Jeffthunbird

I have a '66 BB car with a '69 BB engine. Orig was an L72. The car was frame off restored by the previous owner and a gauge set was installed in the area of the original parking brake handle. Hence, there is no way to operate the brake. The cable and other undercar parts are there and are new.
This car is a more like a hot rod than an original car.
The previous owner did not restore the gauge cluster so that it can show the original features of the L72. The speedo and the gas gauge work but all others are aftermarket. The originals may work but are disconnected. The face of the cluster shows minor rust spots etc.
I looked at moving the triple gauge cluster but I don't see a better place. Unfortunately, it's a little difficult to watch these as they are so low.
Should I:
Try to implement a '67 conversion to center console?
Get the original cluster restored and remove the triple gauges?
Relocate the gauges?
Sorry, pictures aren't that great.
Thanks everybody.

Nowhere Man

Find a shark car in a junk yard cut the floor between the seats and get all the frame brackets and graft it to your car and ruin yours

Jeffthunbird

Yikes! I don't think I want to go there.
How about mounting the '66 brake handle below the gauges? I'd need the parts. Maybe I can stand them off so they mount lower.

Nowhere Man

In 63-66 the parking brake handle was mounted to the lower dash

jrm5657

Personally, I would get the factory gauges working in the original cluster and get rid of the aftermarket gauges, then mount the correct parking brake handle where it is supposed to be and be done with it.

Very cool looking car!!!

bcwaller

While I like the '67 style parking brake better, I think you are better off removing the extra gauges and going back to what 1966 had. Or, live without the brake....

Bluestripe67

This is the corse of least resistance. Dennis

Vitaminmopar

I do not have all the information you asked for but offer these diagrams from the Willcox website. I know you will have to weld a bracket to the frame for the draw pulley. Perhaps you already have the 67 parts, if not you know you will have to obtain them. If you have to buy them all new from vendors the costs will run several hundreds of dollars. If they are available the parking brake handle assembly and trim cover will run over $300 and all the other parts will add to this. You will need to make provisions on the body for the cable to pass through and attach the required floor bracket. You will have to plug the holes in the firewall where the old parking brake resided with caulk, Bondo or fiberglass repair. How nice do you want that repair to be? You could sell off the current parking brake parts to offset the costs but I could only guess as to what you might be able to sell those parts for. It is your money, time and car. I don’t think this would ruin your car. Will it add value? It might be wiser to use the money to restore the gauge cluster and the current parking brake.

Jeffthunbird

Thanks for the great info. It's way too involved to convert to the '67 type.
I should get the gage cluster restored or possibly buy an aftermarket and put that in. Has anybody gone down that path?

427Hotrod

I've got a Dakota Digital dash cluster in mine. Works very nice. Analog gauges....but all electric.


JIM

Jeffthunbird

Good info, thanks. How difficult was that to install?

Has anybody tried the Classic Instruments gauge replacement package? How difficult to replace?




Thanks

skids

Santa brought me Classic Instruments Hot Rod Gauge set. I haven't installed them yet, but I did install Classic instruments in my 57 3100 pickup, and they are extremely nice gauges.

Jeffthunbird

Here are some new pics of my present situation. The gauges are rough. The one picture looks like the speedo is cracked but it's not. It's the reflection of the steering wheel. I like the white face Classic Instuments-might get those.

Nowhere Man

IF it was me I would just send your cluster out to be restored and remove all those bubba gauges.

raylag64

I agree. Your going to spend time and money no matter which direction you choose.
First, I would verify weather each gage works or not. Does the car have a tach drive distributor even? If the chrome on the cluster is in decent shape, it doesn't take much to bring it back to life. You can buy new or rebuilt gages or have them rebuilt. Or just send the whole cluster out. Depends on your comfort level.

I personally wouldn't go through the labor and expense to change the E-brake system to maintain a cheap $30 gage system.
Just my opinion,
Ray

wjkrautner

Hello Jim
Do you mind telling where you mounted the control box under the dash not much room under there? I am in the process of installing a Dakota Digital dash and was thinking of attaching it to the back of the glove box.
thanks, Walter

dr914

I would put things back into the original configuration, much easier, more functional, and keeps the value of. your car

belgiumbarry

nevertheless, one of the reasons i bought a '67... to have the hand brake in a "normal" position as we are used to... make U turns

wjkrautner

Thanks for your input but my 65 sat for over 30 years, not in a dry climate, and the gauges are all rusty and the cost to repair/replace them was more than the Dakota Gauges, which I have already purchased, so I am committed to this direction. The car is very much a Resto mod as all four corners of the car were damaged at some point and some with very poor repairs. So I am restoring it to what I want it to be, not necessarily a pure 1965 everything.
Walter

Dru282

All Classic Instruments in mine. Pretty straight forward install and look and work amazingly!