gauges suggestions

[DownTown]

I am having a time with the speedometer on my Cobra. I have replaced the cable and the gear into the tranny. No good results, so I pulled the gear off the back of the speedometer and hooked it up to the cable and drove for some time and saw that it was turning a t the various speeds I was traveling at. I hooked it back in to the speedometer and no needle movement. So I am guessing that the gauge is out. I have Smith's gauges through out the dash is this a good brand and what migh be some other s to look into for me if I wanted to replace all of them.
Thanks Downtown

[trularin]

Smith is a good gauge.

Try one of the cobra car companies. You can also try Ebay. Then there is the internet in general.

Do a google search for smith gauge.

You may be able to find a shop that will check out your current part.

Gee, you got the car for free and already you need to work on it. You better watch out, you are going to end up like the rest of us.

Well, good luck.

[Bill Wells]

downtown.. .there are several speedo repair joints in Detroit area and suspect there might also be in your area as well. Or, just call a SPF dealer and have a new speedo sent out, or seek their advice. If you havent had your crow eating sit down with FLyin Freddie yet, then ask him as i believe he knows of 1 or 2 folks that specialize in Smith gauge repairs. little pieces now and then go awry, guess your speedo is one. Stick with getting that fixed or replaced and keep all your other gauges. no need to switch all from smith's to something else. it is the rights of passage of ownership. good luck. bil.

[BMK]

Hi all,



I used a set of VDO electronic gauges and their agent used Smith faces on the gauges. Don't know how legal that is but they sure beat having tubes and the rest under the dash.



Just hard wired back to senders etc.

Just a thought, worth looking into as an option.

Bernie

Bernie Knight
Mt. Gambier South Australia

Home of "Weekend at Bernie's #2 " - March 13th/14th

[shaps]

Nisonger is known for
servicing Smiths gauges..

You may want to give them a shout.
Happy New Year!
Shaps

[Bill Wells]

Shaps. thanks, Nisongers, yep, that is one of the names i was trying to think of and had a brain phart instead ! They have come highly recommended by others. there is another one too, but my brain is still not connecting with the memory lobes. bill.

[Jack21]

I'm a Street Rodder at heart, not a pureist for British originality. Don't get me wrong, I had my right of passage with owning or repairing/upgrading MGA's, MGB's, TR-3A's, TR-4's, Healy 3000's, and Sunbeam Tigers. Had my love/hate relationship with Mr. Lucas, "Prince of Darkness". And Mr. Smiths, "Prince of misinformation".

In '63 -'66 we had a British sports car manufactured by AC, shipped to LAX, and fitted by Mr. Shelby with Made in USA engine and trans. (The plaque under the hood/bonnet stating car was Manufactured by Shelby American is a complete misnomer).

Todays Cobra, mine included, may have some OEM British AC Cobra parts for originality. Front and rear bumpers, side mirrors, windshield with sun visors and windwings, Lucas windshield wiper assembly, and Lucas park, turn, and brake lights, but that's where the similarity ends.

The front suspension, steering and brakes are all Ford or aftermarket replacements. The rear suspension and brakes are all Ford, or aftermarket replacement. Drivetrain is all Ford with more or less aftermarket components. Call it a fiberglass, two seat Mustang with a hot rod engine and as loyal a following as T-Bird had in '55, '56, & '57. The crime/shame of it all? This could have, and should have, been a T-Bird vs Corvette starting with the '58 model year. This simply was not to be.

Since '58, the 'Vette has been the only American sportscar, challenged only briefly by the hybred Cobra.

So what happens to a Species when there is no competition for food, water, market share? It gets fat, lazy, and overconfident that it has no challenger. Todays' version of the T-Rex, the Corvette. It might as well be a 4 wheel, 2 seat Cadillac. But wait, Cadillac is coming out with their own 4 wheel, 2 seat Cadillac!
Ford? No chalengers! We DIY kit, and semi turn key guys have our '65/'66 Cobras. British sports car handling with American made components from the unlikeliest of sources. (Mustang II? That was the worst example of automotive engeneering fostered on the car buying public since the Corvair.)

Bottom line, if there is such a thing as a bottom line, or common denominator with Corporate Giants who provide cookie cutter transportation placebos to the we unwashed masses.

But there is an automotive subculture that first showed its' head in the '20's & '30's, and got stronger every year.

Today, the Vette has no challengers as it did in the '60's. And the only thing that will give a Cobra a tussle iss anotherr Cobra.

[misfit41]

actually,,,I am enjoying a spot of Asti too,,,hahahah
happy new year to all,,,,Tim

[SCOBRAC]

An Autometer pro-comp mechanical unit will replace my Smiths unit soon. The Autometer is a 200 mph unit with trip meter. They are 5" and come in white face or balck. They also make an electronic programable unit which compensates for gear ratio changes. www.autometer.com

[Jack21]

Originality or practicality. Smiths are original but don't have a good reliability track record. AutoMeter sport comp, pro comp, Z series, etc., don't look original, do look good, are readable enough to get the right information to the driver at the right time, and are absolutely reliable. And if you do break one, getting them repaired is easy, and not expensive.

I went with the AM's and am not sorry.

[DonC]

If you decide to replace look at the Autometer guages carried by Finishline for an idea of what's available in the retro look.
DonC