[Vega]

I have a 69 Nova and need to fix the speedometer, fuel gauge, and the selector indicator that shows you if your in reverse or what gear you are in. So first the speedometer is bouncing back and forth and is off by quite a bit. Is this just a small gear driven cable that might be messing up or what would cause this? Next is the fuel gauge, it is constanly bouncing back and forth also. Does this use just a float in the gas tank or what would cause this? Lastly the gear indicator doesnt move at all. Is there linkages in there that maybe need to be reconnected or do I lose that since there is a aftermarket 350 and t-350 tranny in it? Sorry for all of the questions but im really anxious to get started on this project.

 

[Project Nova]

Of course when trouble shooting a problem lets go for the odvious first. On the gear indicator there is a cable that attaches the needle to the steering column. It may have come un -attached. The speedometer cable is connected to a plastic gear in the transmission. It may need replaced,or not even be connected. The gear is a cheap fix, so is the cable. The fuel gauge is probably the sending unit. Check all connections first, make sure wiring is good,if you still have a problem, drop tank and replace sending unit. I have a 70 Nova that didn't have a working fuel gauge for 20 years I replaced sending unit and it works flawlessly:yes:

 

[Vega]

Ok so after some work I pulled the gear for the speedo from the tranny and all of the gears seem to be intact and the cable didnt seem to be round off or anything. So I go under the dash and find that there is a clip on the back side of the instrument panel that is suppose to hold the cable from coming out the back I assume. I tried to push the bottom of the clip back into the cutout for it on the back of the instrument panel but it doesnt seem to want to go in. I ended up pulling the cable from the panel and it also didnt look round off or anything. Would the bottom of that clip not being in cause the speedo to be bouncing? Is that clip even suppose to clip in at the bottom?

As for the gear indicator i looked under the dash and saw a metal cable wasnt attached to the indicator so I attached that. The indicator moves now but still doesn't show the correct gear. when I am in park it shows neutral and when i am in drive it shows 1st. I tried to move the indicator by hand but it didnt want to budge. Is there something I am missing? Is there suppose to be some kind of spring that pulls that indicator all the way back to park? Thanks for any help guys. Im already getting excited for projects to come just by doing these few small things.

 

[fanbelt]

You might try pulling the speedo cable from the housing and lubing it w/vasoline. Sometimes the cable will bind up while spinning then let go all at once causing the speedo needle to jump. The housing I'm speaking of is the "case" the cable is in going all the way to the trans. Remove it at the speedo head and it should pull out from the top. And, yes, there is a spring that pulls the shift indicator up towards park. You can move the indicator cable to where it needs to be at the steering column. The cable will pull it down as you pull the lever down. I agree that your sending might be bad. HTH Mike

 

[Project Nova]

As far as the needle not being in the right spot,it can be easily adjusted cause its in a slotted hole that can be moved forward or backward.You do need the spring if its missing.