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kiwighia68 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2013 Posts: 2867 Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2018 2:50 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia speedometer (KPH or MPH) |
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The KPH speedo is more of an I WANT than I NEED item. I had to learn the imperial to metric conversions as a schoolboy when South Africa went metric in 1961, so the conversions while driving come to me automatically (driven into me by my teacher's cane).
My car is far from stock and KPH speedo would be just another deviation - but nice to have, eh?
Swavananda and KGCoupe are right. Maybe a printed decal or some Letraset numbers on the glass. _________________ Festina lente - hasten slowly
1968 Ghia named Emiko
Resto completed Dec 2015 |
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sputnick60 Samba Moderator
Joined: July 22, 2007 Posts: 3907 Location: In Molinya Orbit
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2018 7:31 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia speedometer (KPH or MPH) |
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I think the decal method is most likely to succeed. Another thought. VDO is unlikely to have made the internal mechanisms bespoke for every speedo. There is a good chance a mechanism with an identical fit to yours can be found inside earlier or later speedometer models. Perhaps so across different VW models. I would suggest searching for a metric speedo that can be dismantled to get the metric odometer etc and transplant it into the case designed for your model year. The decals on the face would be the finishing touch.
Nicholas _________________ '66 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet...
'65 Porsche 356C Coupe...
2005 Mecedes Benz C180 Kompressor Estate
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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kiwighia68 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2013 Posts: 2867 Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2018 7:47 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia speedometer (KPH or MPH) |
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sputnick60 wrote: |
I think the decal method is most likely to succeed. Another thought. VDO is unlikely to have made the internal mechanisms bespoke for every speedo. There is a good chance a mechanism with an identical fit to yours can be found inside earlier or later speedometer models. Perhaps so across different VW models. I would suggest searching for a metric speedo that can be dismantled to get the metric odometer etc and transplant it into the case designed for your model year. The decals on the face would be the finishing touch.
Nicholas |
You make a good point. As it happens, I have a '72 KPH speedo from a kombi, I think, and I was thinking of using its dial for the decal by copying it onto a transparency. I hadn't thought of transferring the odometer gears and will take a look. _________________ Festina lente - hasten slowly
1968 Ghia named Emiko
Resto completed Dec 2015 |
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ELFRIED Samba Member
Joined: August 09, 2017 Posts: 410 Location: belgium
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2018 10:26 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia speedometer (KPH or MPH) |
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here are some european second hand sides
2e hands. be ( belgium)
marktplaats.nl (holland)
le bon coin (france)
e bay kleinanzeigen karmann ghia or kafer (deutsland )
it would really surprise me not to find it .... |
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ELFRIED Samba Member
Joined: August 09, 2017 Posts: 410 Location: belgium
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ELFRIED Samba Member
Joined: August 09, 2017 Posts: 410 Location: belgium
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kiwighia68 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2013 Posts: 2867 Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2018 3:11 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia speedometer (KPH or MPH) |
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Hello Elfried, Thanks for the links. I was offered one of those speedos here in New Zealand on Sunday, but it doesn't fit a '68 Ghia. I think it would fit a pre-1967 Ghia (and of course, Beetles).
The differences between those speedos and the ones from 1967 onwards for Ghias are not only the size and the way they attach to the inside of the dash panel. The lights and light fittings differ and they have a fuel guage in the dial. I think also they were for 6V cars.
But thank you very much for looking. _________________ Festina lente - hasten slowly
1968 Ghia named Emiko
Resto completed Dec 2015 |
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kiwighia68 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2013 Posts: 2867 Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2018 7:08 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia speedometer (KPH or MPH) |
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I've taken my Ghia's speedo apart in order to find the reason why the needle doesn't return to zero (at the 20 mph mark) when I slow down or stop the car - until I disconnect the cable. These are the parts:
The fitting at the back of the speedo where the cable attaches looks like this:
There is about .5 of a millimetre play - in and out - in the last part where the screw driver points in the photo above. Here is the part in close-up:
Here's what I found: When I pull on the part - where the screwdriver points - the needle returns to zero. When I push on it, the needle stays stuck at the speed last reached before I slow down.
It seems to me that there must be a washer or bushing inside the speedo mechanism that is worn, hence the 0.5mm play, and hence the problem
Reconditioning the speedo will cost me as much as buying a new one. I hope this explains to those following this thread why I'm looking for a new speedo, preferably a KPH one. 48 hours from now I'm going to give up and buy an MPH one. I have one lined up and waiting.
By the way: My Ghia Owner's Manual was printed in August 1967, which I understand to be the first month of the 1968 model, and it shows just one light at the top, a blue light for high beam. I think the one thing we have all learned in one way or another is that our quirky cars are all unique, each in its own way. Which may be a good thing, but at times very frustrating. _________________ Festina lente - hasten slowly
1968 Ghia named Emiko
Resto completed Dec 2015 |
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swavananda Samba Member
Joined: February 14, 2009 Posts: 889 Location: Can o' Scruz
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2018 8:08 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia speedometer (KPH or MPH) |
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I am thinking that , That the red worm gear and drive are what is calibrated to read out the odometer . If you swamped them out from a salvaged Kph gear set , you would, in theory, now have a Kph speedometer/odometer . Plus those gears could be easily 3D printed by somebody who is motivated to do so ......... And with printed Kph stickers for the face, Hmmm......... Looking for a new hobby ? |
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Joostt Samba Member
Joined: June 04, 2016 Posts: 73 Location: Noordwijk, Netherlands
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2018 11:37 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia speedometer (KPH or MPH) |
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I have searched all second hand websites and shops here in Holland. No ghia speedometer from 68 or later...
A substantial part of the Ghia's that drive around here are imported from the USA. So the KPH speedometers that are for sale are quickly sold, because enough owners would prefer them above their original MPH speedometers.
I guess there would be some business in printing KPH speedometer decals
Edit:
After a short search I've learned that you can have it printed and laser cut for under $10. You would need a high quality digital image of the KPH speedometer front. Not sure how to do this. But seems to be a good option. |
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kiwighia68 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2013 Posts: 2867 Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2018 12:14 am Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia speedometer (KPH or MPH) |
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Swavananda, If my speedo wasn't defective I might have done what you suggest although I would have had to find the appropriate kilometer odometer part first.
Joost, Thanks for looking. I think everyone can see now how difficult it is to find a '67-71 Ghia speedo for KPH. _________________ Festina lente - hasten slowly
1968 Ghia named Emiko
Resto completed Dec 2015 |
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udo dreisoerner Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2005 Posts: 1153 Location: Germany
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 12:50 am Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia speedometer (KPH or MPH) |
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kiwighia68 wrote: |
Swavananda, If my speedo wasn't defective I might have done what you suggest although I would have had to find the appropriate kilometer odometer part first.
Joost, Thanks for looking. I think everyone can see now how difficult it is to find a '67-71 Ghia speedo for KPH. |
PERHAPS I HAVE ONE.............
please give me your emailadress, i hope to get some pics this day and you can say if you want it or not. the speedo is expensive but RARE item you know
regards, udo _________________ Searching for a 1956 lowlight karmann ghia with a VIN number between1273054 and 1273440, and the matching engine with an Engine Number between
1525510 and 1525519 PLEASE OFFER ME ONLY THE CARS THAT I'M LOOKING FOR, THANKS!! |
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kiwighia68 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2013 Posts: 2867 Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 12:58 am Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia speedometer (KPH or MPH) |
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udo dreisoerner wrote: |
kiwighia68 wrote: |
Swavananda, If my speedo wasn't defective I might have done what you suggest although I would have had to find the appropriate kilometer odometer part first.
Joost, Thanks for looking. I think everyone can see now how difficult it is to find a '67-71 Ghia speedo for KPH. |
PERHAPS I HAVE ONE.............
please give me your emailadress, i hope to get some pics this day and you can say if you want it or not. the speedo is expensive but RARE item you know
regards, udo |
Thanks Udo. I've sent you a pm. _________________ Festina lente - hasten slowly
1968 Ghia named Emiko
Resto completed Dec 2015 |
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udo dreisoerner Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2005 Posts: 1153 Location: Germany
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 1:00 am Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia speedometer (KPH or MPH) |
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you have mail _________________ Searching for a 1956 lowlight karmann ghia with a VIN number between1273054 and 1273440, and the matching engine with an Engine Number between
1525510 and 1525519 PLEASE OFFER ME ONLY THE CARS THAT I'M LOOKING FOR, THANKS!! |
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c21darrel Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2009 Posts: 8206 Location: San Dimas
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kiwighia68 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2013 Posts: 2867 Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 12:14 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia speedometer (KPH or MPH) |
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c21darrel wrote: |
gonna leave us all hanging? :) |
Good news and bad news, Darrel. Yes, Udo has found a KPH speedo (7/67) for me. I'll be negotiating for its purchase this morning (Thursday already here). More good news is that I have a birthday coming this weekend and my wife has offered to buy the speedo for me.
The bad news is that your NOS speedo may have to go to someone else. Watch this space.
Rara avis, as the Romans woud have said.
_________________ Festina lente - hasten slowly
1968 Ghia named Emiko
Resto completed Dec 2015 |
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c21darrel Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2009 Posts: 8206 Location: San Dimas
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TDCTDI Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 12815 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 2:21 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia speedometer (KPH or MPH) |
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kiwighia68 wrote: |
More good news is that I have a birthday coming this weekend and my wife has offered to buy the speedo for me.
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You may need to confirm that she wasn't trying to support your banana hammock purchases. _________________ Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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kiwighia68 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2013 Posts: 2867 Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 4:09 pm Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia speedometer (KPH or MPH) |
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TDCTDI wrote: |
kiwighia68 wrote: |
More good news is that I have a birthday coming this weekend and my wife has offered to buy the speedo for me.
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You may need to confirm that she wasn't trying to support your banana hammock purchases. :twisted: |
They're called budgie smugglers Down Under (no pun intended!). Even the previous Oz prime minister wears them when he does triathlons. Go figure. (Ask Nicholas or Mellow Yellow about Australian men's fashions. I'm just glad I found the KPH speedometer before they did.)
PS You don't need a hammock for perpendicular gear. _________________ Festina lente - hasten slowly
1968 Ghia named Emiko
Resto completed Dec 2015 |
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udo dreisoerner Samba Member
Joined: February 13, 2005 Posts: 1153 Location: Germany
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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 12:08 am Post subject: Re: 1968 Ghia speedometer (KPH or MPH) |
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c21darrel wrote: |
Excellent!!
its dated 7/67 w/ the 4 lights and the id markings? Go figure. Props to Udo! |
that is great stuff, isnt it?
i never belive that a 68 speedo is so hard ti find. very very difficult. the speedo is perfect, WITH Symbols. what a luck to find him... _________________ Searching for a 1956 lowlight karmann ghia with a VIN number between1273054 and 1273440, and the matching engine with an Engine Number between
1525510 and 1525519 PLEASE OFFER ME ONLY THE CARS THAT I'M LOOKING FOR, THANKS!! |
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