'82 SC - What's This?

[Steam Driver]

I was disconnecting stuff under the car today preparatory to dropping the engine and came across this; what is it? Passenger side of the transmission and obviously in the differential/final drive section of the transaxle. The first obvious conclusion is "Back-up Light Switch" but if it is it's not where it's supposed to be nor does it look like it's supposed to either.

Not wanting to appear the idiot I looked for this in the parts catalog (which unfortunately has the unit drawn from the driver's side and found nothing like this, nor did a perusal of Pelican and some other parts places find anything looking like it.

Anyway, pics:

[boyt911sc]

That is the speed sensor that delivers signal to your speedometer.

Tony

[proffighter]

Speedo sensor

[Walt Fricke]

Right - one more thing you have to disconnect. Easiest to loosen the 10mm headed bolt, swing the retaining wire out of the way, pop the electrical wire out of the clip, and pull the sensor out. Then trace the wire forward to where it enters the chassis, and clip any ties which would connect it to the transmission, and pull it somewhere out of the way so it doesn't get tangled up in anything when you pull the engine/tranny combo.

There is also a two wire connector for this inside the tunnel, near where the shift coupler is. But if you disconnect there, you have to push a connector through a hole in the chassis, and that means pushing a rubber grommet out. Which will probably be easier than trying to wrestle it back into place when you reinstall. So leave that for when you need to replace the sensor, and pull the sensor off the transmission.

Note - when lowering/pulling backward the engine/tranny, if at some point it seems it doesn't behave as it should, stop, back up a bit with the jack, and look around carefully for something you forgot to disconnect that needs to be disconnected. Oil, breather, fuel, shifter, throttle, clutch, and numerous electrical connections, and easy to overlook one somewhere.

[Steam Driver]

Thanks everyone. After I posted the image I pulled it and found the VDO P/N 340 209/2 and a mfg. date of 12/83 (a year after car built).

I believe this car would have had the 85 mph speedo when new, correct? Would it have been mechanically (cable) driven and the unit it now (150 mph) was electrical thus the "afterthought" wiring?

In any case the "12/83" is helpful to me regarding the miles on the car, etc.

[Walt Fricke]

The last mechanical speedometer was '75 or thereabouts. No SC came with a mechanical speedometer. What makes you think any of the wiring is afterthought in your car? That pictured is like it should be.

I think you are right about the 85 mph speedometer being stock for your car, but how many 911s from that era still have that? It is something I don't think you could give away. Wait - for Preservation class Concours you would need the speedometer which came from the car or you'd lose points on the originality scale. But that's not a large market.

You are right, though, that one can't be certain that whoever changed the speedometer also went through the difficult process of rolling a new speedometer forward. In fact, I'd bet that was seldom if ever done. I wouldn't have. You can't just grab a knob and turn the wheels to where you want them.

[NOLAsc]

I don't think the 85 mph speedo was stock on an '82. I think that was earlier.