Re: Peterson's 1940 Packard

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2011/9/22 9:10:02

West, if I remember my high school auto shop instruction correctly (which was more than a half-century ago) the odometer and speedometer functions are not internally linked. That is, a speedometer error does not necessarily translate into an odometer error. I think the proof is that in a car with a completely inoperative speedometer, the odometer can continues to function. If I have this wrong, someone please come along and correct me, it's an interesting point.

Apparently, correcting or adjusting the magnetism for the speedo isn't a big deal; when I had my 34 speedo (a Waltham) repaired some years ago by Reynolds, it came back with a calibration certificate and was +/- 1 or 2 mph of true all the way thru it's range. PS - I suppose this has it's limits and isn't the way to adjust for incorrect speedo pinion gear matched to the rear axle ration.