79 Electric Clock; future trouble maker ??
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 941
Likes: 10
79 Electric Clock; future trouble maker ??
I am doing a total restoration on my 79. The electric clock did not work. I cleaned it, lubed it and dressed the contact points with a pint file. It now works fine on my bench with good time keeping. But herein lies the questions;
1. What if that clock had failed with the points closed. Would the coil have finally overheated and maybe caused a fire ? If the clock failed with the pints closed, would that not run down the battery if the car was not run often.
I am thinking about not putting the clock back in but replacing it with a useful instrument that wont cause me headaches.
Does anyone know of a vacuum gauge that has the right silk screen face that would somewhat match the other gauges ?
Thanks
8Valve
1. What if that clock had failed with the points closed. Would the coil have finally overheated and maybe caused a fire ? If the clock failed with the pints closed, would that not run down the battery if the car was not run often.
I am thinking about not putting the clock back in but replacing it with a useful instrument that wont cause me headaches.
Does anyone know of a vacuum gauge that has the right silk screen face that would somewhat match the other gauges ?
Thanks
8Valve
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
I am doing a total restoration on my 79. The electric clock did not work. I cleaned it, lubed it and dressed the contact points with a pint file. It now works fine on my bench with good time keeping. But herein lies the questions;
1. What if that clock had failed with the points closed. Would the coil have finally overheated and maybe caused a fire ? If the clock failed with the pints closed, would that not run down the battery if the car was not run often.
I am thinking about not putting the clock back in but replacing it with a useful instrument that wont cause me headaches.
Does anyone know of a vacuum gauge that has the right silk screen face that would somewhat match the other gauges ?
Thanks
8Valve
1. What if that clock had failed with the points closed. Would the coil have finally overheated and maybe caused a fire ? If the clock failed with the pints closed, would that not run down the battery if the car was not run often.
I am thinking about not putting the clock back in but replacing it with a useful instrument that wont cause me headaches.
Does anyone know of a vacuum gauge that has the right silk screen face that would somewhat match the other gauges ?
Thanks
8Valve
At the worst it would blow the fuse that feeds it. You can buy quarts movement repair kits to update your clock (about $90) or you can buy a new clock with the quartz movement already installed. The new clocks operate very smoothly with no "CLICK" every minute and the second hand runs continuously. I converter my '71's clock to the quartz movement about 5 years ago and I am very happy with it.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 374
Likes: 42
From: Coldwater Mi
I fixed my stock clock in my '79....ran great.....for about 2 months, then stopped dead again....NOT gonna fix it again, the points were already real thin, and the THIN metal "ears" ya' gotta bend 2 times in fixin' it once will more than likely break if I took
it out again.......not on my priority list now....doin' other "necessary schtuff"!!
it out again.......not on my priority list now....doin' other "necessary schtuff"!!
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I am doing a total restoration on my 79. The electric clock did not work. I cleaned it, lubed it and dressed the contact points with a pint file. It now works fine on my bench with good time keeping. But herein lies the questions;
1. What if that clock had failed with the points closed. Would the coil have finally overheated and maybe caused a fire ? If the clock failed with the pints closed, would that not run down the battery if the car was not run often.
I am thinking about not putting the clock back in but replacing it with a useful instrument that wont cause me headaches.
Does anyone know of a vacuum gauge that has the right silk screen face that would somewhat match the other gauges ?
Thanks
8Valve
1. What if that clock had failed with the points closed. Would the coil have finally overheated and maybe caused a fire ? If the clock failed with the pints closed, would that not run down the battery if the car was not run often.
I am thinking about not putting the clock back in but replacing it with a useful instrument that wont cause me headaches.
Does anyone know of a vacuum gauge that has the right silk screen face that would somewhat match the other gauges ?
Thanks
8Valve
Worst case is you'll blow the fuse...
If it were my car I'd buy the quartz kit and convert it yourself. It's very easy and I can show you how!
