MG Sports Cars

Hello all. I am currently about to rebuild the transmission for my V8 project. It's a Ford WC T5 from an '88 Mustang. My transmission did NOT come with any kind of speedometer hookup, just a hole you can look down inside and see an output gear. Since I intend to install aftermarket gauges, I would prefer to have an electronic speedometer for ease of adjustability if I decide later to change gear ratios or got with different sized wheels. Question: What do I need to make my transmission output an electronic signal? I've read about some cars that came with them from the factory, but which ones? Can I buy a part off the shelf that will work for me? My searches for VSS's (vehicle speed sensors) for the T5 have got me nowhere. Somebody here must know what I'm after. Please help!!

Thanks so much

Scott

P.S. Great website!

HI Scott,
All the guage companies sell adapter kits to change from mechanical to electronic speedometers. I suggest a programable speedometer, they are much easier to get the speed correct.
The senders look like this:

[http://www.vehiclecontrols.com/shopping/shop650/shopdisplayproducts.asp?page=52#]

340-013 VDO Sender, for Ford Electronic, Programmable Speedometers, plug-in, Standard Hall Effect with 16 Pulse, 7/8 - 18 NPT

340-014 VDO Sender, for Ford Electronic, Programmable Speedometers, plug-in, Through Drive (for Cruise Control), Hall Effect with 16 Pulse, 7/8 - 18 NPT

Here's a Mustang VSS example from ebay.........it looks to be for a T5 but could be for auto trans)
[cgi.ebay.com]

John and Graham have good sugestions, and another source is EZ Wiring. We get Pulse Generators from them for our T-Buckets. I think we pay about $50.00 for them but with todays economy it could be a little more.

I use a VDO signal generator to feed the VDO programable speedo in my GT. Easy and accurate.

I used a factory unit just check at parts store maybe a 90 mustang seemed like it was $30 or so.. Ford had some that had both the electronic and the cable in one unit but the all electronic one is cheaper and what you are looking for

Thanks for the replies. I'm still a little confused. Here's two examples for ebay for instance:

[cgi.ebay.com]

[cgi.ebay.com]

The first part, removed from an '89 Mustang, has what I would likely expect...some kind of gear on the end. The other part doesn't have one, yet they claim to both fit the same application. Obviously one of them is incorrect. Are you supposed to install your old gear onto the new part? I DON'T HAVE AN OLD PART!! I don't know what it is supposed to look like. More importantly, I am going to be tearing the transmission down for a complete rebuild in a few days. If I reassemble it only to discover I have to change to speedo drive gear to "something else" (Like a toothed gear for hall effect) I'll wish I would have done it while it was apart. Also, FWIW I don't like dealing with the typical parts guy down at Autozone. I would MUCH rather find what I need online, and shop the way I think shopping should be done- from my house!

Thanks so much

Scott

Scott, you will need the gear that goes inside the trans. This gear will have an adpater for a cable (square drive) the Generator with the correct pulses will connect to the gear in the trans via a square drive and screws into the trans.
Some Pulse generators have a gear build in on them, it all depends on which one you purchase.
Some factory pulse generators will not work with aftermarket speedo's due to the different pulses that the generator puts out.

The EZ wiring and others have 3 wires, black, white and red. red is a 12v, black is a ground (it must be a good ground) and white feeds the speedo, this wire soimetimes is orange or brown.

There are some 2 wire generators, but this have been replace by the newer type which has 3 wires.

The main thing is to have a good ground for the pulse generator.

Bill is absolutely correct about the ground. I have a 700R4 in my T-Bucket and use the Chevy pulse generator. No matter what I do, which has included replacing both the speedometer and the generator helps. It reads about 20mph setting in park at idle and 140mph when I give it any gas at all, still in park. EZ-Wiring keeps telling me it's the ground, which I've been over numerous times, and that the Chevy 2 wire generator will work. Now I'll admit, most of us Bucket drivers could care less how fast we're going, but I want my 302 powered BGT to be a little more refined and I'm about in the same position with my build. I keep getting told one wire from the generator goes to a really good ground and the other wire goes to the speedometer. They also keep telling me it doesn’t matter which wire goes where. I suspect this is the problem, but what do I know! Keep us posted on how you're doing with this because you're not rowing this boat by yourself.

I have a WC T-5 from a camero with electronic sensor for speed. Does this work well with aftermarket speedos? Could this have been the right way to start? By mistake of course.