Date:         Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:31:51 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Dash Cluster Needed, '86+
Comments: To: Greg Potts <greg@pottsfamily.ca>
In-Reply-To:  <4C3E89A1.8090907@pottsfamily.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 12:08 AM 7/15/2010 Thursday, Greg Potts wrote:
>I don't give a rats hindquarters how much imagination the inspector
>has. If they are paid to enforce the rule, I expect them to know
>what the rule is. A speedometer is an instrument to measure
>velocity. Period. Nowhere does the law say it has to be VW part
>number 251-xxx-xxx.

The "inspector" is a mechanic at a local garage.  His primary motive
is not endangering his employer's license to conduct inspections,
which means he is deeply conservative.

>The last Syncro rolled off the assembly line in 1992. They weren't
>commonplace then and they have gotten less common since. As the
>parts chain dries out people are going to have to come up with
>alternative solutions or else find alternatives to drive. I'm with plan A.

So a regular WBX speedo ought to work if you insert a reducing gear
capsule in the driveline.  This might involve a custom drive cable
(or modifying an existing one) but I believe speedometer shops know
how to do this.  See for example http://www.speedometershop.com/ratio.html .

Yours,
David