I've had plenty of old volvos, oddly I guess I've never dealt with speedometer cables in 544's before, if I did it was 2 decades ago and I don't recall problems. I replaced mine (with a cheap make up kit) a couple days ago. I was happy to see that the speedometer worked (it hasn't since I owned the car) but it only lasted about 80 miles before the cable broke again. I suppose it broke in the same spot. My cable has an inch, at least - in inflexible steel coming out where the cable attaches to teh transmission. This requires an almost impossibly tight bend in the cable because clearance between the transmission and the tunnel is tight already. Could I have the wrong sort of cable? I don't ever recall these cars requiring a right angle drive but my memory might be off here.

UPDATE:

I am pretty confident that I can provide a rear tailhousing kit with the speedometer drive angle that is correct for a 544 that will bolt onto a late M40.

Unfortunately, to properly install the replacement tailhousing, it will be necessary to remove and disassemble the transmission.

However, the procedure required to change the tailhousing is the same as if the rear gasket is leaking or if a new rear bearing needs to be installed.

The kit will consist of a modified rear tailhousing, a new tailshaft bearing, shims for the tailshaft bearing, a new transmission gasket set, a new copper crush washer for the speedometer housing retaining bolt and a new non-Volvo rear seal.

The output flange, flange washer and nut, speedometer drive gear, speedometer drive gear housing and retaining bolt along with the helical speedometer drive gear that mounts on the tailshaft will all need to be reused.

The entire kit will cost around $150.00.

I plan on offering this upgrade to every 544/444 customer that has a later M40 that needs to be rebuilt.





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Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502
hiperformanceautoservice.com or oldvolvosonly.com

speed information? Unless you are going for a restoration just get a cheap gps unit.

I know this issue all too well.

First find out if your transmission is from a later model Volvo. If it's a 1967+ M40 the angle of the speedometer drive comes out at a much sharper angle and leaves little to no room even for an angle drive. I purchased an angle drive to solve this issue and even that was too much for the small space. I've heard that only the early versions of speedometer angle drives would work in that space and the ones available now are too large.

Solutions that I've heard worked and worked for me:

Get an earlier model M40. The issue is further detailed in this diagram: http://www.sure-vent.com/TailHousings.jpg. You might simply have a later model M40. I had to buy another M40 to deal with this issue.

If you want to stick with your the transmission you have, I've been told you can hammer out the tunnel shaft to make the speedo angle less acute. Most people do this already when adding an overdrive.

Buy a speedo angle drive and hope for the best. I have a brand new one I'd gladly sell you but I can't guarantee it will work.

Someone in the past replaced the early M40 transmission with a later M40 and the location of the speedometer drive is different.

An angle drive will solve the problem.
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Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502
hiperformanceautoservice.com or oldvolvosonly.com