adult beverage center... those Coachmen guys were really thinking about us second hand owners by including that beverage center...
Columbia, SC.
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| Re: Programmable speedometers [message #273178 is a reply to message #272903] |
Fri, 06 March 2015 08:31 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Yeah, and you don't even have to renumber the tach! However, I paid a tenth of that amount for the tach - worth the half hour to put new numbers on it.
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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