Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing 1994 +8 Speedometer cables.

They were great in the old days. But the "old days" is a relative term. They used to be the fastest least inexpensive source for parts in the world, commanding a lot of loyalty in the community. But times change. Production changes became daily and at one point, parts sourcing and supply split into two departments, one for Production and the other for the masses of cars on the road, called Parts, curiously enough. It didn't work out well for the latter group.


Though very different, aside from gear ratios, the 2WD R380 was made to be compatible with the 2WD LT77. So the gearbox end of the speedo cable is identical to the earlier LT77 cable. The same internal gears that drive the cable at different speeds, depending on the car in question, are interchangeable. In this case, the culprit for the mistake, is sourcing again. The Parts department was told it was a seamless swap. The driving force behind sourcing has changed since the regime change 2+decades ago.

The issue here is not the R380 side. It is the change at the other end, speedometer.


Well done! Minor codicil. The earlier R380s (up to early 1999 from memory) have a minor that can be cured with the standard rebuild kits sold after. That being said, I have never run across a Morgan R380 that needed it.


L.

Hello Calypso Red,

no, speedo cable is the same for the LT77 and R380 transmission, there is no difference.
Only difference is on the upper end, if VDO or Smiths instruments.

Frank

....and @ GOMOG:

Hello, yes Lutz is still busy over here and up to now the Morgan Park still is his baby.
Her reduces his working time slowly.
The picture you did post is not what I wanted to post, The rear end isn`t visible on your picture.
I will post my pic shortly over here.

Regards Frank
Morgan Park

Hopefully my picture will be visible over here, my first attempt with some help of a customer.
This is how the lower end of a speedo cable should look like, for to be 100% centrated on the transmission:


Regards
Franky

Good to hear Lutz is still active.

We said the same thing, Franz. The gearbox end fitting remain the same, only the speedo end changes between VDO, along with having two sections, upper and lower.
Here is an image from Brands Hatch for Morgan folk, the upper cable this time. I focus only on the ends as I dislike posting huge images to forums. Melvyn only shows Plus 8 cables up to the end of the Smith's era 1988ish)

Did LR ever use VDOs during their LT77/R380 EFI era? L.

Update. I contacted Speedograph Richfield and Tim was confident they could make replacement speedo cables. I put my old cables in the post to them and in as little as a week my new cables arrived. Both cables fitted, unlike the Factory replacements, and about half the price. Win win.

Nice result Speedo was one I recommended, so good to know they still perform

My 1980 +8 speedo has flickered for years. Anything under 40mph it's dreadful and of course I am on 15 inch rims not the original 14s so it would be out anyway. Use the rev counter mostly although in Wales for a week in May so will need to be extra careful. And the sat nav when on long continental drives.

Stephen, I would defo use the satnav or a cheap HUD as a backup speedo if touring in Wales, don't ask how I know