# Speedometer Swap Question **URL:** \ **Category:** SON240sx Automotive\ **Created:** [February 2, 2005, 8:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/speedometer-swap-question/83388 "2005-02-02T20:13:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DarkForceJackal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@DarkForceJackal](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/DarkForceJackal)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 8:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/speedometer-swap-question/83388/1 "2005-02-02T20:13:28Z")
Can the speedometer from this gauge cluster be directly swapped to our S13(b)'s? Would they be pre-calibrated and hence plug & play? It would certainly seem so! I believe it is from a 180sx. I would appreciate if someone could indefinitely clear this up for me…here is the cluster I would be removing the speedo from: ![http://www.son240sx.ca/cpgallery/albums/userpics/10673/normal_240cluster3.JPG](http://www.son240sx.ca/cpgallery/albums/userpics/10673/normal_240cluster3.JPG) Cheers! ---
**Author:** ![Sasha\_SG](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/sasha_sg/32/5477_2.png) [@Sasha\_SG](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Sasha_SG)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 8:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/speedometer-swap-question/83388/2 "2005-02-02T20:28:21Z")
if it worked in Japan it will work here. for example, if that is just a 240km/h face that some silly japanese gino put on that was never calibrated then 240 will equal 180, but most likely it is calibrated and is an entirely new speedo from nismo? or another company, and then yes it would fit right into any S13 and work. ---
**Author:** ![DarkForceJackal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@DarkForceJackal](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/DarkForceJackal)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 10:56pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/speedometer-swap-question/83388/3 "2005-02-02T22:56:52Z")
This is what i’ve been debating, I think it should be okay. I think it’s a stock speedo, not sure. Are there a lot of Japanese gino’s do you think I should be worried about maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Axlerod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8edcca/32.png) [@Axlerod](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Axlerod)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2005, 11:46pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/speedometer-swap-question/83388/4 "2005-02-02T23:46:29Z")
> [@DarkForceJackal](#): > > This is what i’ve been debating, I think it should be okay. > > I think it’s a stock speedo, not sure. > > Are there a lot of Japanese gino’s do you think I should be worried about maybe? If you think it’s a stock speedo then it wont be ok. Stock speedos only go to 180km/h on any JDM Nissan (afaik, but sure about the S13 and R32), and therefore it would only be a new face they put on. I find that unlikely… it’s probably a 240km/h speedo. ---
**Author:** ![DarkForceJackal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@DarkForceJackal](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/DarkForceJackal)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/speedometer-swap-question/83388/5 "2005-02-03T03:06:50Z")
Wow, look! Everyone on the highway is doing 160+km/h! Ever since I got this new speedo o’ mine…funny how that works! Can you guys believe the Nismo 260 km/h speedo is apparently around $400 U.S.? Ooyyy. But man, it’s nice. ![http://www.rpmgarage.com/ebayshop/S13_Nismocluster/P1010017.JPG](http://www.rpmgarage.com/ebayshop/S13_Nismocluster/P1010017.JPG) EDIT: Also BTW, can my odometer stay, I assume? I like my mileage where it is! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![spd-dmn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/spd-dmn/32/5513_2.png) [@spd-dmn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/spd-dmn)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 6:46am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/speedometer-swap-question/83388/6 "2005-02-03T06:46:04Z")
Where’d you find that 240km/h one? ---
**Author:** ![mr200](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mr200/32/5495_2.png) [@mr200](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/mr200)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 8:16am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/speedometer-swap-question/83388/7 "2005-02-03T08:16:49Z")
I thought there were 240km/h JDM ones? It’s a 150mph speedo … I thought they were common. My S12 has a 240 km/h speedo (USDM). All the turbo cars came with them, the non turbos were 180. “calibrated” that’s funny. I don’t think there’s a single factory speedo that’s even remotely accurate after 130-140km/h. The S13s are electronic speedos aren’t they? Speed is a function of fixed numbers, so it’s likely it will work fine. Just like a 180km/h speedo can go off the charts, unless there is a pin to stop the needle. That begs the question … does it really matter? As long as it’s accurate up to 100km/h, any faster than that, the only accurate thing that will matter is a radar gun 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sasha\_SG](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/sasha_sg/32/5477_2.png) [@Sasha\_SG](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Sasha_SG)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 9:38am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/speedometer-swap-question/83388/8 "2005-02-03T09:38:28Z")
in japan almost all cars came with 180km/h speedo. But i wouldn’t be suprised if that was a european or australian speedo. I woldnt be too woried about japanese ginos, that should be calibrated (by calibrated i mean that 100km/h will be about 100km/h on the speedo) my RSM told me that 100km/h was just about right, below that you are actually going faster than the speedo says (by about 2-3km/h) and the higher above 100km/h you go the more the speedo excadurates (spelling). 160 on the speedo is actually around 150, and the reason most people think they are hitting speed cut at 190+ is because the speedo says so, really its 180. Sad, but true. ---
**Author:** ![mr200](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mr200/32/5495_2.png) [@mr200](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/mr200)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 10:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/speedometer-swap-question/83388/9 "2005-02-03T10:02:57Z")
ALL speedos are calibrated to read higher than you’re going under 100km/h. That way you can’t claim in court “my speedo said 100” when the cops radar gun says 110. But different sized wheels, tires, and rear gear will throw it off. I could have sworn I’d seen the 240km/h speedos before. Maybe in the Fairlady? ---
**Author:** ![DarkForceJackal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@DarkForceJackal](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/DarkForceJackal)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/speedometer-swap-question/83388/10 "2005-02-03T14:49:36Z")
They’re both on eBay, spd-dmn. Hmm…radar…not good. I rarely speed at all, it’s just that when I do, it’s isolated, careful, and usually pushed pretty hard. Call it part of my turbo project, and yes, i’ll admit it’s a frill alright! 😉 That’s ghetto, the whole exaggerated speed thing, what a conspiracy. SO, anyone getting the Nismo? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SHIFT\_KA24DET](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9bd4f/32.png) [@SHIFT\_KA24DET](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SHIFT_KA24DET)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/speedometer-swap-question/83388/11 "2005-02-03T18:33:25Z")
> [@mr200](#): > > ALL speedos are calibrated to read higher than you’re going under 100km/h. :bsflag: ---
**Author:** ![DTS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8491ac/32.png) [@DTS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/DTS)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/speedometer-swap-question/83388/12 "2005-02-03T20:09:19Z")
i doubt that speedo will be accurate, sell it to some ricer for alot of money. that is not a sr20det tach so chances are its a riced up euro setup ---
**Author:** ![DarkForceJackal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@DarkForceJackal](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/DarkForceJackal)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 8:15pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/speedometer-swap-question/83388/13 "2005-02-03T20:15:35Z")
> [@DTS](#): > > i doubt that speedo will be accurate, sell it to some ricer for alot of money. > > that is not a sr20det tach > > so chances are its a riced up euro setup Okay DTS, how does $300 sound? 😉 j/k bud I’m probably going to try it, and report back with the results. Life is full of adventures. ---
**Author:** ![oshiet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@oshiet](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/oshiet)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 9:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/speedometer-swap-question/83388/14 "2005-02-03T21:27:53Z")
Any speedo can be off, given the loss of signal pulse from resistance and old wiring. The higher the reading, the more innacurate it will become. These aren’t state of the art timing devices anyways. The guage should recalibrate itself everytime you power off the unit. That’s what the stopper pin is for. ---
**Author:** ![Polak182](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7feea3/32.png) [@Polak182](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Polak182)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 11:16pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/speedometer-swap-question/83388/15 "2005-02-03T23:16:46Z")
I love the way the nismo cluster has the fuel tank symbols…1/2…lol ---
**Author:** ![Polak182](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7feea3/32.png) [@Polak182](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Polak182)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 11:17pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/speedometer-swap-question/83388/16 "2005-02-03T23:17:26Z")
I love the way the nismo cluster has the fuel tank symbols…1/2…lol ---
**Author:** ![mr200](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mr200/32/5495_2.png) [@mr200](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/mr200)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 8:16am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/speedometer-swap-question/83388/17 "2005-02-04T08:16:49Z")
BS? They’ve been doing it since the 60s. Cop cars have to be calibrated regulary. This is so a cop can pull you over legally for speeding based on what his speedometer shows. Car manufacturers calibrate speedos to read 3-5mph _higher_ than the actual vehicle speed at 55 mph. If they didn’t, and you were ticketed and able to prove that your unmodified car (certain factors like wheels and tires, diff gear, etc.) shows 55 mph and a vehicle speed of say 60, it is the manufacturer’s fault, not yours. By calibrating speedos universally in this way, it removes the onus from the manufacturers. Anything over 60 mph on you speedometer is a guess at best. I have an article in a car magazine at home I can dig up if you like. All in all though, unless you’re involved in some kind of racing where average speeds are critical, having a speedometer that goes over 120 km/h is useless – as long as your car does. People have to accept the fact that factory gauges are “best guesses”. Put accurate mechanical gauges into a car, and you’d be surprised at the discrepancies to what your factory gauge shows. ---
**Author:** ![DTS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8491ac/32.png) [@DTS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/DTS)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 11:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/speedometer-swap-question/83388/18 "2005-02-04T11:02:23Z")
mr200 is right