Help!...no speedometer.

[rowland]

Two weeks ago I was out testing the sand capabilities of my truck and a most unfortunate thing happened. I ran over a mesquite stump and it kicked up and tore my speedo cable off the transfer case. I attemted to reinstall but discovered that the end of the shaft on the speedometer pinion gear had been twisted off. I figured I would just run down to the local dealer and pick up a new one, I mean it is a common part, right?



Two weeks later... .



1) Dodge never made my truck, never heard of a 3. 07 ratio, and certainly don't sell a 12 tooth pinion gear.



2) Nobody junks old Dodges in this part of New Mexico.



3) Driving with a GPS wedged on the dash to keep track of speed, is a less than desirable situation.



So what I need is either the speedometer pinion gear itself, or the entire gear reduction unit on the end of the speedo cable. Truck is a '89 4x4 with an auto and 3. 07 gear ratio. transmission and tranfer case is a A518/NP205 from a '93, BUT this shouldn't make any difference. I'm thinking that it might be possible to trade out shafts on the the gear if I could find one that fit with a different tooth count.



I'm stuck now, I have no idea where to look next and I have to drive back to Alaska in the near future. If any of you old school boys have any thoughts, I sure would appreciate it.



Isaac

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

Geez Rowland,



Sorry to hear about your problem. Why not try calling some trans. shops and see if you can round one up that way.

I'd give Bill K. a call, maybe he has one, or know's were you can get one.

Surely someone on the board can steer you in the right direction... darn DC bozo's.



Good luck. .



Bob.

 

[Dfeland]

I hate to even sugest this but... ... . You may try the brand C parts store because they also used the 205 until late 80's and there were alot more of them then our trucks built. If that does not help you my dad is a DM and I will have him track one down.

 

[RDBuck]

speedometer

Just ordered the same parts you need from my Dodge dealer. We looked in the book(all the optional ratios were listed in a book} together. All the parts are still listed and available for all our trucks. The different tires are listed as well as all the ratios. I think the total price for everything-pinion,gear housing (for the different ratios) and module was around $120

 

[rowland]

answers....

BushWakr - Already hit the only transmission shop in town... . no help.



Dfeland - Actually the dealership is both a Dodge and Chevy one. However, if it ain't in the computer, they don't know what to do.



RDBuck - I've been there four times now, I even left it overnight and they spent the next day trying to track it down using using the numbers stamped on the gearhousing, etc. They claim that the only ratios listed for that year (w/205) are 4. 11, and 4. 56. Also the lowest count pinion they can find is a 21. (and mine is a 12) The guy said he tried every year from '80 to '93 and has no idea what I have.



It could be that I have a non standard gearbox, do you recall what the pinion tooth count was on your truck? If worse comes to worse I will head north next weekend and try a bigger town.



Isaac.

 

[rowland]

update

Ran up to the next town after work today and ransacked it for the proper part. Finally found a wrecking yard were the guy seemed to know what he was talkin about and he claimed that the gear box was a 1:1 ratio. No Dodges but I found a C model that would fit (thanks Dfeland). Unfortunatly it isn't the same ratio and my truck now reads 10 mph low.



At least I'm on the right track now, guess I don't need the pinion gear, just the gear box. Might try hooking it up direct tomorrow to see what that gets me.



Thanks all,



Isaac.

 

[rowland]

finally

On 6th trip to dealer, they finally figured out what they were looking at and ordered the right part. Price was $119!!!!. For a little thing that must have cost, what, $5? I am seriously irritated but what can a guy do?



Turned out the adaptor was 1:1. 3XXX ratio. (I forget exactly) so a chevy one wouldn't work. If I ever get bigger tires I may try changing to all chevy parts (adapter & pinion) as they are a much heavier duty looking component.



Isaac.