Speedometer noises how to diagnose and repair

1968 Firebird Restoration doing final test drives and getting the worst noise ever from the dash. Speedometer is going crazy. Now to figure out why and how to repair it.
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[@howardrussell6738]

Jon ,You’re definitely a problem solver ! You’ve been a great help with your knowledge on my restoration ! Thank you and keep it going !!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Keep it simple and prove what it isn’t until you figure what it is. That is how I approach diagnosis of just about any problem. Seems to work pretty good

[@firstgenerationgarage2803]

Great fix buddy ...it's the end for the great pumpkin 🎃 but just the beginning of lot's of blessings heading your way you deserve all of it you are a great bird builder/person and a great brother too my so be ready there's more to came take care and may God keep on blessing you

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Yes the pumpkin is done just in time for Halloween!! I do appreciate your friendship as well and I do have some surprises to share soon as well. I feel blessed to have these opportunities to share.

[@chesucat]

I was driving somewhere in my first car, a 1973 Cadillac Sedan Deville and I heard that same noise, scared the bejeesus out me. So I pulled into a service station and the mechanic told me it was the speedometer cable needing to be lubed.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Normally 9/10 yes just the cable needs cleaned and lubed but this one wanted to put up a fight

[@srenmrkandersen4580]

Impressed with your knowledge and skill with these old cars! Great to have as a reference later if mine decides to scream at me!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Hopefully yours never does. But if so it’s an easy fix.

[@user-fk5dl6cs3q]

I had that same noise in a 70 El Camino years ago. Turned out the bushing in the speedo was loose and squealed. But your ideas for finding the real problem is brilliant!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

I was hopeful the issues weren’t the bushings on mine. Taking it apart seems very destructive unfortunately. So far I have put 20 more miles and no issues yet.

[@russclewley6945]

Awesome car! The person who is getting the car is going to love it.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

I bet he will too. If not I will just have it keep it. That would be fine with me.

[@hollandbuzzard1039]

Instead of another test drive after lubricating it, I have used a drill to spin cable and all. If I remember correctly, it spins counter-clockwise. But that was a long time ago, so memory might be wrong. Great job on getting it diagnosed and working again.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Good idea with the drill. I was heart broken when the Speedo started screaming at me. I really wanted the rally gauges to work on this car. Glad it was an easy fix

[@GoGoGarage]

Good find, process of elimination usual prevails. Thanks for sharing.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Thanks man. This was the first time in all my years playing cars I experienced this problem.

[@JK_Nex_Garage]

Have enjoyed the whole journey. I’ve learned so much over the great pumpkin project. You are a wealth of knowledge. The car is awesome. Can’t wait for the next one. 👍

[@VinylVillageGarage]

It’s been fun and glad to see it back together and on the road. Happy to share its journey.

[@andersonrowland]

Looking forward to the next project - series. Thanks for the great videos!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Wow thanks! I have enjoyed sharing the resurrection of the pumpkin. Very happy with the results. Very excited for the next one too.

[@patrickjohnson600]

Hi Jon.. from Toronto Canada . That car looks awesome..good work my friend . I’m the one awhile ago about my aunt & uncle that both had 68 firebirds..luvd your boardcast.. keep it up guy!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Hello Firebird brother from up North. One Of my next projects will be another 68 bird but it’s a convertible. My dad just bought it, fell in love with the birds after seeing the pumpkin all done. So I get to save another one and I bonus I don’t have to pay for it. 😁

[@theeverythingchannel1099]

God bless your soul

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Wow thanks 🙏

[@aarvolaredonjunior1032]

A good oil to use is synthetic outdoor bicycle oil the color is green comes in 8 or 10oz eye dropper bottle good shit.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Right on thanks

[@drewpackard6646]

Very nice job John! Keep up the good work sir! 👍🏽

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Thanks! I have a few projects lined up and the next will be a good one

[@patrickjohnson600]

Hi Jon.. from Toronto.. sounds Great!.. can’t wait to see this.. keep up the Great Vids.. LUV IT!!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Thanks buddy.

[@Kyle_Nelson]

Looks like the pumpkin will be ready by Halloween 🎃 😜

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Yup and happy to see it rise from the dead.

[@justindennis1186]

Awesome job on this build, car looks great. Can’t wait to see the next project.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Thanks. It will be another bird but I have a feeling a gto will be on the list soon

[@justindennis1186]

@@VinylVillageGarage Ha. That would be a cool build for the channel for sure!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

I think so too.

[@randyrhine9896]

Thanks for the video! 🎉

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Welcome, glad it was an east fix

[@woodrowdelozier1]

Good job sir 💪😎

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Appreciate that. The noise was awful and had to go

[@user-nk4eb1fr1w]

Ooooooh. Can't wait for next videos

[@VinylVillageGarage]

I have plenty more to come, maybe even one that isn’t a bird….

[@davidbisnette7673]

Great video, well done on the fix , good save on the speedo

[@VinylVillageGarage]

I had to save the rally cluster. Worth the time to get it repaired

[@davidbisnette7673]

@@VinylVillageGarage Great looking car and a great job on it

[@donley8416]

Great job look show room

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Wow thank you. Northing was left untouched, i really wanted to restore this car to the highest level I could do.

[@burntclutches]

That was loud and would have scared me to death 😮 Especially after just putting it back together!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

I am not going to say that a little pee might have came out the first time it happened 🙄

[@darrellsaunders4267]

I had strange noise on my 68 400 back in 1971....a bolt came out of the torque converter and was flopping around!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Bet That was a fun one to figure out.

[@leegreen2163]

My speedometer "jumps" about 5 mph, probably the same problem. I've never dropped my column, will this be an easy fix? I have a BASIC knowledge of tools, lol! Thanks SO much for ALL the pumpkin videos! Looking forward to seeing the next project!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Could be the same issue the old grease gums up overtime and causes drag.

[@1NationMediaUS]

My F150 does something like that although mine isn’t quite as loud.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

This one is loudest I have ever heard

[@Kyle_Nelson]

I have a few 68 clusters and I know exactly what you meant by the difference in resistance between the 2. Good to know how to fix the sticky ones tho!

[@VinylVillageGarage]

It seems to work great. Last thing I wanted to do was try to pull that needle off without damage.

[@johnsupko6615]

Did the orange pumpkin originally have the wheel opening moldings? I think it’s a nice detail with the rocker moldings

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Sure did. I opted not to put them back on. After overhaul all the sheet metal I just couldn’t bring myself to drill holes in the body. Plus without them shows the metal work is contoured like factory and not hiding anything behind the trim

[@pontiacontap]

Pretty common to get these things gummed up based on the age. Mine wasn't as bad as yours, but it did need some cleanup and lubrication when I redid the interior a couple years ago.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

It is 50 plus years old so i suppose a cleaning and some new oil was due. I never had one scream like that.

[@pontiacontap]

@@VinylVillageGarage Yeah mine never made any noise. It bounced a bit around 10-20mph. I did have a 97 Tacoma years back with a bazillion miles on it that would scream like that when the temps were below freezing.

[@archangelshiro]

Ah, theres yer problem right dere- you had an Elephant behind yer daeeesh. Eesy fix riegh dere.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

That makes more sense for sure.

[@user-cb6cn5ky4w]

Change your cable see if it's tight on

[@VinylVillageGarage]

I really thought it was going to be a damaged or kinked cable too. To my surprise it wasn’t

[@brian2359]

So my Speedo bounces as the weather gets cooler. It’s the cable, but I just deal with it.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Must be the grease is getting thicker and sticky when cold. A slightly bouncy needle doesn’t bother me too much. When they get noisy no thanks

[@JustinTurner90]

Do you have any videos on your window installation on your cars wondering if your using urethane or byutle and your process on it

[@VinylVillageGarage]

The front and rear glass on this car I used the butyl rubber. That was factory and I find it easier to keep it looking clean. Now the urethane is a better sealer and lasts longer and I have used it on these old birds in the past but I just can’t keep the install looking as clean. I haven’t mastered using the caulk gun with urethane it’s just so messy.

[@JustinTurner90]

@VinylVillageGarage ok are you using setting blocks to keep the glass height in check so it doesn't sink?

[@dougreno1151]

My 65 did that and popped the needle off.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

That’s not good at all. I do know it scared me the first time It did this. I had no idea what it was.

[@belladane9182]

My 68 bird’s speedometer jumps and is about 10 or so mph too fast. Probably due to the fat muscle car rear tires I have on it. Anyway can it be fixed to show the correct speed? Thanks.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Yes there is different speedometer drive gears available. They have different number of teeth to change the ratio. They are also identified by different colors. Online there is calculators to help determine what gear you need. Things you need to know is rear gear ratio, Tire size, and what transmission you have then you can find the one you need. You will need one with more teeth to slow the reading down.

[@belladane9182]

Thanks for the info.

[@MrYz250fman]

This is off the topic of the video but im neeeing some info from a pontiac pro. I have the original 350 from my 68 firebird. Im considering selling it because its just in my way and needs to be used but I dont know what to price it. The motor was rebuilt in the late 80's by a very reputable machine shop here in Missouri. Its hardly been ran at all since then. The heads look brand new under the valve cover. Clean bare metal so im guessing the heads were redone as well. Probably had hardened valve seats installed and what not. What should I price this thing at? All original with original 2bbl. Fairly clean. Was repainted after rebuild then sat in the car until now.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

Good question, my dad just bought a 68 350 that was from a Firebird for his car it was complete minus carb. Even got the accessory drive. All for $250. Now it still should be rebuilt, I bet it would still run if he didn’t. Being that yours has been recently gone thru will help say it’s worth more but there isn’t much Market for the 350. I bought one completely rebuilt with new pistons and .030 over bore for $400 a few years back and I have a friend with a 72 350 all new parts and hasn’t even been ran yet for sale for $600. Few people calling but no cash yet. I would like to say you should get $1,200-1,500 and you might, just really depends on who buys it and when. That’s the Indiana market might be better where you are located at. In all seriousness the machine work, parts and labor an engine should really be worth more then $1,500 my suggestion is see what they are selling for in your area and list it for sale around that price and see what happens.

[@MrYz250fman]

@@VinylVillageGarage thanks for the reply. Youve been a big help with the videos and replying to my comments.

[@VinylVillageGarage]

@@MrYz250fman hey anytime. Thanks for watching.