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Old Sep 3, 2006 | 12:22 PM
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Had a guy stop in our shop today and said he had an 1981 4 speed, radio delete car and instead of a clock it had a oil temp gauge?
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Old Sep 3, 2006 | 12:26 PM
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wow! I'm thinkin, "BS, BS, more BS" but I consult my trusty corvette blackbook and it confirms what the guy said! For the exact numbers and language, go look at your own!
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Old Sep 3, 2006 | 12:27 PM
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I thought the clock was moved to the radio around that time and an oil temp gauge put in its place. Was not aware you could get radio delete in 1981.

Just checked the black book and 315 were made this way for a credit of $118.
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Old Sep 3, 2006 | 12:29 PM
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My understanding was you got the clock with with radio delete or with the base am/fm radio. If you ordered the optional radio with digital clock built in to the radio, then you got the oil temp gauge. Maybe the radio delete triggered a performance code that gave the oil gauge instead, makes sense that it would, interesting.
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Old Sep 3, 2006 | 12:32 PM
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and who said 81`s werent performance monsters just waiting to be let loose....see all it took was a radio delete to get it moving.
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Old Sep 3, 2006 | 12:38 PM
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Cars with the electronically tuned receivers (ETRs) had the clock in the radio unit. The oil temp gauge replaced the clock in the bezel. There was an RPO UL5 (radio delete) but one would think with that option the clock would have remained. Or he converted as many have done.

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Old Sep 3, 2006 | 01:08 PM
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Originally Posted by JustForFun
and who said 81`s werent performance monsters just waiting to be let loose....see all it took was a radio delete to get it moving.
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Old Sep 3, 2006 | 03:30 PM
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Originally Posted by paul67
Cars with the electronically tuned receivers (ETRs) had the clock in the radio unit. The oil temp gauge replaced the clock in the bezel. There was an RPO UL5 (radio delete) but one would think with that option the clock would have remained. Or he converted as many have done.


Will that temp gauge fit in place of the clock on a 68?
I'd like to use it as a trans temp gauge. I have the BTO gauge hanging off the bottom of the dash, and it looks tacky, plus it gets in the way.
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Old Sep 3, 2006 | 03:38 PM
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Good idea! It would probably take some modifying. That temp gauge was not designed to fit in that particular location, so you would have to disassemble the dial face on the oil temp gauge and use some of your clock hardware (or buy another junk clock) to get it to fit in your clock location. But, that is all "do-able" and it would be a nice functional addition to the gauge cluster.
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Old Sep 3, 2006 | 03:52 PM
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Originally Posted by 7T1vette
Good idea! It would probably take some modifying. That temp gauge was not designed to fit in that particular location, so you would have to disassemble the dial face on the oil temp gauge and use some of your clock hardware (or buy another junk clock) to get it to fit in your clock location. But, that is all "do-able" and it would be a nice functional addition to the gauge cluster.
Thanks for the info
I've heard of others on the Forum doing similar gauge swaps, I'll do a search and find exact years these were done and find out what works best.

78SA, apologies for the hijack, this looked like a good thread to ask for info on the temp gauge
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Old Sep 3, 2006 | 10:45 PM
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So is this something weird or what? My 81 has a oil temp gauge and no clock. I think I still have the 8 track stereo it came with but don't know if it had a clock in it
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Old Sep 3, 2006 | 10:51 PM
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Originally Posted by JustForFun
and who said 81`s werent performance monsters just waiting to be let loose....see all it took was a radio delete to get it moving.
Dang it! You mean I just wasted all that money on a LS1 when all I needed was to take the radio out?
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Old Sep 4, 2006 | 06:56 AM
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Originally Posted by JustForFun
and who said 81`s werent performance monsters just waiting to be let loose....see all it took was a radio delete to get it moving.
You just made me spit coffee on my keyboard at 6:55 in the morning! LOL
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Old Sep 4, 2006 | 07:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Crazy81
Dang it! You mean I just wasted all that money on a LS1 when all I needed was to take the radio out?
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Old Sep 4, 2006 | 07:07 AM
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Originally Posted by SIXFOOTER
So is this something weird or what? My 81 has a oil temp gauge and no clock. I think I still have the 8 track stereo it came with but don't know if it had a clock in it

The clock was in the optional stereos with CB, they had 'digital' clock display.

I got my '81 in early 1983 and it had the super duper top option code sound system:

The UN5 AM-FM Stereo with Cassette/CB 2,349 units at $750.

I yanked that bad boy and put in a Kenwood almost immediately.

CB's were a dying/dead fad by 1983 anyway.

Last edited by PhotoVette1; Sep 4, 2006 at 07:27 AM.
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