drhach

There actually are two companies selling speedo cable drivers. Both of them are well over $300. I'm thinking I can make my own for much less than that. I just bought an Arduino controller board for $12, I need to get a DC motor and figure out some way to mount a sensor for a square wave output. I may have bought the wrong size gear. I checked my speed against a GPS and it was pretty good. The repair manual actually has a table telling you what size gear to use based on rear end ratio. I talked to the guy I bought the gear from (bestoffercounts). He suggested a few checks I could do. Mainly validating that the core spins freely and the bushing on the back of the speedo isn't sticking. So that and a bore scope are my next steps.

That's a great suggestion. I think harbor freight sells a pretty cheap model. I'm certainly driving it anyway. I just want to get all systems operational. I'm cheap enough and enough of a nerd that I'm looking in to making a speed sensor that would run the speedo cable.

Here are pictures. Obviously after the gear was destroyed. I believe it is the driven gear. Yes, it looked like the ones above. I would imagine the only way to get to the drive gear is to disassemble the transmission. I'm going to try to stick my finger in there and see if I can feel anything on the internal gear. Before I installed this, I turned the speedometer cable with a cordless drill. There was no noise and the needle moved smoothly for the 13 miles that the speedometer worked.

I'm wondering if anyone could provide some insight in to this. I got this 1962 Lesabre about 1-1/2 years ago. The speedometer didn't work. It wasn't high on the priority list so I didn't really bother with it until this Summer. There was no drive gear in the transmission. I ordered one and installed it. The speedometer worked perfectly for 13.2 miles and then quit. I pulled the gear to check it out and the teethe are almost completely gone. I'm sure not going to order another $100 gear until I can sort this out. The speedometer moved smoothly and I couldn't feely any resistance in the cable. I Also recently had the trans pan cleaned out. he said he didn't find any debris in there. Anyone?

Make sure to post back if you find a solution.

That doesn't mean they won't work or even be identical. Visual inspection is the best way to tell. Part numbers can change based on visual changes with no change to fit form or function. Also, Buick and Chevrolet were different divisions, I would expect different part numbers. Part numbers are usually only one variable in the equation and aren't always the deciding factor on fitment.

You may want to cross them with Chevy units. There's a bit of Impala stuff that is very similar if not identical.

It looks like for $550 you could get two front brake drums and a boat load of other parts. I wish it was closer I'd buy it and deal with the wrath of my wife later.

I've seen a few listing lately where people are calling these "Cascada". Shouldn't it be "Lesabre" or "Invicta".

Yes, that is the answer. I was able to find a Buick "Facts Book" for a (relatively) low price. The 9.0:1 2BBl 401 was optional. The published torque for that model was 375 ft-lbs. This is further borne out by the "2LI" stamped on the engine block (2 barrel, low compression). I'm not sure about export, but the manual specifies that the "L" represents a low compression model and the facts book substantiates that this was an option for people wanting "improved economy".

Thanks for your response. All casting numbers indicate 401. The width of the intake bolts is 9" (401). The VIN on the engine matches the VIN on the body. The engine code indicates 401 2 Barrel. So, it's the original engine. However, the air cleaner says "375", which I understand to be the torque. The 401 2 barrel was 385, right? I looked up that value (375) and it corresponds to the 1961 "364" engine. The car has been in my family since it was new. However, all of the previous owners are deceased. I can't ask if anyone has installed a different air cleaner. I doubt very much that they did. I know mistakes like that aren't uncommon in the automotive industry. The hard part is that I've been assuming all this time that I had a 364. Thankfully I haven't bought the 4 barrel manifold that I've been looking for.

That's it. The intake bolts are 9" apart and the block casting coincides to 401. I'm not sure how that air cleaner got on there. My brother had it appraised many years ago and the appraisal also said "364". My uncle bought the car new, I figured that maybe he cheaped out and selected a 364 versus 401. It seems not. I inherited this car from my brother last year and I'm stillteying to figure out everything he did or didnt do to it.

Does anyone have any idea why a 1962 Lesabre would have a 364 rather than a 401? I understood that in 1962, the 401 was standard. Yet my car has a 364; at least according to the aircleaner decal.

So you wouldn't really gain anything in terms of performance?

What do you do for an intake manifold? Do you just keep the old 2 barrel unit and find a TB that fits it? I assume this is TBI, right?

It's been awhile but I wanted to follow up on this. It did turn out to be a loose screw. I tightened it and it's like a brand new switch. Everything in there actually is pretty robust looking. That switch should outlive me. Thanks again for the advice.

Thanks, I'll give it a try. Maybe I'll get lucky.

There's a ton of slop in the lever. Not just in the up and down directions, but I can also rotate it a little. That lends some credence to your comments. I'll check it out. However, it also doesn't consistently engage or disengage after a turn. Sometimes there is a very positive "click" when I engage the lever and sometimes there's no click at all. There's a lot of inconsistency that to me may indicate a worn out or sloppy mechanism. Dan

Hi guys, my turn signal switch is pretty well shot. I've searched and can't seem to find a new replacement. I do know that I can buy repro switches that will fit a 1962 Chevy. I guess I have two questions. The first is does anyone know where I can find a repro or NOS switch for the Buick? Barring that, does anyone know if the Chevy switch is the same? I know very little GM stuff translates between the companies. Maybe a third question is whether or not these can be rebuilt. Regards, Dan

Great work. What's the plan on the paint. are you going to use a gloss clear coat or leave it satin?

Thanks for the kind words. I'm in Wadsworth Illinois. NE Illinois,right by the Wisconsin border. My brother lived in Kenosha before him and the car moved to Arizona. I'm getting the car slowly sorted. It clearly was not setup for colder weather. I noticed the heater was disconnected. I pressure tested it before reconnecting it. Yup, it leaks.

Hi, another new guy here. I just got a 1962 Lesabre. My uncle bought it new, when he died it went to his sister (my Aunt), when she died, my brother acquired it (1992). My brother recently died and now I have it. When my brother got it, it had about 45,000 miles on it. In spite of being a plain Jane, nothing special car, he adored it and proceeded to drive the wheels off of it. It currently sits at about 137,000 miles. I was somewhat critical of this at the time. But I now realize that that is what they were meant to do; not sit in a garage never being used. It's a little rough at the moment. As his health declined, he really couldn't care for it the way he would have liked. I'm trying to get all of the systems working properly (turn signals, heater and carb). I bought a points replacement system for it as well as some new door seals and some modern 3 point seat belts. I probably will also change over to front disk brakes. My 9 year old son loves it and wants to ride in it, so I want it to be as safe as possible. Hopefully it will remain in the family for a long time to come. These are a couple of pictures from when the truck picked it up in Arizona to bring it back to the Midwest. It got a nice bath after it arrived. The car originally had no options other than the tinted windshield. My brother added power brakes and steering. Also, it has a 364, which surprised me since most of what I've read says it should have a 401. I used to have a 1962 Impala and I have to say the difference is night and day. Regards, Dan