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Old Aug 24, 2015 | 05:49 PM
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Default 1968 Speed Warning Speedometer

Hi, looking for some help. I have what appears to be a very original driver's side dash set up for a 68. The speedometer has the speed warning option. The needle is there and functions, meaning I can set it. I believe this an early setup as the wiper over-ride controls are under the tachometer ( as opposed to in the center like on my later 68), and the **** for the wipers is on the left side of the mount.

Anyway, the rear housing is stamped "SW SPEEDO" and I have no reason to think it is not 100% original.

My question is in reference to the buzzer relay, which is missing. On units I have seen in the past it was mounted on the right side of the rear speedo housing. With that in mind, I do not see any evidence that one was mounted there. No holes, no discoloration, nothing.

Is there a chance early 68's had the relay mounted elsewhere? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks and stay safe, john
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Old Aug 24, 2015 | 06:06 PM
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Sorry, Wrong Section. I have requested the moderators to get it to the right place.
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Old Aug 24, 2015 | 06:14 PM
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Old Aug 24, 2015 | 06:32 PM
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John

The 68 AIM shows the buzzer mounted on the birdcage near the back of the speedometer.

John
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Old Aug 24, 2015 | 06:35 PM
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Originally Posted by JC68
John

The 68 AIM shows the buzzer mounted on the birdcage near the back of the speedometer.

John
Wow, interesting. I was looking at one posted for sale here a few years ago that was advertised as a 68, and it had hex screws to mount the relay (is that the buzzer?) on the back of the speedo.

Thanks very much.
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Old Aug 24, 2015 | 06:50 PM
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Originally Posted by avalonjohn
Wow, interesting. I was looking at one posted for sale here a few years ago that was advertised as a 68, and it had hex screws to mount the relay (is that the buzzer?) on the back of the speedo.

Thanks very much.
If it's for a 68 I think almost anything is possible they made so many running changes during the model year. The 69 AIM shows the same install as the 68. The AIM calls it out as a buzzer, but yes it is what I believe you are calling the relay.
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Old Aug 24, 2015 | 10:21 PM
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Here is one of the "for sale" threads from a while ago posted by another member. Notice where the buzzer is mounted. Mine does not have any provision to mount anything there.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nd-extras.html
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Old Aug 24, 2015 | 11:19 PM
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Originally Posted by avalonjohn
Here is one of the "for sale" threads from a while ago posted by another member. Notice where the buzzer is mounted. Mine does not have any provision to mount anything there.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nd-extras.html
On Ebay there are currently 2 1968 and 3 1969 speed warning speedometers for sale. The 2 68s show evidence that the buzzer was mounted on the back of the speedometer and the 3 69s do not. So somewhere along the line there was a change to the mounting of the buzzer. It does show a different part number for the 68 and 69 speed warning speedometer.

I wonder if the SW SPEEDO stamp is from a rebuilder? They may have used a 69 as a core for your 68.

Another possibility is the buzzer was mounted differently on A/C vs. non-A/C cars. It could have possibly gotten in the way of the ducting. The AIM does not show this however.

John
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Old Aug 25, 2015 | 02:03 AM
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Hey John, this is just FYI as you decide what to do with yours, but the old post you referred to was my 68 speedo that I sold. I believe that to be original to my car and mines an early 68 with a January 68 build date. My car has factory A/C, power windows, power brakes, power steering, automatic, and a 327/300. Don't know if any of this helps, but ya never know... good luck, Jason
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Old Aug 25, 2015 | 06:33 AM
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Hello AJ, long time - no hear. Hope all is well with you.

Checked my early model '68 (Nov. 24/67 build date) with the U15 option and mine is just like Jason's. Mounted on the back with small hex screws. My '68 has p/s, p/b, p/w and Turbo 400 but no a/c. I will post pics when I get a chance. Also, no SW SPEEDO stamp.

Cheers BK3

Last edited by bkvette3; Aug 25, 2015 at 06:36 AM.
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Old Aug 25, 2015 | 11:15 AM
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Originally Posted by bkvette3
Hello AJ, long time - no hear. Hope all is well with you.

Checked my early model '68 (Nov. 24/67 build date) with the U15 option and mine is just like Jason's. Mounted on the back with small hex screws. My '68 has p/s, p/b, p/w and Turbo 400 but no a/c. I will post pics when I get a chance. Also, no SW SPEEDO stamp.

Cheers BK3
Hi Blair, Thanks for the info. The SW SPEEDO stamp appears factory. It may be hard to see. I had to look for it after seeing several stamped that way in google photos. On the rear housing, left side.

Thanks pal.
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Old Aug 25, 2015 | 11:16 AM
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Originally Posted by 13611
Hey John, this is just FYI as you decide what to do with yours, but the old post you referred to was my 68 speedo that I sold. I believe that to be original to my car and mines an early 68 with a January 68 build date. My car has factory A/C, power windows, power brakes, power steering, automatic, and a 327/300. Don't know if any of this helps, but ya never know... good luck, Jason
Thanks very much Jason!
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Old Aug 25, 2015 | 02:21 PM
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Odd... I've seen quite a few of these and I don't think I've ever seen one with the buzzer mounted on the can. My first thought was that possibly it was off a 69 but I ruled that out via the 69 aim. I have a repeat customer with a very early 68 so the next time he's in here I'll check behind his dash.

What made me look at 69 was the two other heads in the pictures on the other thread. 68 was a screw on, 69 was a slip on speedo cable and the other two heads were 69 and newer.

Willcox
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Old Aug 25, 2015 | 04:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Willcox Corvette
Odd... I've seen quite a few of these and I don't think I've ever seen one with the buzzer mounted on the can. My first thought was that possibly it was off a 69 but I ruled that out via the 69 aim. I have a repeat customer with a very early 68 so the next time he's in here I'll check behind his dash.

What made me look at 69 was the two other heads in the pictures on the other thread. 68 was a screw on, 69 was a slip on speedo cable and the other two heads were 69 and newer.

Willcox
Thank you very much. I am pretty sure my speedo has the screw on cable, but I will check tonight. That would rule out the 69 I guess. As I said this appears to be an early model due to the placement of the over-ride controls. It is a 435 tach as well, if that makes any difference. I think I need to post some pictures.
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Old Aug 25, 2015 | 05:05 PM
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No need John, I was talking about the one sold... I was looking for a reason the relay/buzzer would be mounted on the tach canister and the two extra heads in his pictures were threaded... this is what pushed me to look at 69 but they are the same as later 68 cars. The only way I can verify this is if our early 68 customer comes in.

The one in his picture sure looks correct and correctly mounted (the screws look correct too). I'm pretty convinced it may be a very early 68 design that was changed.

Ernie
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Old Aug 25, 2015 | 06:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Willcox Corvette
No need John, I was talking about the one sold... I was looking for a reason the relay/buzzer would be mounted on the tach canister and the two extra heads in his pictures were threaded... this is what pushed me to look at 69 but they are the same as later 68 cars. The only way I can verify this is if our early 68 customer comes in.

The one in his picture sure looks correct and correctly mounted (the screws look correct too). I'm pretty convinced it may be a very early 68 design that was changed.

Ernie
Thank you Ernie.

Let me see if I have what you are saying in order. The 68 Speedo has a screw in Speedo cable. A 69 does not. The 68's you have seen do not have the buzzer mounted to the rear of the speedo housing?

The setup I have is in a 68 only dash with correct ignition / headlight switch. The setup I have has the wiper over-ride under the tach, as opposed to the steering wheel, and has the wiper **** on the far left (indicating an early car right?)

The setup I have has no indication the buzzer was ever mounted anywhere on the back of the speedo. Blair (BKVette) has a late Nov 67 with the buzzer mounted to the rear of the speedo.

So...you think it is possible that mine is a "very" early 68 design that changed during the 68 run (as early as late Nov 67), then when back to off the rear housing for 69?

sorry, I was getting lost. Thank you and eveyone for your patience.
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Old Aug 25, 2015 | 09:21 PM
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I'm not 100 percent sure John.. but I believe on very.. very... very... early cars the buzzer was mounted on the can vs the birdcage. You should check your birdcage and see if there is evidence of the buzzer being mounted there. I can't verify this until I get a look under our customers dash.

There were so many production changes (as I'm sure you know) during the 68 production.. Early, Mid and Late changes keep 68 owners on the edge.

All 68 cars had screw on tach and speedo cables, the change to slip on didn't happen until the beginning of 69 production.

The AIM picture details the birdcage mounting and if you need a copy of this let me know I'll post it up for you.

Ernie
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Old Aug 25, 2015 | 09:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Willcox Corvette
I'm not 100 percent sure John.. but I believe on very.. very... very... early cars the buzzer was mounted on the can vs the birdcage. You should check your birdcage and see if there is evidence of the buzzer being mounted there. I can't verify this until I get a look under our customers dash.

There were so many production changes (as I'm sure you know) during the 68 production.. Early, Mid and Late changes keep 68 owners on the edge.

All 68 cars had screw on tach and speedo cables, the change to slip on didn't happen until the beginning of 69 production.

The AIM picture details the birdcage mounting and if you need a copy of this let me know I'll post it up for you.

Ernie
Thanks again, It may be sinking in with me. There is currently one for sale on Ebay with a date sticker of Sept 67. It has the mount on the can. BkVette's Nov 67 has it on the can, and Jason's (all guys in this thread) Jan 68 car has it on the can. I was assuming this was an early piece due to the placement of the wiper over-ride controls, however, I never researched as to when the move for those controls shifted to the the center of the dash. That may have been after Jan of 68. Making sense now.

My car (owned since 85) is a late May car. My car is complete and never had this option. I bought this part it for the dash only, for another 68 my friend is restoring (that "Motion looking" who knows car I've written about). Turns out he used a reproduction dash and doesn't need it.

Thanks again for all the help and if you ever see your customers dash please let me know.

On a side note, As I have mentioned I have owned my 68 since I was 17 (1985) , which is mostly restored. I also have a very original 69 coupe that needs a restoration. I have only heard good things about your company. You have just made a new customer today with your good advice and willingness to help. Thank you.
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Old Aug 26, 2015 | 12:15 AM
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Hello AJ,

Sometimes I don't know what the heck I am speaking about so I will let the pics do the talking. SW SPEEDO stamped on rear like you said. Also, like you mentioned - my wiper over ride controls are under the tach & **** for wiper on the left side. Nov.24/1967 build date. Old pics but hopefully this helps you out. Regards.











Last edited by bkvette3; Aug 26, 2015 at 12:35 AM.
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Old Aug 27, 2015 | 11:48 AM
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Well that just about confirms it for me... BK's pics indicate the early production cars had the buzzer on the back of the gauge can and it looks as if later cars had it on the birdcage.... where the divide is I have no idea.

The irony to this is that I had a picture of our customers speedo the last time we had it out. I'm pretty sure this was his speedo... and look in the right hand upper corner... The buzzer is mounted to the can and it's a very early car too. (pictured below)

John I believe what you should do is look at the birdcage and see if you can locate the two mounting holes. I feel pretty sure you'll find them.



Here is the installation sheet from the 1968 (and it's the same for 69) AIM.
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