Speedometer conversion

[babu2001]

Living in Canada with an '83 Spider imported from Florida (I love this state! ), my speedometer is in MPH. I want it in KMH. (One day, our american friends will see the light... ) So, I'm still looking for a metric one... I've got an idea. Is it possible to use a '79 speedometer in my '83 and just swap the face plate? I found faceplates in the fiatparts.com catalog but they are up to 220 KMH and the speedometer I found is up to 180 KMH. Does anyone have a bright idea to my problem? Or a metric speedo... Thanks for all your advices.

[launieg]

Just swap it out and put the km one in. I did that, no problem of any kind. It's an easy task. Makes it easier to drive and see what the speed actually is.

[babu2001]

Ok, that answer about the mechanical part but I'm still without the KMH faceplate. The typo of the RPM will be very different from the speedo. Does a 220 KMH is the same speedo than 180 but a little bit on the optimistic side? So, if I buy the faceplate of the 220 and put it in the 180, will it work? I don't think so 'cause on the 220 the indicator covers about 220~230 degrees. And on the 180, about 300 degrees. Still thinking about it...A complete swap from a Spider 850 maybe? They look awesome! See what I mean : http://dl.dropbox.com/u/52289338/850_dashboard.jpg

[Ken]

The speedometer cable output of the Fiat transmission is 1640 revolutions per mile, standard miles per hour revolutions is 1000. If you put an aftermarket speedometer in miles per hour in your Fiat the reading would be Kilometers.

[ORFORD2004]

I install a 220km speedo in my 83 about a month ago. Everything was easy to install even the cable. The only thing was that the green light on the left side of the speedo was always on when i turn my switch on. It was the one who indicate that your light are on. I spend the afternoon try to trace the problem why it stay on all the time. I finally found my answer on my 80mph speedo. It was the alternator light on my original one So be aware, the light signal are different and you can't just switch faceplate because one is 0 to 80 mph and the other one is 0 to 220 kmh and the arrow travel about the same distance. So the mecanism must be different.

[launieg]

The only thing was that the green light on the left side of the speedo was always on when i turn my switch on. It was the one who indicate that your light are on. I spend the afternoon try to trace the problem why it stay on all the time. I finally found my answer on my 80mph speedo. It was the alternator light on my original one

Good point. I also found that to be the case. Otherwise, no problem and easy to do.

[babu2001]

Your 220 KMH speedo was from what year model?

[tartan18]

I just replaced all my gauges with a Euro style. These were plug and play for me into my 1975 124. According to the Classic Ricambi web site they are available in individual units. My speedo is now KPH vs. MPH and because it was a screw on connector it was a snap to install. Check it out on their website. I am simply a satisfied customer with no financial interest in this vendor.

http://www.classicricambi.com/index.php ... cts_id=355

[babu2001]

WOW, the white ones (sold out ) are VERY sexy. What I hate in this kind of forum is when you're thinking you know what you want, somebody else got a new idea or suggestion and you not so sure anymore... Ouuuff, they are sold out...

[ORFORD2004]

My light signal was the same of the one for sale from dropbox.

[ORFORD2004]

Sorry i mean classic ricambi

[Texasbull]

Looks like this is no longer an option............. dangit!

http://www.classicricambi.com/Classic_R ... lcome.html

[babu2001]

Hey, have somebody knows how a '83-'85 model looks like inside? Here somes pics from eBay. It's a '75 model. I assume it's the same as a '79. Is it still the same design for the mechanical part? So a swap should be pretty easy thing. Here's the pics of the mechanical module :

[ORFORD2004]

The cable is snap not screw in my 83

[babu2001]

The transmission is still the same, right? So using the cable from a '79 model would be OK...?