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To those with swaps and speedo issues: Abbott box X


Pierre

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It looks to be a device that can convert a pulse signal into a spinning cable to drive a stock speedometer. Anyone try it? It would resolve the problem of looking for an E21 323i transmission for an M20 swap, oe even using the later 5-speed from the E30 318i into the 2002.

Anyone have any experience with it?

Pierre

O==00==O

69 2002 (M20), 74 tii, 76 533i, 79 323i, 80 732i, 84 323i (S50) 91 318is, 96 318ti (S52), 97 Z3, 02 330i, 03 525iT, 02 R1150 RTP.
Auxiliary Lamp Brackets  Kamei Reproduction Front Air Dam

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I looked at the Abbott Box X, but decided it was too expensive for a system that wasn't made specifically for the BMW crowd.

Forgoing the Abbott, you have a few options:

1. Just mount a VDO electronic speedometer in the stock cluster - It doesn't quite look stock, but it's cheap and easy. Here's jakeb's:

IMG_2214.JPG

2. Either have the same VDO electronic speedometer converted by North Hollywood Speedometer ($500ish), or convert it yourself. I had a friend make the faceplate for mine and I pieced together the finished product.

1600Speedometer004.jpg

Either way, you'll need one of these ($30 from Summit Racing):

1600M42Running2007.jpg

For a 3rd option, you can earn a degree in electronics and go nuts, a la PatAllen.

ClayW
1967 1600-2 - M42 - 1521145          Follow my project at www.TX02.blogspot.com          E30 DD Project Blog

 

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So it's basically a VR frequency to voltage converter (~$1.80) and an amplifier (~$1) to drive a DC motor (~$5)? I'm pretty sure you can build one yourself for under $40 all said and done. National (now owned by TI) makes a chip that's literally designed to do this exact thing, it's even available in DIP for easy soldering or prototyping.

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I had a friend make the faceplate for mine and I pieced together the finished product.

That look absolutely stunning! Amazing attention to detail.

I'm no longer affiliated with Maximillian Importing Company in any way, please address any questions directly to them.  -Thanks.

2002 "tii" coupe 1970
E21 320/6 2.7 Stroker 1981
E23 730 1978

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I had a friend make the faceplate for mine and I pieced together the finished product.

That look absolutely stunning! Amazing attention to detail.

Thanks!

I Photoshopped the design from the original and a friend of a friend silk-screened the white onto the black face.

However, if you have a later style gauge, like in an E12 or later, you can print your own face even easier. Here's another from Jakeb (in an LS1 swapped E28):

IMAGE_EFF87CC6-C5B5-4EFC-AD80-DE0C6E1F7024.JPG

ClayW
1967 1600-2 - M42 - 1521145          Follow my project at www.TX02.blogspot.com          E30 DD Project Blog

 

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So it's basically a VR frequency to voltage converter (~$1.80) and an amplifier (~$1) to drive a DC motor (~$5)? I'm pretty sure you can build one yourself for under $40 all said and done. National (now owned by TI) makes a chip that's literally designed to do this exact thing, it's even available in DIP for easy soldering or prototyping.

Andrey,

I read your post and it sounds chinese to me. When you use terms like "basically", "I am pretty sure you can build one yourself," and "easy soldering," I feel stumped. I have built motors, swapped an M20 in a 2002, installed an M52 into my 318ti, including some pretty nasty wiring, I must have removed and installed over 20 cylinder heads. My mechanical abilties and understanding are above average. A VR frequency to voltage converter, an amplifier... not exactly typical for a shade tree mechanic. Or am I the only one who does have a clue what a DIP is?

It's like that friend of mine who told me how simple it was to replace this guy's heart valve. Slice the chest open, cut a couple of hoses, replace the tricuspid or perform a ring annuloplasty and saw it back together. Piece of cake.

Now, if it really is a simple operation that an semi-intelligent person can actually understand without a master degree in electrical engineering, do share more intricate details so that the rest of us can build one. It would be a huge service to a lot of us who enjoy the challenge and lack the funds to fork over bg bucks to have somone else do it. Thanks.

Pierre

O==00==O

69 2002 (M20), 74 tii, 76 533i, 79 323i, 80 732i, 84 323i (S50) 91 318is, 96 318ti (S52), 97 Z3, 02 330i, 03 525iT, 02 R1150 RTP.
Auxiliary Lamp Brackets  Kamei Reproduction Front Air Dam

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Pierre,

Another option is that at one time Metric Mechanic offered a chopper wheel set up that was installed on the diff's passenger side between the diff and half shaft. It was a neat looking package and if it is not available anymore I bet Jim Rowe would be glad to talk to you about it. I have talked with him several times in the past and he was most helpful. I believe the kit would not be hard to put together if you wanted try. Just cut out the chopper wheel from aluminum and fab a bracket for a sender. If I am not mistaken the e30 six diff has a chopper wheel inside the diff.

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  • 2 years later...

North Hollywood Speedometer also has a GPS kit that they can use for their electronic speedometer. They are grafting one on a silver dollar speedo for me right now. Will let the board know how it works in a few weeks.

RougeDriver,

 

I emailed North Hollywood about this very thing today. Their response was "conversion of your speedometer is not offered by us and we don't have any leads for you."

 

Did they complete the work for you?

 

Thanks,

 

Colin

Colin

1968 1602

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There are a couple of off-the-shelf GPS to VSS units; Intellitronix do one that offers fixed 4/8/10k ppm. Canadian Automotive Instruments have one that's configurable. 

 

http://www.intellitronix.com/gps-sender.html - about $100, mixed reviews

http://shop.classicinstruments.com/sn81 - $250, better reviews but obviously expensive

 

There's also an Autometer module that might be usable.

 

Several outfits do speedometer calibration modules that would let you adapt the 4/8/16 pulse output to suit your speedo.

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There are a couple of off-the-shelf GPS to VSS units; Intellitronix do one that offers fixed 4/8/10k ppm. Canadian Automotive Instruments have one that's configurable. 

 

http://www.intellitronix.com/gps-sender.html - about $100, mixed reviews

http://shop.classicinstruments.com/sn81 - $250, better reviews but obviously expensive

 

There's also an Autometer module that might be usable.

 

Several outfits do speedometer calibration modules that would let you adapt the 4/8/16 pulse output to suit your speedo.

Thanks Mike. If you know of a shop that has a way of hooking either of those two products up to an '02 speedo, let me know. From RougeDriver's description, North Hollywood Speedo were going to gut his original early '02 speedo and replace it with some wizardry that allowed a GPS receiver like the ones you mentioned to connect directly to it and replace the cable drive entirely, thus negating the need for the Cable X device from Abbott or any other electro mechanical interface.

Colin

1968 1602

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