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Speedo angle drive

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SwamperCa

SwamperCa

Senior Member
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I've been told you don't really need the angle drive at the trans when you have the OD unit. Mine currently doesn't have one, do I need it or not. I do have the OD.
 
Hi ,IMOP the only way to get the speedo cable angled towards the front of the car easily is to use the angle drive. It does not matter whether there is an OVD or not.--Fwiw---Keoke
 
Keoke said:
Hi ,IMOP the only way to get the speedo cable angled towards the front of the car easily is to use the angle drive. It does not matter whether there is an OVD or not.--Fwiw---Keoke
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I know that there are some cars, (MGBs), out there that don't have the angle drives on them and they seem to work fine. But, I agree with Keoke, that it makes it easer and a nicer looking job to use an angle drive. One thing more, the spedo cable is longer on an OD car than a non OD car, in the later models. Don't know about the early OD cars. I forgot the measurements, but I think by about 4 to 6 inches. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
 
Speedo cable for the OD transmission is longer - because it enters the transmission farther to the rear of the car...I've seen them with & without the angle drive but I prefer with.
 
But if the angle drive is bad, can you hook it up without one to make sure that is the problem...just temporarily of course?

I speedometer just stopped running and I am gonna look at it as soon as I can, but this might be a way to find out what the problem is.

Bruce
 
Sure - just screw it into the trans.
 
tony barnhill said:
Sure - just screw it into the trans.
Click to expand...

Tony, if memory serves, the spigot comes out pointed at the side of the tunnel and installing a cable straight in would put enough of a tight bend that I'd fear for the long term reliability that way. What is your feeling - have you seen them run that way for high mileages?

The reason this subject is of particular interest to me is that the replacement angle drive I installed in my wife's MGC has just let go again. Had to wait until I drove it to find out - apparently she-who-must-be-obeyed does not watch that particular gauge.....

How has the quality of new angle drives been? (I hate using new parts instead of NOS - there seems to be such a high 'crap' factor on the repro stuff)
 
I use angle drives on all my early cars but my '79 came from the factory with OD & no angle drive.
 
I ran without an angle drive for about 15K until I sold the car, with no problem, although I used the longer cable to allow gentler bends. Bob
 
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