Okay guys, you've been a ton of help so here goes nothing.... In my 65 I've got the motor and tranny from a 68 Mustang, the 390 with a four speed top loader manual transmission. My issue is with the speedo cable. No working speedometer when I purchased the truck, but there was a cable installed. Local parts house produced a speedo cable for me that was obviously wrong, 20% restock fee later and I'm still using an app on my phone for MPH. Any thoughts or tips would be greatly appreciated. Maybe there's a retired Ford parts manager out there that could shed some light on my problem..

 

I don't think there is a parts book out there for what you have. You are in the hotrod world now. First thing is the speedometer. Dose it actually work? Disconnect the cable from the back of it and spin it by hand and see if the needle moves. If it moves then I would get a cable for a 1968 Mustang with a top loader 4 speed to see if it fits the speedo. Although it might be too short for a truck. There are places that can make speedometer cables to fit anything. This is a manufactures site you might run across something here. ATP Automotive

 

Thanks crop duster, I think you're right. You're the second person who has given me this warning. It's learn as I go with this truck, it was someone's resto-mod in the 90's. The things I've seen....

 

Good Luck. It can be frustrating trying to figure out what parts to use when the person who built it didn't document anything.

 

Here is a pic from round one. Not even sure the original one is correct, but the new one to the right was very wrong. The speedometer needle moved smoothly when spun by hand. The website you suggested looks promising. I've sent a question over to see if they care to comment on wether the cable will thread into the trucks speedometer.

 

I don't know the truck but it looks like you are showing us 2 different ends?
The 1 on the right looks to be the speedo gauge end. I have seen 2 different connections for the gauge end. 1 that you show that pushes on and when you want to remove it you push together 2 hooks and (or 1 as I have seen also) and pull it out.
The other has a large nut and you unscrew it and pull it out.


The 1 on the left looks like the trany end.
I have seen 2 different ends on them also.
You show 1 that after in the hole you have the clamp and bolt to hold it into place.
The other has a large nut, kind of like the gauge end, that screws onto an adaptor that is in the hole of the trany.


I do not see a inner cable on the left one and the right one I cant see into the end to see if it has a cable.
IIRC the trany end after the driven gear is on a clip goes on to hold the gear & cable together.
The Gauge end just pushes into the speedo head and no other clips needed.


Good luck
Dave ----

 

Did you remove the nylon gear from the cable? Or was it never there? This is a picture of what it should look like. With the cable connected to the speedo there should be about 1/2 inch of cable sticking out the end to engage the gear.

 

Posted similar thread a while back, #2 offers a couple charts by NumbersDummy may find helpful? Suggest measure cable length; check the plastic, or metal drive gear, if the cable fits then perhaps a matter of finding the correct drive gear?

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...placement.html

 

C7ZZ-17260-J .. 1967/68 Mustang 4 speed speedometer cable: 77 1/16" long.

What trans did the truck have originally?

 

Fuzzface; the other end of the newer cable had the threaded collar that fit the speedo in the cab perfectly. I don't think the tranny end has the outer threads, you have to unbolt the clip and pull it out.

Crop duster; I must've missed something but I haven't seen any small gear like the one in your pic, this may be the root of all my speedo problems.

Daveengelson; Is this the same gear that cropduster is referring to?? Are you saying that there are different types and they may be gear ratio specific? I haven't reviewed the charts you pointed out yet but I plan to after this reply.

Numberdummy; Is the gauge end of C7ZZ-17260-J the same as what's in my 65?? Not sure what the truck had in it originally but here is vin for decoding, I've been meaning to ask someone for this information any way F10JL676844

 

The type of trans is not listed within the VIN .. TRANS code stamped on the 2nd line of the Warranty Plate.

I don't know if the Mustang cable will work, but cars use the same nylon speedometer DRIVEN gears as the trucks.

16 thru 21 teeth gears are available, as it depends on trans type, rear axle ratio and tire size.

 

The number of teeth you need on your speedometer driven gear referenced by Crop Duster and Number Dummy is dependent on your rear axle ratio. While there is no guarantee that what's in your truck now is the same one that left the assembly plant over 50 years ago, post the rest of the information on your warranty plate and someone will decode it for you. Here's the decode for your VIN: F10 = F100 2 wheel drive truck. J = 240 cubic inch 1 bbl carb I-6 engine. L = Wayne, Michigan Truck assembly plant. 676,844 = assembled in April, 1965.

 

Here is an image of the warrenty plate. Looks like Greek

Hope this is not a dumb question Is there a full Ford Interchage book that covers all models through a certartain year that work together, cars, trucks, vans, everything?? Because that would be worth buying. Wishful thinking??

 

VIN decoded in post #12.

129" Wheelbase.

T = Light Beige.

F101 = F100 2WD .. 4,200 lbs. GVWR

481: 4 = Light Beige Crush Vinyl & Light Beige Wicker Pattern Vinyl / 81 = 81A Standard Cab.

B = Borg-Warner T-85N 3 Speed Manual with Overdrive.

10 = Ford 9" Rear Axle / 4.11-1 / 3,300 lbs. Rear Axle Capacity.

4,200 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.

129 net HP @ 4,000 RPM

21 = Atlanta GA Ford District Sales Office, where the original selling dealer ordered the truck from.

The thing is, when a previous owner swapped the engine and trans, did he/she also change the rear axle ratio?

 

Thanks Super Sabre and ND. I think it's cool the truck is still within 50 miles of the dealership where it was sold, didn't know that.

I just had a set 3.50 gears put in the rear end.