What Is Your Odometer Reading Upon Reinstall?

[RusTy/SE]

Many of us have or will have rebuilt one or more of the gauges in our cars. Regarding the odometer, what's everyone's preference for a reading when reinstalled? Back to zero or current reading?

Can't remember seeing this discussed too much anywhere, so it's not much of an issue. Just curious

As for my car, the shop doing the work recommends back to zero but I lean towards requesting the business that restore my gauges to reset the odometer to it's current reading 


Russ

[purple1]

Well Russ, a restored speedometer should have a restored "inker" on the last digit. Would you want that to start at the curent reading? Maybe tell them to leave the inker out? It's realy up to you. If you want to think of the car as all new, set it back to zero. I would rather think of the car as fixed at what ever the reading was, and would ask to be set that way without the inker. Just my  worth.

Dave

[4Cruizn]

When I did my convertible, I set the speedo back to zero's because in my eyes, it was a new car.    

[jeryst]

Might want to check with your DMV. In PA, it is illegal to set an odometer back unless you provide a signed notarized statement of the difference when you sell the car. So if your car has 85k on it and you set it back to 0, you have to state to the buyer, in writing, that that car has 85k more miles on it than the odometer shows.

Some older cars are considered mileage exempt, so I don't think it matters in thoses instances.

[JayBee]

When I converted from a standard to rallye dash the odometer was set to what the original one was. Guess I just always wanted to know exactly how much I've driven the car without having to add 126,193 to it.

[RusTy/SE]

Well Russ, a restored speedometer should have a restored "inker" on the last digit. Would you want that to start at the curent reading? Maybe tell them to leave the inker out? It's realy up to you. If you want to think of the car as all new, set it back to zero. I would rather think of the car as fixed at what ever the reading was, and would ask to be set that way without the inker. Just my  worth.

Dave

Thanks Dave I'm ignorant on some of the things to consider when totally rebuilding a car's gauges and had no idea about the "inker".

Might want to check with your DMV. In PA, it is illegal to set an odometer back unless you provide a signed notarized statement of the difference when you sell the car. So if your car has 85k on it and you set it back to 0, you have to state to the buyer, in writing, that that car has 85k more miles on it than the odometer shows.

Some older cars are considered mileage exempt, so I don't think it matters in thoses instances.

Man, good point. I will check with my local DMV

This site rocks I'll be the first to admit I'm a 'newbie' when it comes to being exposed to 100% rebuilding one of these cars. Every thing needs to be considered calmly - not rushed into - and I appreciate everyone's advice and experience.

Russ

[buzzard]

 Set mine to 0 and posted on the face milage in feet

[DAYLEY/CHALLENGER]

Back to zeroooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo......................New car isn't it??

[4Cruizn]

When I die . . . and my family dies . . and the estate sells my cars maybe in the year 4010, I will have a disclosure that in 1999,   I set my speedo back to zero because I stripped the car down to a bare shell, rebuilt it completely with just about all new parts including a completely new engine and trans, completely changed the exterior color and the color of the interior, all new brake lines and gas lines, gas tank, brakes and front end, completely built the car from the ground up plus ........... I really had no idea how many miles were on the car when I bought it in the first place.   

I think they'll understand.  And if they don't     


I really just wanted to know easily how many miles I have put on the new restoration.  I guess its your choice.  

[Chryco Psycho]

with a 40 year old car how do you prove if it has 40,000 or 340,000 , if I am looking at a 40 year old car I look at the present condition Not the indicated milage , you could buy a 40 year old car that was wrapped around a tree & left outside to rot for 38 years with that still has less than 20,000 original miles or a car like 4 cs that could have been babied for 40 years & have 300,000+ miles on it [ not that I am suggesting 4Cs Cuda has that milage on it ]

[GoodysGotaCuda]

i put autometer gauges in mine which were zero. Never knew if it was 120k, or 220k, etc on there anyway. DMV had a check box when it was registered for 'is it the correct odometer reading'....nope. Thats all ive had to do.

[wally426ci]

I left mine with 86,000 as a reminder of its past i guess

[Pistol Gripper]

666

P.G.

[RDF]

My new gauge (autometer) is zero....I like it that way....kinda makes me feel like I'm driving something "new".

[jeryst]

Don't know how it is in other states, but if you alter the odometer reading, PA considers that "Odometer Fraud" which is a felony. Just wanted to restate that point, because if your state is similar, you could be facing hard time.