'66 instrument cluster in a '67

[Alexander D.]

Half the instruments in the cluster of my '67 coupe don't work properly. The tach needle 'sticks' at various RPM's, the ammeter is stuck at zero, and the fuel gauge reads erratically. Although my cluster has the speed minder option, it doesn't work.

I've considered removing my cluster to have the instruments gone through and repaired, but haven't been able to nail down what this might cost. There are no repair facilities that can do this work for me locally, so a further impediment is dealing with shipping my cluster from Canada to the USA and back.

Yesterday I came across someone who has a complete '66 gauge cluster for sale. The seller sent his cluster to Auto Instruments in VA about 3 years ago to have the instruments restored and gauge faces refurbished. He subsequently went the restomod route, installing an LS motor with digital gauges, explaining why his original cluster is now for sale.

To my questions:

1. Will a '66 gauge cluster fit into a '67 without issues? What if anything would need to be changed for it to work in my '67?
2. The tach in the '66 tach was converted to electronic (3 wires; coil, +/-). My car has the tach drive distributor. If I use the electric tach is it as simple as connecting the wires and removing the tach drive cable? Are there any advantages to running an electronic tach in a C2 vs. the stock cable-driven setup?
3. What would be a ballpark cost to restore my original '67 dash cluster? Is the U15 speed warning indicator option complicated and expensive to restore?

So, in my situation, if you had the option to spend around $500 for a complete cluster with refurbished gauges vs. sending your original cluster in for repair, what would be most cost effective? My car is not intended for NCRS judging (at this point) so my main concern is to keep the car looking stock for its year while being mindful of the cost to keep it strictly year correct.

Your thoughts?

[Donald O.]

Re: '66 instrument cluster in a '67

Half the instruments in the cluster of my '67 coupe don't work properly. The tach needle 'sticks' at various RPM's, the ammeter is stuck at zero, and the fuel gauge reads erratically. Although my cluster has the speed minder option, it doesn't work.

I've considered removing my cluster to have the instruments gone through and repaired, but haven't been able to nail down what this might cost. There are no repair facilities that can do this work for me locally, so a further impediment is dealing with shipping my cluster from Canada to the USA and back.

Yesterday I came across someone who has a complete '66 gauge cluster for sale. The seller sent his cluster to Auto Instruments in VA about 3 years ago to have the instruments restored and gauge faces refurbished. He subsequently went the restomod route, installing an LS motor with digital gauges, explaining why his original cluster is now for sale.

To my questions:

1. Will a '66 gauge cluster fit into a '67 without issues? What if anything would need to be changed for it to work in my '67?
2. The tach in the '66 tach was converted to electronic (3 wires; coil, +/-). My car has the tach drive distributor. If I use the electric tach is it as simple as connecting the wires and removing the tach drive cable? Are there any advantages to running an electronic tach in a C2 vs. the stock cable-driven setup?
3. What would be a ballpark cost to restore my original '67 dash cluster? Is the U15 speed warning indicator option complicated and expensive to restore?

So, in my situation, if you had the option to spend around $500 for a complete cluster with refurbished gauges vs. sending your original cluster in for repair, what would be most cost effective? My car is not intended for NCRS judging (at this point) so my main concern is to keep the car looking stock for its year while being mindful of the cost to keep it strictly year correct.

Your thoughts?

1. The 66 cluster will fit without modifications, but it will have extra mounting holes for the parking brake that a 67 doesn't need.

2. Yes it is that simple to connect and play, but you may or may not have to figure out a seal at the distributor where the cable attaches.

3. Are you asking about restoring the just the gauges or the gauges and cluster, along with switches, cigar lighter, etc? If everything then definitely north of $600.

The one expert here I would trust is our own Joe Ray (1011). He restored/repaired/re-calibrated my speedo and tach from my 67. How often would you need to use a speed minder?

Here is a thread on the woes and work that was done to correct mine.
Now my only problem is getting used to non bouncing speedo and tach needles
https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?123958

Don

[Alexander D.]

Re: '66 instrument cluster in a '67

1. The 66 cluster will fit without modifications, but it will have extra mounting holes for the parking brake that a 67 doesn't need.

2. Yes it is that simple to connect and play, but you may or may not have to figure out a seal at the distributor where the cable attaches.

3. Are you asking about restoring the just the gauges or the gauges and cluster, along with switches, cigar lighter, etc? If everything then definitely north of $600.

The one expert here I would trust is our own Joe Ray (1011). He restored/repaired/re-calibrated my speedo and tach from my 67. How often would you need to use a speed minder?

Here is a thread on the woes and work that was done to correct mine.
Now my only problem is getting used to non bouncing speedo and tach needles
https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?123958

Don

Hi Don,

Thanks for your reply and for sharing your experience with cluster restoration. Sorry to delay my reply - i've been battling the flu for the past couple of weeks..

Good to know the '66 cluster will fit my '67 without issue.

The seller is offering only the gauge cluster assembly of 4 gauges plus speedo and tach. I would install this into my existing '67 dash cluster housing. My headlight, wiper, lighter, and ignition switches would remain, as all are in good working order. I'd be retaining my '67 cluster housing, which is in very good shape. So, based on the fact I'd be re-using my cluster housing, and the switches along the bottom don't need restoring, how much would I be looking at to replace/restore my tach, speedo, ammeter, and gas gauge?

As far as the '66 cluster goes, no, I don't really need the '67 speed minder function. The only attraction is this is a relatively rare option on a '67. As I'm reusing my cluster housing, I wouldn't need to worry about the extra holes for the '66 parking brake, correct?

Just noticed that the seller's cluster has the high-horse 6,500rpm tach face on it. My car is a base-engined car so should have a 5,300 redline. How difficult would it be to change just the tach face?

I'm going to get some estimates to have my gauge cluster gone through to get the inoperative gauges repaired. I don't need the gauges refaced or the cluster surround (black pebble grained) redone - those are in very good shape. The switches along the bottom of the dash (lights, wiper, lighter, and ignition) work fine so don't need restoring.

Based on the above, what way would you go? Put in the '66 gauge cluster, or restore my own?

[Leif A.]

Re: '66 instrument cluster in a '67

Alexander,
Contact Joe Ray before you buy/do anything. If you can get your original cluster done for close to the same amount as you're thinking of paying for a used '66 cluster for your '67...the answer to me is only too obvious. Of course, JMHO.

[Alexander D.]

Re: '66 instrument cluster in a '67

Alexander,
Contact Joe Ray before you buy/do anything. If you can get your original cluster done for close to the same amount as you're thinking of paying for a used '66 cluster for your '67...the answer to me is only too obvious. Of course, JMHO.

Hi Leif,

Thanks for your advice. But, how do I contact Joe Ray?

Does Joe have a business restoring instrument clusters? Have you used him?

Another name that's been recommended is Mike Poirer (Valley Vettes, in San Diego, CA). Have you heard any feedback about his work?

Just trying to figure out the best way to get my gauges back to proper working order. I'm now leaning towards having my original cluster gauges restored, vs going with another cluster.

Thanks again.
Alex

[Leif A.]

Re: '66 instrument cluster in a '67

Alexander,
Simply go to the top of this page and find the "Members" tab, click on it and drop down to "Members List"...Joe Ray will be listed. You can send him a PM. Joe's number is 501-834-1237

[Donald O.]

Re: '66 instrument cluster in a '67

Which gauges are not working?

An incorrect fuel, or temp gauge could be caused by faulty sending units.
A non-functioning battery gauge could be the gauge, the wiring, or connector corrosion.
A faulty speedo or tach could be caused by their cables
The tach could have a stripped gear in the distributor cross shaft or the tach itself.
A faulty speedo could be the speedo it self, a stripped nylon gear in the transmission.

The location of the tach redline makes no difference in its operation, it only reads engine speed from distributor revs,
2 engine revs = 1 distributor rev.

Again, Joe Ray is THE go to guy.

Joe Ray Parts
2025
Cedar Creek Rd.
North Little Rock, AR 72116

His other phone is 5016804740

Don