MarcDeSoto Posted June 7, 2022 Report Share Posted June 7, 2022 I have a 48 DeSoto, which had one of those color changing speedos. MoPar speedos had these for quite of few years starting in the 30s. It was green up to 30, then it turned amber up to 50, then red over 50, I think. Can these be easily restored? When I took my speedo out of my car, I saw a curled up piece plastic, which I think were the translucent colors. Is there anyone with some knowledge on how to rebuild this feature, or know where the parts are? Thanks, Marc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted June 7, 2022 Report Share Posted June 7, 2022 Marc, do a search, this has been discussed in detail a number of times.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcDeSoto Posted June 7, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2022 Wish I could find it. Nothing comes up on a search except my post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted June 7, 2022 Report Share Posted June 7, 2022 In the search box type 3 words color change speedometer. While in the box, look down at the open menu tab about mid way. You have to click/check the "all of the search term words" . I wish someone would make that the default. "Any of the search term words" is the default now, and won't find anything. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busycoupe Posted June 7, 2022 Report Share Posted June 7, 2022 I would send it to an instrument repair specialist. About 12 yrs ago I had an extra speedometer out of a junker and thought I would take it apart, restore the translucent colors, put it together again and put it in my car. It never made it. In the process of taking it apart I broke it in several ways that I was unable to repair. I chalked it up to a learning experience. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Buchanan Posted June 7, 2022 Report Share Posted June 7, 2022 5 hours ago, MarcDeSoto said: Wish I could find it. Nothing comes up on a search except my post. Use Google for your searches, works much better: site:p15-d24.com color change speedometer This search returned several threads. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_Douglas Posted June 7, 2022 Report Share Posted June 7, 2022 Assuming the speed works and you are just needing to deal with the color... What I did 20 years ago... I went to a local model shop and purchased red, green and yellow transparent paint. it was from a Japanese manufacturer if I remember correctly. This stuff allows light to pass through. I purchased a very fine small brush and I painted the plastic prism just like AutoLite did when they made the speedometer. One work of caution. I painted the green too dark and the light barely comes through until I hit about 34 MPH and the yellow comes in. So, go thin on the color green and red. James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desoto1939 Posted June 7, 2022 Report Share Posted June 7, 2022 Marc: If yours is like my 39 Desoto there is just a color strip of paper that has the appropriate color and as the needle moves these is a little white round knob that lets the color come through the knob and it is the color on the paper. Not sure if your is the same but might be the same. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_Douglas Posted June 8, 2022 Report Share Posted June 8, 2022 The 46-48 Desoto uses a painted color prism at the base of the needle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcDeSoto Posted June 10, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2022 All I remember is there was a curled up piece of plastic in the speedo that I thought was the color device, but now I'll look again to see the prism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcDeSoto Posted June 11, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2022 I took some pics of my speedo and have some questions. What is that toothpaste that is in there? Where precisely do I paint the colors? At the base of the pointer? And how do I put the speedo back in the instrument panel. It Doesn't seem to fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted June 11, 2022 Report Share Posted June 11, 2022 Sure that isn't chewed up paper? Never had one of these apart. Where were you storing it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilgore47 Posted June 11, 2022 Report Share Posted June 11, 2022 The white stuff is either glue or it's for balancing. It's in my speedo also. The color wheel is at the base of the needle. The deluxe had one color and the special deluxe had multiple colors. This is a picture of the 47 P15 speedo in pieces. Had to clean out the old dried grease. I got this one off the internet. The one that was in the car had a broken speed cup and needle. It's repairable but I couldn't find the parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P15-D24 Posted June 11, 2022 Report Share Posted June 11, 2022 From Dave Maxwells old P15 site: The mystery of the P15's color changing speedometer is solved by looking carefully at this photo. Light is shined on the prism/lens and directed at the rotating colored dyes on the shaft of the speedometer needle. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sniper Posted June 11, 2022 Report Share Posted June 11, 2022 This thread might help 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_Douglas Posted June 11, 2022 Report Share Posted June 11, 2022 This is the stuff I used... https://www.banditshobbies.com/store/p7543/TAMIYA_%2381025%3A_X-25_Clear_GREEN_Acrylic_Model_Paint%2C_23ml_Bottle.html James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcDeSoto Posted June 12, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2022 I'm still not clear on what I'm supposed to paint. Is it that disk thing with green on it? And does my DeSoto speedo have that triangular prism in it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilgore47 Posted June 13, 2022 Report Share Posted June 13, 2022 The part you should paint is the disc that is part of the speedo needle. Yes your speedo should have the prism. If you look close at the picture I attached above you can see the colors on the base of the needle. That's the part that should be painted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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