First of all my appologies if this has been discussed b4, I serached the forum but couldn't find an answer.

I have an 88 LX that I would like to install a 140 speedo in. I see a ton of these units on ebay for sale but sometimes the model years vary. Some list 87-93, others simply 90-93.

Can anybody explain if there are defferences between model years, and if it is a show stopper if the wrong unit is installed. thx!

 

The 90-93 speedos require some trimming.

The 87-93 speedos are probably just stating (advertising) that it'll FIT in any of those years. LOOK for a 87-89 speedo! ( i.e, It came out of a 87-89 car.)

When I went shopping for my swap, I looked for a 88-90 unit so I WOULDN'T have to trim the speedo.

HERE <<<<------- is a swap write up detailing the 90-93 swap into an 87-89. If I recall, 1990 was the airbag year, making the speedo unit a tad different

The only "show-stopper" I've seen is attempting to swap a 90-93 CLUSTER into a 87-89. The wiring is different to the entire cluster, but some pins can be moved around.
HERE <<<<<----- is a pdf file for swapping wiring pins when you are swapping in an ENTIRE cluster from a 90-93 into a 87-89.

Clear as mud?
Besides, why put in a 140, when the posted limit is 70 in most states?
Let us know how you make out.

 

Thanks for the response Coupe, appreciate the good info. BTW, doesn't everybody ignore the posted speed limit on occasion?

 

Sometimes the occasion becomes quite frequent !

I swapped the 85 for a 140 speedo so "I'll know EXACTLY how fast (above 85) I was going when I do get that ticket.", is what I recall telling my wife .

Keep us posted on the progress

 

Also the 90-93 Speedos don't light up the same at night so you will have issues there if you use one of those. Stick with the 87-89 speedos and you will be fine. The only 140 speedo for those years came in the '89 models...other than that there are Motorsport and Police(Certified Calibration) speedos which are 160mph versions.

 

Why did they change the speedos for the 1990 model year?

 

The cluster was changed to accomodate the airbag that became standard in 1990