Regal 78-83 speedometer VSS in speedometer cluster

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81cutlass

Comic Book Super Hero
Feb 16, 2009
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Trying to connect the fiber optic VSS sensor (the blue/green box) into a 78-83 regal cluster. I need the VSS to feed to the GN PCM im putting in my century.

Every cutlass and grand prix gauge cluster I have seen has a port adjacent to the speedometer cluster cable that you just insert the bulb housing and put a screw in to hold it in place.

Even my factory non cruise 81 cutlass had the port in the speedometer.

For example-

Cutlass
1547673638005.png


Grand Prix

1547673657342.png


Monte/Malibu
1547673791546.png



Both my 78-83 regal/century clusters have no provisions for the VSS.

Where the heck does the VSS go on the regal speedometer???? I know regals had cruise. Both my 78 sport coupe and 80 century clusters have no port. All ebay clusters I have found don't have it either.
1547673847192.png
 

Texas82GP

Just-a-worm
Apr 3, 2015
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I'm in a similar situation. No provision for the optical speed sensor in my cluster and I bought a NOS later, optical sensor controlled cruise control setup for my car. When my car was new, the speed signal for the cruise control was generated by the transducer on the inner fender, which was inline on the speedo cable. My transducer had seen better days and the rest of the cruise control stuff was gone, likely lost when the diesel was pulled out in favor of a gasoline engine. My answer was to buy a speed signal generator to put inline on the speedo cable. I bought it here...

https://jagsthatrun.com/collections/speed-sensors

I don't remember how I found it, but it will generate the right signal to control the GM cruise control or to feed to the PCM for torque converter lockup. I'm not certain, but I believe the two pulse per rotation one is the one you need. If you get stumped finding that information, let me know. I can find it again.
 
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Texas82GP

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81cutlass

Comic Book Super Hero
Feb 16, 2009
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HMM, I think I have stumbled on that jags that run VSS pulse sensor before and didn't think of using it here.

Did your GP not have a provision for cruise in the cluster from the factory? I am starting to think that was part of the cruise option from GM in that you got the port hole in the cluster when you got cruise, otherwise you didn't.

$100 sucks but unless I can find a regal cluster with a VSS port I am kinda SOL. Im just curious if I can find or convert my cluster over.
 
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Texas82GP

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Apr 3, 2015
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I was under the impression that the early, pre-ECM or non-ecm cars had a different cruise control setup that relied on the tranducer that was inline on the speedometer cable on the driver's side inner fender. I thought that the transducer was done away with on later cars when the PCM was put into use and they went to the optical sensor on the speedometer. The later version of the cruise control doesn't use the transducer but instead feeds off the optical sensor and is run by a small black box under the dash, above the throttle pedal.
 
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Texas82GP

Just-a-worm
Apr 3, 2015
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And no, no provision for the optical sensor on my speedometer, just like yours.
 
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KCP

Master Mechanic
Oct 11, 2018
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Is the VSS for cruise only, or does it control lock up too? My '85 EC has VSS, but no cruise and no lock up.
 

DoubleV

Royal Smart Person
Feb 25, 2011
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Medina Ohio
My understanding is non CCC cars didn't have a VSS and all the cars with the CCC system had a VSS. Didn't matter if you had cruise or not.
 
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81cutlass

Comic Book Super Hero
Feb 16, 2009
4,639
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Western MN
That helps clarify and answer my question, 78-80 had no provision for the VSS, 81+ did.

I just need to find a 81-83 regal instrument cluster and use the speedometer from that. Cool.

Theres an 81 in a salvage yard decently close to me with one posted for $25 so I think my best option is to buy the cluster out of there and swap it with my century cluster.

Thanks everyone!
 
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