how to change a speedo in 1970 Beetle - tips please
vvwbeetle - April 11th, 2012 at 12:09 AM
Hi all,
looking at changing to a Km/h speedo and was wondering how difficult it is to change the speedo over?
After marking all the wires and undoing the 2 screws does the speedo come out towards the steering wheel or does it come out behind the dash?
Also do I have to inform the RTA or not?
if the speedo is not acurate what is the best way to fix it?
Cheers
Simon.
waveman1500 - April 11th, 2012 at 12:51 AM
If you've got a metric Beetle speedo, they are more or less a straight swap. I think they come out from the back? The only trouble I had when
changing mine was that instead of having one flashing indicator arrow, the new speedo had two (or possibly the other way around, can't remember).
This is solved by simply re-wiring the indicator warning lamp to trigger from different wires. I was going to swap mine over myself, but I ended up
having some other wiring done by an auto electrician, so I got him to change the indicator wiring at the same time.
Joel - April 11th, 2012 at 11:32 AM
Really easy.
It's just a matter of unscrewing the cable, unplug all the electrical and loosen the 2 mounting screws.
You'll see how they twist out of them when you do that.
| Quote: |
Originally
posted by waveman1500
The only trouble I had when changing mine was that instead of having one flashing indicator arrow, the new speedo had two (or possibly the other way
around, can't remember). This is solved by simply re-wiring the indicator warning lamp to trigger from different wires. I was going to swap mine over
myself, but I ended up having some other wiring done by an auto electrician, so I got him to change the indicator wiring at the same time.
|
Ah, you had one of the mutant aussie 72 speedos.
The only bugs you will find in the whole world with those speedos are Aussie made bugs built from april 72 till November 72.
They had seperate left and right indicator lights but you won't find that in any other bugs till the real early stuff.
waveman1500 - April 11th, 2012 at 02:20 PM
| Quote: |
Originally
posted by Joel
Ah, you had one of the mutant aussie 72 speedos.
The only bugs you will find in the whole world with those speedos are Aussie made bugs built from april 72 till November 72.
They had seperate left and right indicator lights but you won't find that in any other bugs till the real early stuff.
|
Absolutely fascinating! Joel, as always your knowledge is astounding. I suppose that the '72 speedo makes sense, given that it's in a '72 S-Bug.
For some reason it had a mph speedo in it when I got the car, but the metric one came with it as a spare.
1303Steve - April 11th, 2012 at 07:42 PM
Hi
The other thing about the Australia only speedos was that they had different size thread for the speedo cable where it bolts onto the speedo.
Steve
1303Steve - April 11th, 2012 at 07:55 PM
Hi
With the speedo reading, you could always make a note of the indicated reading when you changed it and add it to your current reading every rego.
Steve
vvwbeetle - April 11th, 2012 at 11:08 PM
Installed it tonight.
A lot easier than I thought it was going to be.
Joel - April 12th, 2012 at 10:54 AM
| Quote: |
Originally
posted by waveman1500
I suppose that the '72 speedo makes sense, given that it's in a '72 S-Bug. For some reason it had a mph speedo in it when I got the car, but the
metric one came with it as a spare.
|
They were in both supers and standards of that time.
No idea why they came up with a whole new speedo just for a few months of production as they were very different to the usual speedos - seperate left
and right indicators, high beam and odometer in different spot but main difference is the face was blank and the numbers printed on the perspex like
late type 3s had.
They went back to Euro speedos in late 72 and changed to KM/H in mid 73
| Quote: |
Originally
posted by 1303Steve
Hi
The other thing about the Australia only speedos was that they had different size thread for the speedo cable where it bolts onto the speedo.
Steve
|
I'm guessing another reason why you don't see many of them, speedo cables probably aren't available anymore.
ian.mezz - April 12th, 2012 at 09:41 PM
| Quote: |
Originally
posted by Joel
| Quote: | Originally
posted by waveman1500
I suppose that the '72 speedo makes sense, given that it's in a '72 S-Bug. For some reason it had a mph speedo in it when I got the car, but the
metric one came with it as a spare.
|
They were in both supers and standards of that time.
No idea why they came up with a whole new speedo just for a few months of production as they were very different to the usual speedos - seperate left
and right indicators, high beam and odometer in different spot but main difference is the face was blank and the numbers printed on the perspex like
late type 3s had.
They went back to Euro speedos in late 72 and changed to KM/H in mid 73
| Quote: | Originally
posted by 1303Steve
Hi
The other thing about the Australia only speedos was that they had different size thread for the speedo cable where it bolts onto the speedo.
Steve
|
I'm guessing another reason why you don't see many of them, speedo cables probably aren't available anymore.
|
I have one of those 72 super bugs , is it worth more .
then I got it
for. is it rare
68AutoBug - April 13th, 2012 at 01:37 PM
| Quote: |
Originally
posted by vvwbeetle
Hi all,
looking at changing to a Km/h speedo and was wondering how difficult it is to change the speedo over?
After marking all the wires and undoing the 2 screws does the speedo come out towards the steering wheel or does it come out behind the dash?
Also do I have to inform the RTA or not?
if the speedo is not acurate what is the best way to fix it?
Cheers
Simon.
|
Unless You want to have it made accurate at a speedo specialist...$$$
just mark where the correct speedo is...
remember the speedo changes with different sized tyres or wheels..
they are usually more accurate than many new cars now they are up to 10% out..??
I've never told the RTA etc about speedo changes.. as I've changed mine a few times.. lol
Joel...
I wish You had just told Me about that odd aussie Speedo..
I've never heard of it before.. or seen one..???
seperate blinking lamps... YIKES...
cheers
LEE
vvwbeetle - April 13th, 2012 at 04:08 PM
Thanks lee.
Drove the car yesterday to get new tyres and noticed it still reads slight faster than I am traveling.
Joel - April 13th, 2012 at 05:06 PM
It's because of the tyre size you have on the front
They are way smaller than stock.
They look like about 195/50s?
Lee, I've got a pic of one in a freinds bug somewhere I'll find for you.
ian.mezz - April 13th, 2012 at 06:10 PM
i have one but to lazy to take a pic
Joel - April 13th, 2012 at 07:47 PM
Here ya go,
Numbers printed on the glass not the face like normal, the high beam is on the opposite side under 40 and you can just see the 2 little indicator
triangles under 90 and 20.
68AutoBug - April 14th, 2012 at 01:34 AM
well really strange...
If I saw that in a beetle I would have thought someone had modified it,,,
especially the numbers on the glass face????
front or back of the face>>
who made them??? VDO??
Lee
ian.mezz - April 15th, 2012 at 11:38 AM
heres mine
Joel - April 15th, 2012 at 12:54 PM
Well as long as you do "highbeam" in 60 zones you'll be fine 
Or just do this to it
Slow, faster and flat out
Oh ya or the LOLvo gauge rage 
