Heading to Japan and taking my grandfather's old 1975 Olds Cutlass Salon with me. Since it was made before 1976, it only has to meet basic requirements to get on the road. One of those I know if coming is I will need to convert the speedo/odometer to kph from mph. I've been poking around ebay trying to find something out of a Canadian car, but I'm having no luck. Can anybody point me in the right direct? I gather I can just change the one gage pod and be good to go (if I can find one), but maybe this isn't the case. Thanks in advance!

 

1975? Should be the same from 1973-1977 right? Have you checked evilbay? If I'm out at the boneyard in the next little while (doubtful to be real soon cause I'm pretty sick and have been house bound) I'll check and see if I can find one for ya. Where are you located? I'm in Canada so getting metric stuff is really easy up here. BTW, I don't know if you need to change the speedo gear also. Might want to do some checking on that. If I find the gage, I'll try to get the whole thing including gage, cable and gear. No promises when or if there's something around.

When are you heading to Japan?

 

I'm in the southern US and I'll be heading off to Japan around May, but the car will probably leave in April. I'd really appreciate it if you could find something. I'll definitely make it worth your while. I have checked ebay and just waded through all the results from "cutlass speedometer" so I didn't miss anything and nothing in kph came up. So you think they might be the same '73-'77? I have no idea. I a complete newb to Olds stuff.

 

I'm pretty sure they're the same for 73-77. There are more 75=77 Cutlass that hit the wrecker now than earlier models. You're right about the ebay ones. Most of the ones you'll find there are from cars manufactured in the US. Last fall there was a 76 with rallye pac gages, PW, PDL Cruise , tilt etc. I pulled the cruise parts and the PDL actuators. Didn't have time to grab the regulators. I'll see what comes up ok? No promises though cause it depends on what comes in each month. It will probably cost a few bucks to ship to you. As far as money goes? I do junk yard runs for the fun of it. All you'd have to do is cover the cost from the wrecker and shipping. Most of the stuff is pretty reasonably priced. I'll keep watching these posts in case someone comes up with one during the meantime ok?

 

That sounds great, thanks Yeah, assuming something isn't $200 (lol) just grab it and I'll pick it up for you. I'm not hurting for money, and I'm used to doing junkyard runs for people back stateside when I was in japan, so I can really appreciate what your doing.

 

They used to have little number stickers to place on the speedo to indicate the kilo speed (on the older than '75 cars) for a couple of bucks...instead of replacing the whole cluster if you can't find one

 

Unfortunately, they want the odometer in km's also, so that won't work.

 

Just thought of one thing. You're going to have to keep track of the "miles" on your car before installing the metric "kilometer" gage. Otherwise you won't be able to verify total mileage on the car. I know its a PITA, but I don't know how to reset a speedo to 000000, and these older cars only have 5 placeholders for mileage, unlike the new cars. Just one more headache to deal with I guess.

 

They are actually pretty familiar with that kinda thing over there and have a system already set up to correct the milage on your title. I'd just show them the old speedo, swap it, than show them the new one and they take care of everything. Just need to get my hands on one of those kph speedo's with how ever many klicks on it.

 

Dont forget to convert your headlights to right-hand traffic also

 

1973-76 Cutlasses used MPH speedometers. In 1977 there was (in Canada) a KPH speedometer to 140 with small mph to 85. In the US it was the opposite...a small KPH speedometer to 140 and a large MPH speedometer to 85. In Japan, they also drive on the left. Do you have to modify the car for that?

 

As much as i know you have to change the low-beam light pattern so u can drive on the left side.otherwise oncoming traffic will think that you have the high beam on all the time.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...raffic.svg.png

 

Time to start calling Canadian scrap yards. They can do electronic searches to see if anyone else has what your looking for.

 

When I was in Australia, I'd turn on the windshield wipers everytime I tried to change lanes.

 

In Florida, I turn on the wipers when I go to raise the fan!

how about a camaro?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970-...#ht_500wt_1182

 

No he needs one that has primary KMs /hr instead of mph so the odometer clicks off correctly.

 

What about going aftermarket for the time being until you can find a factory correct speedometer?? At least that way you should be able to get it into the country and have more time to find the correct unit.

http://www.autometer.com/cat_gaugede...id=3138&sid=11

or these?? They might have something that will work with your car.

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.c...cat/cat412.htm

 

Yup, exactly

I'd like to, and I'm not sure of the exact rules, but I have a buddy that tried that on his Datsun he brought to japan from america (ironic, right?). It didn't fly. They didn't want add on stuff for what ever reason/rule. Still looking for the KPH gage.

 

Are you going to Japan as a civilian or are you going with the military? If you are in the military then there might be some good info available through your command.

 

I was stationed in Okinawa for the past four years (and Wichita Falls before that--visited your fine "Dragon's" establishment more than a couple of times ) and now I'm going back to Okinawa as a civilian. I'm pretty familiar with the rules and regs and stuff which is why I'm looking for this stuff now. The military actually can't tell me jack about what I need to do unfortunatly. They basically said "If the car is made before '76, we'll ship it for you. It's up to you after that."

 

I'm not sure if "fine" is the correct word for it.

At least you know what needs to be done. Good luck!

 

Yes ,just done with the screw adjusters on the headlights --.Otherwise ,as mentioned , the oncoming traffic gets blinded with the extra light.

It`s a simple but compulsory process here when importing an auto from the states

 

Yeah, that was tongue and cheek in there for sure That place is a dump, but my friends loved going there for some reason.

 

Well, I just got a call saying the Cutlass made it to Okinawa (and so did I.) They said there was steam or smoke coming from the engine bay when they took it off the boat, so I need to get over there and check to see what's wrong with it.

If anybody has any ideas about the KPH speedometer/odometer I'm still looking. Thanks guys!

 

Haven't forgotten you. Every time I go to the wrecker, I look for 75-77's but they're getting harder to find. Since this is Canada, pretty much any one that I do find will have what you're looking for.

Hope the engine steam/smoke wasn't anything serious.

 

Stick in a 77 speedo from Canada. As I said, Oldsmobile didn't change over in Canada until 1977. My 76 has no indication of kms at all. Check ebay. Also check out www.73-77olds.com Ask someone if they are willing to trade a MPH speedo for a 77 speedo. The 77 guys are always looking for a 120 mph speedo. Good luck.

 

Little update on the "smoke" coming from under the hood. There are a couple of cracked/missing hoses coming off the top of the water pump. I can't find the other end of them to replace the hose, but I haven't put a WHOLE lot of time into looking either yet. Just been super busy. I've had more than a couple of people driving/walking by stop and ask if it was for sale and it doesn't even have a sign in the window or anything LOL.

Still looking for the kph speedo if anybody has come across one. Allan R, thanks for looking for me!

 

These speedo clusters are very easy to change. You will have to get one from a 77 model from Canada however. The 73-76 models I dont beleive ever had these kilometer per hour units. You could check into having a unit refaced,and pick up a spare standard unit so you want ruin the original.-Just an idea

 

Bump for still looking. Like I mentioned, just getting a the unit refaced won't work as I need the odometer in km's also.

 

Can you find a shop that can reconfigure the one you have?

 

Nah, I'm in the back water of Japan down here in Okinawa. Nowhere around here to get that done. Somebody just PM'd me with a NOS piece for $250. I'm trying to decide if that's a good price and if it'll work in my year.

 

What year did it come out of? If 73-77 then you're in good shape.

 

Is the kilometers per hour speedo a mandatory thing in Japan? If not then why not just remember the 4 or 5 speed limit conversions and stick with the miles per hour speedo? Great way to exercise the brain while cruising around. 40=25, 50=30, 60=35, 70=40, 80=50, 100=65, 110=70...or close enough that you won't score a ticket. After a cruise down here in RHD / KPH world I need a drink and a rest.

 

Yes its mandatory!!

 

Yup, mandatory, right down to the odometer. I think I'm going to pick up the NOS speedo somebody on here PM'd me about. I'm just trying to swallow the $250 it's going to cost me, but I need to get this thing street legal :-\

 

Once it's legal let us know. Post pics if you can.

 

So will the kph speedo just hook right up with no further calibration or changes?
And please do post a pic of it.

 

Okay, just found out all I need is the ability to display KPH on the gage and the odometer can stay in miles. This gage will work for me, right?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tchlink:top:en

Mine's an auto tranny with a floor shifter BTW if that matters.

 

I am following this thread closely, are you retired military? I retired December 2010 and the Navy told me they could not ship my car, no questions about what year it was. After getting back over here I am seeing tons of E plate cars that were shipped by the military. It really pisses me off cause they WOULD NOT ship my car! It upsets me that in some places they know the rules and some places they don't or don't care! If I bring my car now it will be on my own dime so I am really interested in how your situation turns out. Is your car over here now?

 

I separated after 8 years and I'm a DoD civilian now. I went to the states for about 8 months and got a civy job working right back where I was with the same people doing the same thing, just not wearing a uniform and making lot more money I don't know about the specifics of shipping when you retire and how SOFA status works with retirement, but I suspect there was some confusion over whether or not you were allowed a POV shipment vs if it would count against your against your household goods shipment. You can ship ANY vehicle over here, they just STRONGLY advise against anything not manufactured before 1976 (mine was made in Dec'75.) I know people that have taken newer cars here but they have to go to mainland for a long, expensive, and difficult conversion and inspection process. 1975 made and back bypass all that and just need to meet some basic JCI inspection stuff.

The reason I got out of the military is I got SUPER pissed off every day about paper pusher who worked 9-4 with an hour and a half lunch that got out early on Fridays and couldn't do their job properly even on the rare occasions they were at work You have to walk in there having researched THEIR regulations FOR them and explain their job to them. It sucks, and I'm sorry you got screwed over. Sorry for the rant