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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Twisted gauges?! Cool or lame...?
Posted by: ChrisNPDrider Nov 9 2005, 03:26 PM
I recently pushed a sweet lookin, rust-free '72 inot my garage and am slowly taking the engine apart and fixing the broken parts (like getting a remote trunk release and new hinge attachements).
The tach and speedometer are twisted counterclockwise!
With the small Dyno steeringwheel the PO installed, it makes it "easier" to see the needle when it is in the 2'oclock position - with them twisted the needle would then be straight up and visible through the wheel spokes...can't say I've driven with this.
I might get in there for the 904 kit or to fix the odometer...so my question is, IS IT COOL or LAME to have the gauges twisted liek this? Maybe the "racers" out there all do this?
Since I've finally got the motivation for my first thread, one more question: how hard is it to fix the odometer vs. replacing the whole cluster?
Thanks in advance for advice! 
Posted by: jr91472 Nov 9 2005, 03:32 PM
I adjusted the speedo due to my momo steering wheel. That way I can always see the 40-60mph range for driving around town. Lots of radar traps here, so cool or not...it was a necessity.
Posted by: lagunero Nov 9 2005, 03:34 PM
many who have replaced the OG steering wheel with a smaller wheel have turned the Tach, you really want to be able to see at least that gauge. Lame or cool it's only up to you. Replacing the odometer only?
Posted by: Dr. Roger Nov 9 2005, 03:35 PM
twisted...
it's the cool way to go. 
El Cerrito High. My old almamater.
Posted by: Ferg Nov 9 2005, 03:48 PM
| QUOTE (jr91472 @ Nov 9 2005, 01:32 PM) |
| I adjusted the speedo due to my momo steering wheel. That way I can always see the 40-60mph range for driving around town. Lots of radar traps here, so cool or not...it was a necessity. |
Ditto, everyone that goes for a ride tells me it's crooked though
Ferg
Posted by: ChrisNPDrider Nov 9 2005, 04:30 PM
Swweeet - I actually thought it was pretty cool too.
I hope to see all the East Bay 914ers on the road in 2006!
If anybody out there has or will have a nice 1.7- 2.0 FI engine I am looking to buy one after X-mas when I have $$$ again...but another thread will start for that request when I'm ready!
Any help or advice out there for odometer replacement?
Posted by: 0396 Nov 9 2005, 04:50 PM
| QUOTE (Ferg @ Nov 9 2005, 01:48 PM) | ||
Ditto, everyone that goes for a ride tells me it's crooked though Ferg |
Who cares. Are they driving it or you?
Or do you have to get compliments to feel good about driving your 914?
Posted by: motorhead Nov 9 2005, 06:14 PM
had min twisted for a long time, just the tach. It's nice to be able to glance and see the needle around the noon position without thinking.
Posted by: Ferg Nov 9 2005, 06:22 PM
| QUOTE (0396 @ Nov 9 2005, 02:50 PM) | ||||
Who cares. Are they driving it or you? Or do you have to get compliments to feel good about driving your 914? |
Posted by: Aaron Cox Nov 9 2005, 06:31 PM
i could drive my car with just an Oil pressure idiot light.
i never glance at the tach.... purely by sound. i know what 6k sounds like 
then i shift
Posted by: jgara962 Nov 9 2005, 06:32 PM
I twisted my tach so redline is in the 12 o'clock position. I think it looks cool, but what do I know, I've got giant white number circles on the doors and hood.
Posted by: fiid Nov 9 2005, 07:23 PM
My speedo is twisted. I need to be able to see the ranges that matter to law enforcement. People comment on it a lot. It's purely a practical thing IMHO. It does sort of look racer, but most people don't know what racer looks like.
I'm working on relocating my fuel guage to the center console and just having 2 4.5" guages up front which I will hopefully be able to spy through the smaller MOMO wheel. I'll move all the warning lights to the area visable outside the wheel. This is actully similar to the setup on the Miata and Elise, so I'm guessing it will work ok.
Posted by: Elliot Cannon Nov 10 2005, 01:48 AM
If you twist the speedo too much, it puts a bad kink in the cable and it will break after time.
Elliot
Posted by: McMark Nov 10 2005, 03:05 AM
I'm an orderly type person, so the twisted gauges have never sat well with me. I can recognize the practical aspect though and will probably twist my gauges once I get a smaller wheel. In my dream car I'll probably have North Hollywood Speedo redo the faces to the guages will be twisted, but the numbers will still be right side up. 
I know I'm crazy.
Posted by: jr91472 Nov 10 2005, 08:18 AM
| QUOTE (Elliot Cannon @ Nov 9 2005, 11:48 PM) |
| If you twist the speedo too much, it puts a bad kink in the cable and it will break after time. Elliot |
I chased a "rubbing / grinding" noise for months before I finally figured out that I had a small kink in the speedo cable behind the dash.......
Posted by: MW 914 Nov 10 2005, 08:53 AM
| QUOTE (Ferg @ Nov 9 2005, 01:48 PM) | ||
Ditto, everyone that goes for a ride tells me it's crooked though Ferg |
I was gonna say something when you took me for a ride....but then I just figured that the crooked gauge sorta fit in with the rest of the car. The whole thing is sorta half-assed.
Posted by: tat2dphreak Nov 10 2005, 09:49 AM
| QUOTE (jgara962 @ Nov 9 2005, 07:32 PM) |
| I twisted my tach so redline is in the 12 o'clock position. I think it looks cool, but what do I know, I've got giant white number circles on the doors and hood. |
ditto... clear view of redline
Posted by: msglaigaie Nov 10 2005, 01:12 PM
| QUOTE |
| If you twist the speedo too much, it puts a bad kink in the cable and it will break after time. Elliot |
I just scored a Momo prototipo for twenty US bucks to put in the batmobile. Its just like the one in my dream car, the 917. Installing the wheel and twisting the gauges was next on my list, but now you have me concerned Elliot. How much is "too much" ??. MSG L
Posted by: JmuRiz Nov 10 2005, 02:52 PM
| QUOTE (msglaigaie @ Nov 10 2005, 11:12 AM) | ||
I just scored a Momo prototipo for twenty US bucks to put in the batmobile. Its just like the one in my dream car, the 917. Installing the wheel and twisting the gauges was next on my list, but now you have me concerned Elliot. How much is "too much" ??. MSG L |
How much is too much...I never thought about the speedo-cable wear.
Posted by: Rleog Nov 10 2005, 06:45 PM
I seem to remember that the works 914 -6 Le Mans cars had their tachs with redline at 12 o'clock.
Posted by: jgara962 Nov 10 2005, 06:48 PM
Most race cars do. Not only is it easier to see with a small steering wheel, but your not trying to read a number in the heat of battle. The needle goes completely verticle - you shift.
Posted by: Rand Nov 10 2005, 07:11 PM
The speedo cable is long enough that a little twist shouldn't be a problem if it were spread far enough along the cable.... is there a clamp that could be loosened to let the cable housing rotate a little so the twist isn't forced to a short section of cable housing at the speedometer end?
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