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Topic: Ford Motorsport 140mph Speedo in V8 Tbird? (Read 3723 times) previous topic - next topic

Ford Motorsport 140mph Speedo in V8 Tbird?

I got my hands on a 140mph Speedo from a guy that had it installed in his 88 v8 bird
I remember reading about switching out a resistor or something like that to make it work in the 5.0s so what would I have to do to make it work in my turbo coupe

Btw what are these things worth nowadays?
Haven't been able to find one for sale to compare
1987 T-Bird TC: 5-Spd, 5-lug conv., CHE Rear CAs, '04 Cobra wheels and 13" Brakes, Vac Assist conv: '93 Cobra BB/MC & Wilwood PV, Gutted/Knived Intakes, T3 turbo, RFE6 Mani, Stinger 3" Exhaust & Oil Feed, 255HP Walbro, Kirban AFPR, RR Cam, Esslinger Cam gear and Round Tooth Conv., Gillis Boost Valve, Speedway Dual Valve Spring,  K&N, 130a 3g Alt conv., 140mph Speedo
Running Better Than Ever :burnout:

Ford Motorsport 140mph Speedo in V8 Tbird?

Reply #1 –
It's a direct swap. The speedo doesn't need anything. The tach is different. Just install the 140 and call it a day.

Value....depends on what people are willing to pay. I've seen them for less than $50 all the way up to $400. I had seven in one year. I think those days are gone. It's pretty rare now, and getting harder and harder to find.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Ford Motorsport 140mph Speedo in V8 Tbird?

Reply #2 –
Cool thanks
Is it still a straight swap if the whole instrument panel was installed in the v8 bird?
It looks like the whole unit is original to a 85-86 TC since it has the turbo gauge on the tach but no indicator light for the prc suspension on 87-88 TCs
1987 T-Bird TC: 5-Spd, 5-lug conv., CHE Rear CAs, '04 Cobra wheels and 13" Brakes, Vac Assist conv: '93 Cobra BB/MC & Wilwood PV, Gutted/Knived Intakes, T3 turbo, RFE6 Mani, Stinger 3" Exhaust & Oil Feed, 255HP Walbro, Kirban AFPR, RR Cam, Esslinger Cam gear and Round Tooth Conv., Gillis Boost Valve, Speedway Dual Valve Spring,  K&N, 130a 3g Alt conv., 140mph Speedo
Running Better Than Ever :burnout:

Ford Motorsport 140mph Speedo in V8 Tbird?

Reply #3 –
If you've already got the buttstuffog cluster ('88 Sport, some '88 5.0 cars) just open up your cluster and swap in the speedo. Unless you want a non-functioning boos gauge, that is.
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Ford Motorsport 140mph Speedo in V8 Tbird?

Reply #4 –
Fairly straight forward swap, and can be done in an afternoon.  Resetting the odometer to your correct miles (if known), can be done now, too.  This is fairly simple, but requires removing the housing and disassembling the speedometer a bit.  There is a trick to pushing the tabs sideways so you can move the barrels.  I can write more details tonight, if needed.

Be careful with the pinned connectors and printed ribbon wiring as they are quite fragile, especially the primary one entering the cluster. This likes to bunch up and get in the way when re-installing the cluster into the dash.  Also the tubing for the boost gauge can be hard and crack.

Ford Motorsport 140mph Speedo in V8 Tbird?

Reply #5 –
I can swap the speedo in about 10 minutes. Not a big dal. A few screws (and a few on the back of the cluster). Swap the speedo, and call it a day. I have reset the odometers in them a few times. Not a bad job, but, unless you are really sure of what you are doing, leave the odometer alone. You don't want to mess it up, lose the little gears, or anything else. OR, send it to me, I'll set it for you, and then end it back. No joke, I really will. I've had plenty of experience with them. Got one in my Sport.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Ford Motorsport 140mph Speedo in V8 Tbird?

Reply #6 –
I'm embarrassed at what I sold my last fms 140 speedo for. More than I paid for the parts car it came in
41 Dodge Luxury Liner Sedan
78 F-100 2wd flareside
84Turbo Coupe
84 Thunderbird Élan
85 Thunderbird 3.8
88 Turbo Coupe
88 Mustang GT
90 Stang LX 5.0 5spd
93 F-150 4x4 ext cab
96 Mustang GT
98 Mustang GT
99 SVT Cobra
06 Fusion SEL
14 Fusion Sport

Ford Motorsport 140mph Speedo in V8 Tbird?

Reply #7 –
Oh yea I've done a few speedometer swaps and mileage adjustments before on t-birds and Fox mustangs so I'm sure I can handle this one

I was just asking because it was installed in a tbird with a 5.0 which I assume it was calibrated for and I'm putting it back into a turbo coupe which has a 2.3t in it
1987 T-Bird TC: 5-Spd, 5-lug conv., CHE Rear CAs, '04 Cobra wheels and 13" Brakes, Vac Assist conv: '93 Cobra BB/MC & Wilwood PV, Gutted/Knived Intakes, T3 turbo, RFE6 Mani, Stinger 3" Exhaust & Oil Feed, 255HP Walbro, Kirban AFPR, RR Cam, Esslinger Cam gear and Round Tooth Conv., Gillis Boost Valve, Speedway Dual Valve Spring,  K&N, 130a 3g Alt conv., 140mph Speedo
Running Better Than Ever :burnout:

Ford Motorsport 140mph Speedo in V8 Tbird?

Reply #8 –
The speedometer itself could not care any less what engine is in the car. The "adjustment" is done by the driven gear in the transmission, and the speedo drive gear that fastens into the transmission. Get those set up for the size of tires you have, and the speedo will be about as close as one can get in a 25 year old car.

Now if you're swapping the whole cluster itself, depending on the year of the donor and the recipient car, you might have to repin a few wires. Just swapping the speedometer only...it's a direct swap, all plug 'n play.
I've also reset an buttstuffog speedo's odometer..and while tricky, it's nothing difficult if you're careful, take your time, and don't get ham-fisted with the tiny parts.
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)
 

Ford Motorsport 140mph Speedo in V8 Tbird?

Reply #9 –
I swapped my stock odometer over to the 140 unit, easy as pie. Some small screws involved didn't touch the gears.