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Getting a cable speedo drive for ca18det gearbox?
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 11:42 am
by z18et1200coupe
Hey team. I brought a z18et speedo drive thinking it would work in my ca18 box but the gear on the end is completely different..
anyone know what one to buy that fits in the ca18det box?
Re: Getting a cable speedo drive for ca18det gearbox?
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 3:24 pm
by DJZ
What's different about the gear?
Re: Getting a cable speedo drive for ca18det gearbox?
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 4:33 pm
by z18et1200coupe
i'll put up some photo's this week. but the gear on the electronic drive is about 7mm bigger diameter and the teeth are a different shape.. you can take the gear off the electronic drive with a little clip but on the cable drive the gear is stuck onto the shaft..
Re: Getting a cable speedo drive for ca18det gearbox?
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 4:58 pm
by DJZ
It'll be out of a car with a different diff ratio, what diff ratio are you running? That's all that really matters, you might have to put the drive in upside down depend on whether the gear is offset or not.
There's a better list around somewhere but very quickly the colour of the gear matches the diff ratio:
3.3?? : Yellow
3.545 : Black
3.7 : Blue
3.9 : White
The following rear gear ratios were only available from Nissan Competition Dept. - not OE in any models sold in the US
4.11 : Red
4.375 : Purple?
Re: Getting a cable speedo drive for ca18det gearbox?
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 5:09 pm
by z18et1200coupe
oh yeah? but the gear on the cable drive is not big enough diameter wise for the teeth to actually engage and it wont spin the speedo cable..
Re: Getting a cable speedo drive for ca18det gearbox?
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 5:18 pm
by DJZ
Put it in up the other way, as long as you don't have to smash it in. Is it the right colour gear for your diff? If not your speedo is going to read wrong. If the original one is offset and the cable one isn't you might need to find an offset housing, I might have one around somewhere - can't remember.
Good thing is the C series transmissions have a plastic gear inside them, unlike the B series that have a steel gear, so if somebody puts it in wrong you'll definitely root the gear inside the gearbox then you have to pull the whole back housing off to change it! Awesome! Been there done that

Re: Getting a cable speedo drive for ca18det gearbox?
Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 5:36 pm
by Dattochriswagon
On a side note. Im also interested in picking one of these up for my wagon if anyone can help.thanks
Re: Getting a cable speedo drive for ca18det gearbox?
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 9:02 pm
by z18et1200coupe
I'll upload a photo or two on the weekend, It looks like i need a new shaft and gear for the cable drive.. apparently ones out of 280c's are perfect?
Re: Getting a cable speedo drive for ca18det gearbox?
Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:31 am
by unlimitedpower
I used to be an expert on these things and the raitos etc. But its been a long long time since ive looked into it.
Doesn't the offset cog alow for different size (diameter) cogs to be run giving them proper mesh with the internal worm gear?
You rotate the entire unit in the box before you do up the locking tab when you rotate it and it has the offset cog it will move the contact point closer and further away from the worm gear to form a good mesh.
There is many different colour/teeth number/diameter cogs but only 2 different worm gears.
1 for the higher ratio diffs and 1 for the lower ratios
Re: Getting a cable speedo drive for ca18det gearbox?
Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 6:23 pm
by z18et1200coupe
unlimited power you are right! I didn't realise the shaft was offset so I tried it and turned it around and it goes! happy days! cheers!