Speedo replacements

[Zootwo2]

Hello, has anyone had to replace their speedometer on their 57 Bird? The speedo on our has basically come apart, with pieces scattered inside the dash. So I guess my real questions are, Is there a place one can get them rebuilt, or barring that has anyone had an experience with newer style GPS gauges, brand and sizes. Thank you all in advance for any help

[paul2748]

Two places I know of - Bob's Speedometer and Williamson's Instruments.

[ward 57]

I had mine rebuilt by Tacoma Speedometer. Works great. I don't think I have heard of one exploding like that. Thankfully the '57 speedometer can be removed with everything else in place.

[paul2748]

If you want to look for another speedo, try Adrian Lori at 570-709-0823 or Bob Schermerhorn at 518-392-2472. I have dealt with these two in the past with no problems.

[BJRVentport2]

Isn't a 56 Ford the same speedometer?

[ward 57]

No. The '57 dash was a completely different animal that used the dash components from the '56 cars and introduced into the T-Bird in '57.

[1957Birdman]

The 1956 Ford passenger car speedometer does look the same as the one in the 57 Thunderbird except for one thing. It only registers up to 120 MPH, not the 140 MPH that the 57 T-Bird has.
Lew Bachman
1957 Colonial White

[BJRVentport2]

I have read that the 56 Speedometer that only goes to 120 MPH is the same as the 140 speedometer in the 57 T-Birds. Just a different face, and it didn't read correctly.

[Jimntempe]

I have read that the 56 Speedometer that only goes to 120 MPH is the same as the 140 speedometer in the 57 T-Birds. Just a different face, and it didn't read correctly.

Aren't the needles different?

[1957Birdman]

The 1956 speedometer that is referenced here is from the 1956 full-size Ford (Mainline, Customline, Fairlane). The 57 Thunderbird dash is basically a modified version of the 1956 full-size Ford.
As for the accuracy of the of the speedometer, all of the mid-fifties Ford speedometers were over optimistic. This fact was pointed out in a number of the car tests done when the cars were new. For example, Tom McCahill found that his 1955 Thunderbird was going 62-63 MPH when the speedometer was showing 70 MPH. I have found in my 57 that the speedometer reads about 8 MPH higher than its actual speed at 60 MPH.
Lew Bachman
1957 Colonial White

[Jimntempe]

The 1956 speedometer that is referenced here is from the 1956 full-size Ford (Mainline, Customline, Fairlane). The 57 Thunderbird dash is basically a modified version of the 1956 full-size Ford.
As for the accuracy of the of the speedometer, all of the mid-fifties Ford speedometers were over optimistic. This fact was pointed out in a number of the car tests done when the cars were new. For example, Tom McCahill found that his 1955 Thunderbird was going 62-63 MPH when the speedometer was showing 70 MPH. I have found in my 57 that the speedometer reads about 8 MPH higher than its actual speed at 60 MPH.
Lew Bachman
1957 Colonial White

I had mine rebuilt and presumably they "calibrated" it as best they could. At lower speeds it reads slow (actual 44 reads as 40) but once it's up to about 60 it's within 1 or 2 mph of actual.

[ward 57]

Isn't GPS in our phones a nice verification. Mine seems pretty accurate knowing the traffic here and just go with the flow. On a side note, I still like paper maps and it was a skill to re-fold them to put back in the glove box. Oh how times have changed.

[MarkR]

I’ve found the same readings as Lew. When my 55 reads 74 +/-, the traffic is going around me. The limit on the freeway near me is 65. Vegas folks go by a different standard. You add 10 to any speed limit.

Just this morning I ordered a GPS digital speedometer off Amazon. $15.00. I’ll use it while driving on highways.

I’ve heard kids today aren’t aware of their locations and directions like we were. Relying on Google maps robs them of that skill. They don’t know what’s around them outside of the small screen. I doubt most have ever looked at a road atlas.