[Speed Racer]

I learned something pretty valuable today when I removed my 85mph speedometer cluster from my 83 P-type and replaced it with a 130mph cluster from a later model Mk2 (thank you again Leslie Grover!)

For those of you who haven't attempted this with your 82 or 83 model, I suggest you read what I discovered.

After taking the hood that covers the instrument cluster off and getting enough slack in the speedometer cable to disconnect it, I really thought I was home free. Got the new cluster, which was all cleaned up and ready to go in...and proceeded to connect everything up. Connected the speedo cable and locked the clip in place as well as all the plugs on the back.

I didn't bother putting the cluster hood back on, just put the screws in so I could drive the car and make sure that the temp gauge came up, oil pressure gauge worked, volt meter and gas gauge. I also wanted to make sure the speedometer was accurate, and that I hadn't screwed it up when I changed the odometer reading to match the old instrument cluster. Well, as my luck would have it...the speedometer worked great. Driving around town and on the freeway, the speed flowing with traffic matched whatever MPH zone I happened to be in. (It also looked cool when I was going 120+ just north of Fresno this evening).

However, the tachometer was a BIG problem. At idle, it registered 1200 RPM which I knew was obviously way off. But, the biggest problem was the entire RPM range....I should have been turning 2500 RPM in 4th gear at 45mph, instead it was showing just a tick under 4000 RPM. So, I drove home and took the cluster back out of the car and started thinking about what the problem could be. Then it hit me. The 130mph cluster came out of a Mk2 with an automatic transmission (has little O/D symbol below the turn signal and highbeam lights). -- Unless ALL later model Mk2s have this symbol -- (anyone with an 84-86 5-speed model have that symbol on your gauges?)

Not wanting to F with trying to recalibrate the tach in the 130 cluster, I took my old unit apart and swapped just the tach into the new cluster. When I did this, I also noticed the part numbers on the two tach units did NOT match each other. Anyhow, problem solved - I drove the car and everything is correct now. Also checked it against my timing light and the RPM matched perfectly up to 5000 RPM. Also took all the green bulb condoms off - nice bright white display now. I'm very pleased with how it came out.

This leads me to a question for you guys - do you think I just had a bad tach in the newer cluster, or could it be that the tach in the newer cluster was designed to live in an automatic model Mk2?

I mean, that doesn't make much sense...the gauge/receiver is just interpreting the pulse signal it receives from the ignitor module so...what do you suppose the problem was?

 

[dohc82]

When I did the swap I also changed the tach but that was because I was using an 85 Celica cluster and I didnt think the 4cyl tach would be compatible. I also noticed the numbers were different on the housing but assumed it was because of the supra versus celi. Are you sure of the source of the new cluster (supra not celica?).
Glad you got it figured out.

-Wil

 

[Speed Racer]

When I did the swap I also changed the tach but that was because I was using an 85 Celica cluster and I didnt think the 4cyl tach would be compatible. I also noticed the numbers were different on the housing but assumed it was because of the supra versus celi. Are you sure of the source of the new cluster (supra not celica?).
Glad you got it figured out.

-Wil

Thanks Will - and yeah, I'm glad I got it figured out too, however...

Leslie Grover pulled the 130 inst cluster for me - and it did come out of a Mk2 Supra. What I'm wondering about is the O/D symbol in the middle of it (which would only function in a Supra with Auto trans.)

Basically, what I want to know is if the problem was simply the tach being a faulty unit, or the fact that the cluster (may have) come out of a Mk2 with automatic. And if so, would this make any difference? I wouldn't think that it would but...anyone have theories?

 

[Sparky]

I don't recall seeing an OD symbol on the hours I've spend with mine (changing the color to blue, then taking apart the dash for to restore it, etc...). I have an 85 5-spd, so it probably is an automatic thing.

 

[Carlos_Relova]

Hi,

I just ordered the 130 MPH speedo, for my 83, from Don and Sean at Nix99. Great guys.
I am wondering if I need to replace the tach as well, how difficult is it to replace the tach? If anyone could let me know, that would be great.

Thanks,
Carlos

 

[Speed Racer]

Carlos,

You need to find out of the cluster indeed came out of a MkII Supra or not. The problem I had was my cluster was likely from a Celica - which looks identical in every way to the one that goes in the Supra, but the tach inside is for a 4 cyl engine.

If the tachometer came out of a Celica, your reading is going to be way off....it'll register like 4500 to 5000rpm when you're only actually only turning maybe 2000.

Call Nix99 and verify what kind of car it came out of.

Regarding changing the tach section (if you need to) -- there are a bazillion screws on the back side of the cluster, you'll need to remove those. The back separates from the rest of the housing, and exposes the inner workings of the cluster. It's just matter of removing the tach part, and putting the one for the 6 cyl engine in it's place (which means you have to take apart both clusters - old and new).

It's not really hard, just takes some time, a screw driver and some patience. If Nix99 sends you one from a Supra, you won't have to do the above. Good luck.

 

[Carlos_Relova]

Hi SupraRacer007,

Thank you very much for the information.
I will ask Nix99 if the cluster is out of a Supra or a Celica.

If it is out of a Celica, I will follow your instructions.

Thanks again,
Carlos

 

[Supra_devil]

to put in the newer speedo do you have to change the gear at the other end of the speedo cable (the one in the tranny) or is the speedo adjusted inside for that. i had a newer one but i busted it, oops!

 

[Speed Racer]

More on the 85mph speedo to 130mph speedo swap

I just realized another BIG difference between the Celica GTS instrument cluster and the one in a Supra. Take a good look at this photo:

I discovered that I had to remove the tach assembly from my old cluster and install it in the new one (pictured above) - since the 130mph unit was found to be from a Celica - noticed the tach was way off...AFTER putting the dash back together.

Here we are several months later, and I noticed the gauge faces are different as well. Aaron Garney asked me what red-line on the MkII is. So I walked out to my car and looked. I thought to myself "Hmmm, 5800rpm for red line sure sounds kinda low...."

I still have my old cluster in a box - took in out and yup...the gauge face is different. It's kinda hard to see, but here is a picture of my dash before I did the instrument swap:

The stock SUPRA panel has a tach face with 6500 rpm the start of red line. That may not be important to "everyone", but for a guy who wants his car to be correct - yeah, it matters. If you have a 82-83 MkII and you want to put the 130mph cluster in your car - make sure it's actually from a SUPRA. :wink:

[end of lesson]

 

[dogstar]

my celica cluster has an orange line starting at 5000 rpms, continuing to 5500... then redline begins from there...

kinda annoying, but screwit, i know how high my car can rev, and i know how high im willing to run my car (5800ish) so im not worried about it.
plus if anyone else drives my car they probably wont know this, and might not push the car as hard


EDIT:
well, i got the speedo in today, and it seems to read my speed alright, but the odometer doesnt move...
any one know why this would be?
i ended up getting another one in the wreckers, just cause i was going past the place after my test drive anyways, but im kinda curious why it wouldnt work, could it be stuck, or is it broken?

 

[2UPK321]

My friend is doing the swap on his 82 and everything is fine but his check engine light wont turn off now with the new cluster, but when you put the 82 cluster back in the light goes off.

Any ideas?

 

[dogstar]

82s dont have a check engine light, so it shouldnt be on at all.
maybe youve got a crossed path or something, but ive never seen that problem, and ive had 4 different clusters in my P type.

 

[MKII boy]

it seems to read my speed alright, but the odometer doesnt move...

dogstar, i've got this same problem, too; buuuut, i'm too lazy to investigate apparently, the previous owner of my '83 GTS swapped in a 130mph cluster; when i bought the car, i wasn't aware that it originally had the 85mph cluster.

-Evan

 

[crazysupradrive18]

hey i was wondering where can i get a 130cluster for my 83 Supra, i have a 85cluster, and i was wondering if i could get a 130cluster, so if someone could e-mail me back and tell me where i can get one, i would really be thankful, my e-mail is [email protected]

 

[ma615mgte]

hey i was wondering where can i get a 130cluster for my 83 Supra, i have a 85cluster, and i was wondering if i could get a 130cluster, so if someone could e-mail me back and tell me where i can get one, i would really be thankful, my e-mail is [email protected]

post in the wanted section maybe??

i have a 130 cluster w/ the speed hut indi glow already on it.. (not in a car) :wink: