Can you put a 130 or 150mph speedo in an '81 cluster?

[slayer021175666]

I have an '81 sport coupe with the 85mph speedometer. Can I swap it for an older speedo? I'd like to have a 130mph and I'd love to have a 150! Thanks guys.

 

[MotionClone]

The 81 gauge bucket is different where the speedo mounts so you would have to alter your bucket to accept the 130 or 150 gauge

 

[Twisted_Metal]

^+1

The 81 cluster housing has different mounting points for the speedometer due to the Speed Sensor.

 

[slayer021175666]

Ok. Is there anything I can do to get a better speedometer into the original cluster.

 

[slayer021175666]

Has anyone ever adapted one to an '81?

 

[Zspoiler]

Have you tried a 1979 Camaro Z-28 it came with a 130 mph speedo.

 

[badazz81z28]

You can just swap the entire cluster. That's what I did. I did not know the mounting points were different. Interesting.

 

[Bandit723]

Looked at trying to find a good speedo head for a 79 Camaro. just not available in the aftermarket world and iffy on the used market. this site does have a sponsor that does rebuild gauges. But I went with the Dakota Digital offering. Still am able to use my original bezel but get the latest in electronics. I had other reasons to do so but am happy with the choice. If you can swing the price tag may be worth it.

 

[slayer021175666]

Is it just the speedo mounting that is different on the 81 or do the rest of the gauges mount differently, too? I ask because last summer I modified all of the gauge cover plates on the back of the cluster to retrofit my own gauges. It only had dummy lights before and no way in hell I could run like that! If all other gauges are the same, I could just swap my modified plates into an older cluster with a better speedo. Ya?