How can I change my odometer to the correct mileage?

Hello. I have an '88 LX that came with the 85 MPH speedometer. YUCK! I just bought a 140 MPH speedo from a GT at the swap meet. I would like to roll the odometer back from 58000 to 50000 so that it will be accurate. In 10 years I will be 49 and won't be able to remember what my mileage is really supposed to be. Is there an easy way to roll it back? Thanks a bunch.

Full disassembly... Don't loose the clips.

Originally Posted by BluBlood

Hello. I have an '88 LX that came with the 85 MPH speedometer. YUCK! I just bought a 140 MPH speedo from a GT at the swap meet. I would like to roll the odometer back from 58000 to 50000 so that it will be accurate. In 10 years I will be 49 and won't be able to remember what my mileage is really supposed to be. Is there an easy way to roll it back? Thanks a bunch.

Rolling back speedometers is illegal - period. I forget what year, sometime in the late ‘70's ? Since that time federal law requires anti-tampering mechanisms must be built into odometers. If you try to roll it back, the numbers will separate - it gives a very, simple, very visible and easily recognized indication of tampering...whether it was under good intentions or not! When I changed my ‘83 speedometer from 85 to 140, I bought a new one from FMS (one of the many names for the enthusiast lines ... ford motorsport, SVO, SVT, FMS - open request to Ford, jus' pick a name 'n stick with it, jeez!).

I took it to the local distributer / speedometer shop - had him match the old mileage to the new one and write a letter, documenting the change. If you are concerned about authenticity...put the new speedometer in, write up a notice of the mileage on both speedometers, the VIN number/license plate of the car and have it notarized. Keep it with the other important papers, legal papers, registration, etc - that you keep for your cars. Ten years from now, if/when you sell it...you should still have all the info. You will still be faced with the problem of whether the buyer will believe the documentation or not, but at least there us a paper trail.

Good Luck.

Oops: For a minute, I forgot the '88 has an electronic speedometer. You will need to have it reset, there is/are devices that can recalibrate them. but again, there are anti-tampering indicators which will allow anyone with a little knowledge to know its a). not the original speedometer and b). has been reset ... the average guy would not be interested in crawling under the dash to find out - unless its were being sold as a one owner/original - in that case, you can bet, I, or anyone else believe...but verify.

Originally Posted by BluBlood

Hello. I have an '88 LX that came with the 85 MPH speedometer. YUCK! I just bought a 140 MPH speedo from a GT at the swap meet. I would like to roll the odometer back from 58000 to 50000 so that it will be accurate. In 10 years I will be 49 and won't be able to remember what my mileage is really supposed to be. Is there an easy way to roll it back? Thanks a bunch.

Rolling back speedometers is illegal - period. I forget what year, sometime in the late ‘70's ? Since that time federal law requires anti-tampering mechanisms must be built into odometers. If you try to roll it back, the numbers will separate - it gives a very, simple, very visible and easily recognized indication of tampering...whether it was under good intentions or not! When I changed my ‘83 speedometer from 85 to 140, I bought a new one from FMS (one of the many names for the enthusiast lines ... ford motorsport, SVO, SVT, FMS - open request to Ford, jus' pick a name 'n stick with it, jeez!).

I took it to the local distributer / speedometer shop - had him match the old mileage to the new one and write a letter, documenting the change. If you are concerned about authenticity...put the new speedometer in, write up a notice of the mileage on both speedometers, the VIN number/license plate of the car and have it notarized. Keep it with the other important papers, legal papers, registration, etc - that you keep for your cars. Ten years from now, if/when you sell it...you should still have all the info. You will still be faced with the problem of whether the buyer will believe the documentation or not, but at least there us a paper trail.

Good Luck.

I was aware that it was only illegal for DEALERSHIPS to rollback odometers and represent that # as true mileage.

The owner of a vehicle can do whatever he wishes to his odometer and neither the Federal NOR State government can bring charges to him or her.

That is why there is a Box on your title to check "Not actual Mileage" or "exceeds Odometer's capability" Helps to CYA, and the government came up with it and put it there themselves for the old school odometers with only 5 digits...

There ARE severe penalties for dealerships that do it though. But I've Never heard of a private citizen being charged with a crime (motor vehicle related or not) for doing this.

I think that making his new odometer match the original car mileage is highly respectable.

If it's digital, I have no clue how he'd do it though...

I've been doing a little research and as best as I can tell, it is only against the law in Texas to change my odometer if I am trying to misrepresent the mileage to a buyer. I am supposed to state if it is accurate or not on the title. Since I never get rid of anything, this shouldn't be an issue. I'm just interested in showing the real mileage so I don't have to remember anything. I do think it might be a good idea to have some type of paper trail to prevent any potential problems and if by chance I did sell the car in the future, I would be covered. I don't think this is a digital speedometer. It has the same look to it as my '66 Galaxie odometer. I need to look more closely, but I can't figure out how to get inside to manipulate it. I do appreciate all of your feedback.

Take it all apart....

stick a drill in it and spin it for 3 days at 140 mph to get it to the desired mileage !!

with only an 8k difference i wouldnt be bothering,but thats just me

I did like FEandGoingBroke said and took it apart. It wasn't bad at all. *I took the clear lense off. *There are 4 faceplates that overlap and are glued a little bit together; something like contact cement. The faceplate for the oil pressure and gas gauge overlaps the speedo. I took out the 4 scews that hold the faceplate on and then pulled the needle off the oil pressure, but couldn't get it off the gas gauge without possibly damaging it. * I was then able to carefully push the speedo assembly out. *The odometer has a row of numbers with a pin through it that the numbers spin on. Just above numbers is row of small plastic gears; one gear per number. These gears spin on a pin also. This is the pin I had to deal with.* I had my son hold the assembly on the workbench and backed up one end of the pin against a small socket to drive the pin through. I used a small punch and gently tapped the pin back about 1/8 inch. That end of the pin came out of the hole and I was able to lift the gears up enough to disengage them from the numbers. * I then rolled the numbers around to the correct mileage being careful because some of the plastic seems delicate. Then I aligned the gears up with the numbers and put the pin back in its mounting hole. I used some pliers and easily pressed the pin back in its position. * I cleaned the faceplates and lense up with some soap and water and buttoned it all back up. Piece of cake. I only did this to make my new used odometer match the accurate mileage of the car. I don't intend on selling this Mustang and have no intention of defrauding anyone. I don't encourage anyone else to and would quickly turn anyone in that is lying about their car to put more money in their pocket.Thanks for all the input and thanks to FEandGoingBroke for giving me the push to tear it apart.