Speedo in KM/H

[spridget]

Who knows if the instruments of early +2's and especially the speedo come from another car?
I?m searching a KM/H speedo and I only know the Smith ref : SN 6153/102
I would be surprise if they only were made for Lotuses

Thanks
Franck

[spridget]

No idea ?

Franck

[stugilmour]

Sorry Franck, I was waiting for someone else to reply with a definitive answer.

I looked on eBay UK quite a bit and didn't find a match for the Plus 2 speedo. Issue was finding one with the low fuel light. Not definitive that they are unique though. I got mine serviced by a firm in the US and it works fine; they where able to change the turns per mile (TPM) ratio to suit my aftermarket transmission at the same time.

I recently saw an Elan for sale that had kpm speedo; the seller assumed it was a Canadian model, but I have my doubts on that. Anyway, it seems they were made for the Elan, but they don't have the low fuel lamp.

HTH

[fatboyoz]

Franck,
It may be easier to have your own gauge modified. A new, silk screened dial in KPH to match the existing internals would seem to be the most straight forward. Or, as Stu says, you could also have the odometer's internal gearing altered to read KPH. Here are some sites to help you on your quest:
http://www.speedycables.com/
http://www.ottoinstruments.com.au/restoration.htm
Regards,
Colin.
P.S. I also have MPH speedo'. Every 6MPH = 10KPH. Easy.

Who knows if the instruments of early +2's and especially the speedo come from another car?
I?m searching a KM/H speedo and I only know the Smith ref : SN 6153/102
I would be surprise if they only were made for Lotuses

cowling.jpg

Thanks
Franck

[stugilmour]

That is what I was thinking as well Colin. One wrinkle would be to get the odometer gear changed to read in kilometers. This is probably not a big deal for a speedo specialist though.

I just use a GPS unit on the windshield with a kph display.

[spridget]

Thanks guys for your replies.
Well, I know It's possible to find some specialists able to modify it.
Honestly it is not really a problem to drive with a MPH odometer, I did it for 10 years with the Frogeye until I have found a KM/H speedo
It's just a game to find the rare part, as I know it exists (it's not my car on the picture!). This game is even more exiting with Lotuses as we all know many parts come from other cars
Are they different on S4?
Franck

[stugilmour]

Thanks guys for your replies.

Are they different on S4?
Franck

Franck, the instrument set on the Elan is a bit different than the Plus 2. The Plus 2 temperature gauge is electric, think the Elan uses a tube and bulb system in a dual gauge with oil pressure. No ammeter / voltmeter in Elan. The Plus 2 speedometer has the low fuel light. I think the fuel gauge resistance ranges are different as well; assume the senders are different with the low fuel contact in the Plus 2 and different fuel tank shape. Not sure about the tach or the lettering / fonts used. I think the Plus 2 gauges changed over the product run as well, later cars with the six minor instruments (clock & outside temperature) have red needles?

For reference, here is a photo link the the Km/h speedo in the S4 Elan that was for sale on BaT. The interior is pretty extensively modified so it is possible the speedo was changed out at some point, but the seller speculates it was a Canadian car and therefore metric. I have my doubts that this was stock issue in Canada as we only began metrication in 1970 and fully changed to km / h road signs in about 1977.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ttimmay2/1 ... 7310715725

http://bringatrailer.com/2013/11/11/bat ... s-elan-s4/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ttimmay2/s ... 310715725/

Good luck with your hunt for the unicorn speedometer. I agree the hunt is all part of the fun.

[msd1107]

That is an early (S1-S3) KMH speedometer. The tachometer is a S4 or later one.

David
1968 36/7988

[spridget]

Many thanks for your help.
Stu, do you mean you now use KM/H measures in Canada ?

Franck
still hunting

[saildrive2001]

We have been metric in Canada for many years now.

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

Why not add MPH or Km/H (whichever is missing) to your own speedo.
You can buy different sizes of self adhesive letters/numerals from craft shop or even newsagents.
It's fairly simple to remove the bezel & glass from your speedo.
With all of your surroundings clean & dust free it is fairly simple to "rub-on" just the critical "Speeds" onto the dial of your speedo. e.g in GB 20; 30; 40; 50; 70 MPH.
Do a couple of practice runs on something to get your eye in & then off you go.
Even I managed it on my S4 speedo.

Cheers
John

[Etienne 7]

Hi Franck,

As mentioned above, try to contact speedycable. Even if you don't buy from them, they are very resourceful and will present what they can do for you (modification of old parts, new parts, etc.).

Good luck in your hunt,

Etienne (CLF )

[spridget]

Very good job John =D>
You must be a good modelist

Franck

[spridget]

Hi Franck,

As mentioned above, try to contact speedycable. Even if you don't buy from them, they are very resourceful and will present what they can do for you (modification of old parts, new parts, etc.).

Good luck in your hunt,

Etienne (CLF )

Merci Etienne

Franck

[alan]

is the speedo the same as the Triumph Spitfire which has mph and kph on dial ?