another gauge questions
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Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Georgia
another gauge questions
what's up? ok. at first, my speedo wasn't working. so, i looked under the truck and it wasn't even hooked up and i found the hole it went in so that was pretty easy. than i took the instruement gauges out and made sure the speedo was hooked up and it work. now i got some other questions about it. my speedo works but how do i know its the correct speed? what, have some drive next to me to let me know how fast i'm going? now my other question is about the instruement cluster. is there any replacement guages that still has the original look? i'm not really favored on custom looks but if i have to, i will. but i just want to know if there is b/c my dash needs work but also i would like to have all the gauges like water, temp, bat., and gas right in one place. not all over the truck. if any of all could help me w/ this kind of problem i got, i would really appreciate it. 
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 465
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another gauge questions
> my speedo works but how do i know its the correct
>speed? what, have some drive next to me to let me know how
>fast i'm going?
Cool, Congrats on the speedo. That's probably the best way. Or find one of those radar trailers that say how fast you are going on a big sign and drive past it a few times.
> now my other question is about the
>instruement cluster. is there any replacement guages that
>still has the original look? i'm not really favored on
>custom looks but if i have to, i will. but i just want to
>know if there is b/c my dash needs work but also i would
>like to have all the gauges like water, temp, bat., and gas
>right in one place. not all over the truck. if any of all
>could help me w/ this kind of problem i got, i would really
>appreciate it.
I don't know of any aftermarket guages that match original. Do the rest of the guages work? If not what do they do? Check out autometer.com. You can get aftermarket guages for all functions. You could then mount them in an aluminum panel in place of the stockers.
>speed? what, have some drive next to me to let me know how
>fast i'm going?
Cool, Congrats on the speedo. That's probably the best way. Or find one of those radar trailers that say how fast you are going on a big sign and drive past it a few times.
> now my other question is about the
>instruement cluster. is there any replacement guages that
>still has the original look? i'm not really favored on
>custom looks but if i have to, i will. but i just want to
>know if there is b/c my dash needs work but also i would
>like to have all the gauges like water, temp, bat., and gas
>right in one place. not all over the truck. if any of all
>could help me w/ this kind of problem i got, i would really
>appreciate it.
I don't know of any aftermarket guages that match original. Do the rest of the guages work? If not what do they do? Check out autometer.com. You can get aftermarket guages for all functions. You could then mount them in an aluminum panel in place of the stockers.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,157
Likes: 1
From: Central Kali
another gauge questions
You can also check the speedometer by the mile markers on the road. See if the odometer matches the markers. If you hold a steady 60 mph, you will past the next one in 60 secs. 
The poor speedometer cable has to turn 100 revolutions to go 1/10 mile. 
The poor speedometer cable has to turn 100 revolutions to go 1/10 mile. 
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
another gauge questions
The radar trailer is good if you can find one. The mile marker method is great if you have a second person with you to do the timing accurately.
You can get replacement gages out of any ford truck or van of the same vintage with similar looking gage setups. All of the individual gage modules are replaceable.
do a search with the words "copper cleaner silicone dielectric gage bulb"
and you should be able to find a method I use to "clean up" the instrument cluster connections.
Thanks for using FTE!
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You can get replacement gages out of any ford truck or van of the same vintage with similar looking gage setups. All of the individual gage modules are replaceable.
do a search with the words "copper cleaner silicone dielectric gage bulb"
and you should be able to find a method I use to "clean up" the instrument cluster connections.
Thanks for using FTE!
[font color=red]As a Moderator I do not "Subscribe" to most topics,
please send email/pm if you need a reply -Thanks![/font]
-
Certified Thread Hijacker
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
Likes: 59
another gauge questions
If you have a tach do this.
Go out and measure the diameter of your rear tire.
And this plug that number into this formula.
60 mph X axle ratio, divide that by tire diameter and then multiply that by 336 and you'll get what RPM you should be turning at 60 mph.
It's only an estimate especially with an automatic, but it is very close.
Josh
Go out and measure the diameter of your rear tire.
And this plug that number into this formula.
60 mph X axle ratio, divide that by tire diameter and then multiply that by 336 and you'll get what RPM you should be turning at 60 mph.
It's only an estimate especially with an automatic, but it is very close.
Josh
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
another gauge questions
Some of the tire stores and factory sites have data books that show the number of turns per mile a tire makes.
Of course you could always take it to a speedo shop and run it on their chassis dyno tester.
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Of course you could always take it to a speedo shop and run it on their chassis dyno tester.
Thanks for using FTE!
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Freshman User
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another gauge questions
Another somewhat exotic (but really easy) way....
If you know anyone with a portable GPS unit, they are extremely accurate. When I get a new (different) vehicle or change wheels/tires I always bring my GPS along for a ride so I can calculate the difference between speedo reading and actual. I don't bother with re-calibrating I just do the math.
If you know anyone with a portable GPS unit, they are extremely accurate. When I get a new (different) vehicle or change wheels/tires I always bring my GPS along for a ride so I can calculate the difference between speedo reading and actual. I don't bother with re-calibrating I just do the math.
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