Hey guys,

I've looked high and low for an answer to this and really have not found a way to execute it. Essentially what I'd like to do is install a digital speedometer off of a 1g tranny. The issue I've run into is that the 1g's odometer functions off of a mechanical cable. Is there a cost effective way to convert it from mechanical to electric? If so Id prefer an after market odometer as opposed to using the electric 2g odometer but if that is my only option I guess I'll make it happen.

Thanks in advance!

~Kevin

Hmmmm. My grandmothers 92 cutlass supreme has digital gauges. Less than 100k. They don't work, absolute garbage

But good luck!


Sometimes I wish I knew how much gas it had in it .

Get a 2g speed sensor with pig tail and you can tie in an aftermarket gauge to that. Just need to look up a pin out of the wires at the sensor.

I know someone has a thread about using a Honda S2000 guage cluster which is completely digital. But that was on a 2g where the inputs were digital not mechanical like the 1g. Maybe you could modifiy a 2g speed sensor to fit in a 1g trans. Then you would have the digital output you need for the S2k cluster.

DSM Jeff said:

Get a 2g speed sensor with pig tail and you can tie in an aftermarket gauge to that. Just need to look up a pin out of the wires at the sensor.

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The 2g speed sensor will fit the 1g nt tranny no problem?

I think it would be cool. Like in the 1g 300zx

KAOI said:

The 2g speed sensor will fit the 1g nt tranny no problem?

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Yes. My friend did this in his 93 when I built him a cluster. He used a 2g sensor, found a pig tail, figured the wiring and used AutoMeter cobalt gauges. The autometer uses a calibration method to set the mph. I believe you'll be looking for a manual speedo sensor as the auto has a longer shaft.

fonzi90Tsi said:

I think it would be cool. Like in the 1g 300zx

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Yeah I've always liked this dash. Despite the fact it screams 80's i love it. haha

I got my digital and my electric mixed up. I meant to say I'm looking for an electronic based Odometer/cluster. That being said a digital dash would still be dope.

DSM Jeff said:

Yes. My friend did this in his 93 when I built him a cluster. He used a 2g sensor, found a pig tail, figured the wiring and used AutoMeter cobalt gauges. The autometer uses a calibration method to set the mph. I believe you'll be looking for a manual speedo sensor as the auto has a longer shaft.

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You are my new best friend. This is phenomenal .

My sole reason behind this is that Im building a rear engine car and i need the wires to reach back far enough.... using the mechanical wire will prove to be impossible seeing as the cable is maybe a yard long from the tranny to the back of the dash.

DSM Jeff said:

Yes. My friend did this in his 93 when I built him a cluster. He used a 2g sensor, found a pig tail, figured the wiring and used AutoMeter cobalt gauges. The autometer uses a calibration method to set the mph. I believe you'll be looking for a manual speedo sensor as the auto has a longer shaft.

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wow that I am inlove with this dash!!

Sounds cool. The cluster I did was super simple. Just an old cluster cut up. A piece of plexi cut/sanded to fit over the old. Cut the holes and epoxied to the shell so it could be bolted in.

I also attached a page from my shop manual for wiring. Hopefully you can read it, if not PM me and I'll see if I can blow it up for wiring colors and pin positions. My scanner wasn't too clear.

Ahhh I see! Yeah I got ya now. Both would be awesome!

And wow nice cluster!!

This may sound like a silly question... But what happened to the original odometer when these new gauges were installed? And does the new setup have an odometer that is being used? Just curious...

Most aftermarket gauges have odometer's. I'm not sure if you can program mileage to add to what you have though.

DSM Jeff said:

Sounds cool. The cluster I did was super simple. Just an old cluster cut up. A piece of plexi cut/sanded to fit over the old. Cut the holes and epoxied to the shell so it could be bolted in.

I also attached a page from my shop manual for wiring. Hopefully you can read it, if not PM me and I'll see if I can blow it up for wiring colors and pin positions. My scanner wasn't too clear.

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Which year sensor did you use? On caps there are different sensors.

No clue, just one from the shop I was at. Only difference I know of is between auto and manual. This goes back many, many years.

Warning: redneck engineering ahead!

In theory a digital/electronic speedometer is nothing more than a pulse counter. An ABS system also works partly by counting pulses. Knowing that, a tone ring and an ABS system could possibly be used to 'power' a digital speedometer. Could also modify existing mechanical speedometer to convert to 'digital'. The mechanical one has a rotating aluminum cup inside it that interacts with a magnet that is attached to the needle. Faster the cup spins, more the magnet and needle turn. Cut a slot in the cup, place a small stationary magnet inside the cup and a reed switch outside. Hook up a light and a battery to the reed switch and spin the cable. If everything is done right the light should flash. Faster the cable turns, faster the light flashes. Hook up a speedometer instead of the light and you will be good to go.

Edit: Got the cup and magnet backwards. Magnet rotates from input, cup turns the needle. Still, the idea is the same with the reed switch. Also for some electronic speedometers you might have to have a pulse-to-voltage converter since they are nothing more than re-calibrated volt meters.