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Very often, the original speedometer in your classic works well, but needs cosmetic restoration and lubrication. Chevy speedometers are famous for vibrating, spinning or seizing up and breaking the speedometer cable off due to dry bearings. In this article we will outline a few helpful to get your vintage speedometer working again without having to replace it with a restored unit. Our article is on a 1957, but all 55-72 speedometers have similar components.
Time Frame: 2 Hours
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The speedometer on a 1957 is located in the center of the instrument cluster. To remove the speedometer, the complete cluster must be removed from the dash.
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Remove the four clutch head screws from the back of the cluster and remove the speedometer.
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Using your fingers (not a screwdriver!) under the center hub of the left (counterclockwise) and the needle straight up from the speedometer head. Be very careful here because if you break the on the speedometer, the entire unit will be junk! With the needle removed, unscrew the two straight screws that hold the center chrome disc and face to the speedometer head.
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Remove the two screws on the back of the speedo meter that hold the rear mounting to the speedometer head.
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There is a small brass freeze on the speedometer head where the speedomet er cable screws on. Using a small screw driver in the center of the and it out of the head. There is a small wick down inside the hole under the freeze Using an ice or an awl, the wick out of the hole.
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Spray WD-40 or any good oil in the speedometer hole and spin the cable drive back and forth by hand until it spins freely It may take some time to free up a really dry, stuck speedometer. Spray a few squirts of white lithium grease in the hole and continue to spin the drive. Once you are happy with the feel of the drive, soak the wick with the WD-40 and back in the hole. Install the freeze back into the speedometer head.
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The numbers on our odometer are really in bad shape. With the new decal kit PIN 37-32 for 1955 and PIN 37- 33 for 1956-72 you can now repair this for just a few bucks. A 1955 has a white background with black numb e rs on the main wheels and the 1956-72 cars ha ve a black background with white numbers on the main wheels. To remove the odometer, first remove the small clip that holds the odometer shaft in With the clip re moved the odo mete r assembly will slide sideways and lift out of the speedometer head.
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The new decals are self-adhesive so simply match the numbers on the decal with the number s on the wheel and wrap the decal around the wheel.
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On 1956-up cars after wrapping the decals around the odometer use a black sharpie to color the ends of the black background decals if you have any gaps. This will make the black background look continuous. Place the odometer back into the speedometer head.
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If the faces of the speedome te r, fuel or temperature gauge need to be refinished on your 1957, a decal kit PN 06-74 is available. This kit also includes the colored discs for the turn signal, generator, and oil lights.
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Mount the speedometer face back onto the speedometer head and install the chrome cap and screws.
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Now the needle can be insta)led back onto the speedometer head. Starting with the need le at about SO-mph, the needle on and turn counterclockwise until the nee dle is at 0-mph. If your 1957 has a broken needle, replace it with PIN 06-77.
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With the needle in attach the speedo mete r head to the rear and install the speedo meter assembly back into the cluster. With the new decals and freshly lubricated drive, the cluster will look and work great!
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The yellow wire in the harness should be connected to a good 12-volt ignition-on source either at the ignition switch or the fuse. Enjoy your cooler running engine and NC unit!