Midyear Clock restoration
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 38
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Midyear Clock restoration
I just pulled my inoperative clock from my 65 Conv. I want to have restored possibly with a quartz movement. I researched a couple of venders (D & M Restoration and Clocks By Roger), but would like input on anyone that has used these or others? Does anyone have any other vendor recommendations on who to use? I want a quick turnaround as the weather is perfect right now (Scottsdale, AZ) for the top down! Thanks :flag
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,128
Likes: 1
From: Nashville TN
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Midyear Clock restoration (Rons65)
Rons65,
Welcome to the forum. There is a shop in Jackson,TN that restores clocks (could be Rogers), I will check on that and let you know.
Welcome to the forum. There is a shop in Jackson,TN that restores clocks (could be Rogers), I will check on that and let you know.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 311
Likes: 11
From: Florence SC
Re: Midyear Clock restoration (Rons65)
You can get a quartz conversion kit from most any of the Corvette vendors and do the job yourself and save money and time provided all you need is to put in the quartz movement. Actually doing the conversion is much easier than getting the clock out. The kit comes with easy to follow instructions and all the little parts you need to convert to quartz.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 4
From: Marblehead MA
Re: Midyear Clock restoration (Rons65)
I did my clock last summer, converted it to quartz, keeps amazing time. I bought the conversion kit from MAD for under $60.... :smash:
Welcome to the forum.... :D :cheers:
Welcome to the forum.... :D :cheers:
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 38
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Re: Midyear Clock restoration (Rons65)
Thanks for the information - I will try the kit since the clock glass and face is in excellent condition. Its a good thing I pulled the clock since I found both the center and left side a/c flex vents were not attached! No wonder I was not getting much a/c thru my top vent!
I have been reading the Forum for over a year and have found it most informative as well as entertaining to say the least! I have a 65 Nassau Blue convertible, 2 top, 300hp, factory A/C car with only 73,000 original miles - looks as good as the day it came out of the showroom! I drive her every week since the weather here in most cases is nice year around. I feel for you folks that endure the hard winters....!! :cry
Thanks again
:cheers:
I have been reading the Forum for over a year and have found it most informative as well as entertaining to say the least! I have a 65 Nassau Blue convertible, 2 top, 300hp, factory A/C car with only 73,000 original miles - looks as good as the day it came out of the showroom! I drive her every week since the weather here in most cases is nice year around. I feel for you folks that endure the hard winters....!! :cry
Thanks again
:cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 17,278
Likes: 6
From: If I say it's safe to surf this beach ......then it's safe to surf this beach
Re: Midyear Clock restoration (Rons65)
Since your clock is in good physical condition the kit is probably the best way to go. But to answer your original question, I got a quartz clock from Corvette Clocks by Roger and it runs like......well, like a Swiss watch. I've had it maybe 5-6 years now.The old clock in the 64 was completely shot so I went the "exchange" route.
Roger has one of the best reputations of any Corvette vendor and everything in my dealings with him reinforced that.
Roger has one of the best reputations of any Corvette vendor and everything in my dealings with him reinforced that.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 3,024
Likes: 1,103
From: Aggieland TX
Re: Midyear Clock restoration (Rons65)
Ron
If you're going to consider a swap to quartz, why not see if you can get the mechanical running before you do that.. We just had the clock out of 65. It is a Borg clock and it wasn't running at all. I sprayed the counter weight (my term for the spring-loaded wheel that drives the mechanism) with contact/tuner cleaner/lube and it came to life. I used a little PB Blaster applied with a syringe needle to lube the spring on the winding mechanism (the point set). Mine rewinds about every minute and 30 sec (faster than usual) but I spoke with Roger (Clocks by Roger; nice guy and helpful!) and he said he didn't think that was a problem. I bench tested it by hooking leads to a battery and it ran pretty well so it's going back in. Next time (if there has to be one) it'll be the quartz conversion.
By the way, the lens is plastic so go easy with it. I've got some digital pics of the mechanism if you need to see anything.
Good luck!
DZ
If you're going to consider a swap to quartz, why not see if you can get the mechanical running before you do that.. We just had the clock out of 65. It is a Borg clock and it wasn't running at all. I sprayed the counter weight (my term for the spring-loaded wheel that drives the mechanism) with contact/tuner cleaner/lube and it came to life. I used a little PB Blaster applied with a syringe needle to lube the spring on the winding mechanism (the point set). Mine rewinds about every minute and 30 sec (faster than usual) but I spoke with Roger (Clocks by Roger; nice guy and helpful!) and he said he didn't think that was a problem. I bench tested it by hooking leads to a battery and it ran pretty well so it's going back in. Next time (if there has to be one) it'll be the quartz conversion.
By the way, the lens is plastic so go easy with it. I've got some digital pics of the mechanism if you need to see anything.
Good luck!
DZ
Racer
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 456
Likes: 0
From: Middleburg PA
Re: Midyear Clock restoration (Rons65)
I just had my entire cluster restored and freshened up by Rick's Restoration Service, 3355 Maple Grove Road, Manchester, Md.21102, 1-800-651-1270. I got his literature at Corvettes at Carlisle last fall. When I called and talked to him I was impressed with is experience. He actually has done a lot of work for Corvette Clocks by Roger. Have not put it back in the car yet, so I can't give a 100% OK at this point, but so far am pleased. I have also used Corvette Clocks by Roger in the past for work on a '71 I had and was very pleased with their work. They are at 24 Leisure Lane, Jackson, TN 38305 and can be reached at (901)664-6120. Good luck.
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Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 528
Likes: 5
From: Templeton Ca
Re: Midyear Clock restoration (Rons65)
I too pulled mine while I was "refreshing" the interior . I figured it wasnt high on my "have to have it now" list so I cleaned up the points and lubed the gears , painted the hands (anyone know where you can buy just the hands, my second hand is broken) put it back together and IT WORKS ! The hardest part was reattaching the bezel to the clock housing . SMALL steel screws worked .
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 41,793
Likes: 153
From: Houston,Texas USA
Re: Midyear Clock restoration (Rons65)
I bought a Quartz movement from Ecklers. It took less than an hour from start to finish. It is a very easy job. The only time I ever have to reset it, is when the time changes. It keeps perfect time.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 7,117
Likes: 51
From: Dove Mountain Arizona
Re: Midyear Clock restoration (Rons65)
Ron, first try squirting the mechanism with WD-40 (then clean off the points contacts) and give it a try. My car sat outside for 18 years and of course the clock didn't work. A squirt or two later and it's been ticking for 3+ years now. Cheapest fix I've done on the vert!!! :lol:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 62
From: Redondo Beach CA
C2 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: Midyear Clock restoration (MasterDave)
On mine, it looks like the electrical contact points are worn. I cleaned it all up and it basically works, but the electricl points are so worn that it will stop. I tried to build up the points with solder to see if that made a difference, and the clock worked for a while, but then stopped again. I think if I could replace that one part I would be up and running. Anyone know of a supply for this part?
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 862
Likes: 2
Re: Midyear Clock restoration (MasterDave)
Ron, first try squirting the mechanism with WD-40 (then clean off the points contacts) and give it a try. My car sat outside for 18 years and of course the clock didn't work. A squirt or two later and it's been ticking for 3+ years now. Cheapest fix I've done on the vert!!! :lol:
I have had Clockworks do a few clocks for me, including a quartz conversion and was very pleased with them. For a C1 clock overhaul, price is $39.95 which includes chroming the bezel! They're also worth considering. http://www.clockwks.com
- Mike Greene
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 38
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Re: Midyear Clock restoration (Rons65)
Just an update - I bought a Quartz kit from Eckler's - installed the kit last night and plugged the clock into the dash (just sitting there)....it has been 16 hours and it keeps perfect time so far! Now I just have to install back into the dash :cry Not the time to have "big hands" with those small clips and no room to work!
Thanks for the help. Time for some serious cruising since it is 90+ degrees today with "cool" evenings! :D
Thanks for the help. Time for some serious cruising since it is 90+ degrees today with "cool" evenings! :D
