1948 Speedo to '66 289 3-speed - what cable to use?

[ebruns1]

Hey Fellas!
I want to use my original dash gauges and speedo in my 1948 F1 truck, but I have a 289 with a 3-speed trans. How can I use the original speedo? Will a speedo cable for the 3-speed just attach to the back of the 1948 speedometer? Or so I need to make some kind of adapter? I'm not real worried about accuracy if that's an issue. It is all original except for the 289 and I'm going to keep it that way! No one will know unless I open the hood...


Thanks for any help I'm learning new stuff every day as I work on this truck!


Jim

[TJ]

I think the F-1speedo has a male fitting on the back. If that's the case then the stock 3 speed cable will fit if it's long enough. if it's not long enough then you can go to Napa Auto parts and see if the have a longer stock cable.

[JSeery]

Once upon a time there were speedometer shops in about every town/city that could make you anything you wanted. May be difficult to find one these days.

[ebruns1]

Fellas,


Here's a photo of the back of the original '48 speedo coupler. I'm guessing the gears on the original '48 would not mesh with the 289 3-speed. So, what if I buy the correct one for the 3-speed gear and if the other end does not screw on to the back what if I just duct taped them together? Is there any force other than the rotation of the inner square cable. As long as they are held together I'm thinking it would work. Does anyone know where I might get a custom speedo cable made as was suggested? Thanks for any leads!


JT

[TJ]

That's a standard male speedo fitting. The stock cable from the later 3 speed should mate up to your stock speedo. The length could be the only issue if the fitting on the 3 speed is farther back than the original the original fitting. I'm sure you can find a longer cable to fit if you need one.

[paul2748]

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Look for Mustang cables. They come in different lengths so be sure how long you need it.


There are two different designs that go to the speedo - just make sure you get one that fits your speedo. The picture looks like you need the one that has a female end on it.


The trans end should be the kind that the gear attaches by a clip.


Look on ebay under Mustang speedometer cables. The pictures will give you a good idea what is out there and the application to look for.

[fordor41]

I bought a speedo cable from Lokar and the speedo end was wrong. Went to a junk yard and cut a couple ends off that matched my trans(C-4). Grafted the trans end to the Lokar cable and good to go.

[Dick]

I think you can find what you're looking for at midfifty.com Check part number 2601

[rotorwrench]

We used to get special long length cables made up at an industrial and truck supply outfit here in SA. There are two types of drive for a teleflex type cable. One in a simple press welded square drive where the cable end is pressed into a square shape & resistance welded to hold the shape by a special machine. The other is a swaqed end fitting that is simply crimped on the end of the cable with a swaging tool for that purpose. Some of the fittings are square male drive and some are keyhole type drive with a single spline protruding from the round end fitting.

Universal cable kits are available that come with a drive end fittings of your choice and a swaging tool to install them. They are sold in different lengths and can be cut to length. Most speedometer gears have a drive end of one shape or the other for a teleflex cable to fit. Speedometer drives also have a drive of similar type.

[ebruns1]

OK Fellas,


Thanks for all the info. I bought a standard length Mustang speedo cable at Autozone. The box says it's for a '66 Mustang. The length will work fine in the 1950 F-1 so no problem there. Here's my problem. When I pulled the old cut off speedo cable out of the trans the end looks nothing like what they gave me. There are no gears on the end of the new one, just a spiral cut shaft and the square cable sticking out the center (see photo). The old cable has a plastic gear attached to the end that was in the trans. Am I supposed to pull off the plastic gear and screw it on to the new cable? I've never done this before but I would think that the cable would already come with a new gear already attached. Did they give me the wrong cable?


Thanks,
JT

[deuce lover]

New cables do not come with the gear.The gears are calibrated to the rear end ratio and tire size from the factory.Just switch the gear to your new cable.There might be a clip that secures it to the cable.It is not screwed on.If your speed does not read correctly you have to come up with the correct tooth count and change the plastic gear.

[5851a]

Use a small screwdriver and slide the retaining clip out the side of the gear. Pull gear off, slip onto new cable and reinstall clip. Spirals are not threads, they are there to keep transmission grease from going up the cable.

[5851a]

Make sure cable goes in transmission on same side as original transmission. Right side speedo gears are reverse cut on mustangs, most Fords are left side cables.