My speedometer finally works!

[RickB]

Today I received a right angle drive and speedo cable from Will at Rivergate.

I put it in the car but the end of the cable was too big for the speedometer in my 78 Midget.
I squished it a bit with a pair of vice grips and got it to go in then put the speedometer back in the dash and did a quick test drive.

For the first time since I've owned this car it has a working speedometer that is not on my GPS or my little bicycle speedo.
All my dash gauges work and all electrical circuits except one are working correctly.

Now if I could figure out how to get the gauge lights to turn on when I turn on the parking lights...

I'm celebrating with a nice glass of Chivas Royal Salute.
The nicest 21 year old I know...

 

[Pythias]

how in the heck did you put in the drive without pulling the "power unit". I've put cables into the angle drive after the everything else is in and it's a real PITA. Is taking off the drive an easier way to go?

 

[Trevor Jessie]

I've done it several times. It helps to have freakishly small hands. :wink:

 

[RickB]

My hands are not small, when buying gloves I have to look for XXL.
No, there is a hole back there under where the drive goes.
I think it may be that way on all later cars?
It's just not every day you hear of someone putting a 5 speed in a 78 Midget I guess.

 

[RichBall]

Bill,

The Rubber bumper cars all have a good sized opening in the bottom of the tunnel right behind the cross member the transmission mount bolts to. This is for access to the driveshaft/transmission coupling flange. Unlike the older cars the 1500 driveshaft is connected by flanges that are bolted together. Thus the access hole.

 

[Pythias]

I do have small hands. I can actually get both of them down in there to to the job, but to try to turn the thing and pull... Well, here's the method I've devised... I put a big Ty-Wrap on the around the cable near the end. That way I can hold it up AND pull it onto the angle drive with one hand while I turn the cable end with the other hand to align the tang with the slot... Instead of an hour ordeal with hope and prayer, I think it takes less than 15 minutes now... .

 

[RickB]

Bill, as with anything practice and persistence leads to perfection!

 

[vagt6]

I have a '74 Midget with a Datsun gearbox, same speedo problemos. It's about 20-odd percent below actual speed, and the speedo wobbles at lower speeds.

I've looked and there isn't any way I can get to the angle drive without pulling the @#$%! engine.

It's not a Rivergate conversion, but I understand the Rivergate angle drive will cure the speedo problem.

Anyone: can this be done without major surgery to the gearbox/engine?