63 Ammeter. NOS vs. GM Resto Parts vs. Reproduction

[Timothy B.]

Re: 63 Ammeter. NOS vs. GM Resto Parts vs. Reproduction

Chuck,

I think your clean and greased

Tim

[Chuck G.]

Re: 63 Ammeter. NOS vs. GM Resto Parts vs. Reproduction

Chuck,

I think your clean and greased

Tim

Yep, I've got dielectric grease on everything, Tim. Gonna check the starter connections today, "JUST" to be sure.

Say "HELLO" to the Maryland crew for me.

Do you and Rose still have your Raven's tickets? I kept mine, and will be coming up for probably 3 games this Fall.

Chuck

[Larry M.]

Re: 63 Ammeter. NOS vs. GM Resto Parts vs. Reproduction

Yep, I've got dielectric grease on everything, Tim. Gonna check the starter connections today, "JUST" to be sure.

Chuck

Chuck: We all use the di-electric grease for electrical connections and spark plug boots, but in reality the di-electric is an electrical insulator by design.

My point is that there is a different electrical grease that is actually electrical conductive, and is a better choice for these sensitive connections. Not certain of the name, perhaps one of our resident EEs will help us out. I have seen it mentioned on one of the forums/tech boards.

Like you, I use the di-electric grease on various car electrical connectors, but limit my applications.

FWIW. Larry

[Chuck G.]

Re: 63 Ammeter. NOS vs. GM Resto Parts vs. Reproduction

I always thought that dielectric grease was non conductive.

It's silicone based. It's real purpose is to prevent corrosion on/within connectors.

It certainly doesn't enhance conductivity.

Chuck

[John D.]

Re: 63 Ammeter. NOS vs. GM Resto Parts vs. Reproduction

Yeah, I think ol' JR would trust me on this one. Just maybe I'll give him a call or drop him an EMail.



Now that I'm living in Florida, Bob, there are no more "winter" projects.
You can drive your cars 12 months out of the year. Actually, I've learned that the winter months are the BEST for driving down here, because it's a bit cooler.

When it gets to 95* plus, most people hibernate in the air conditioning.

Chuck

Dr. Chuck, About 3 or so years ago I spoke to Joe Ray about the same subject as the ammeter in the 63 LWC had seen better days. Joe said he highly suggested I buy nice NOS one as they are readily available. Said that in Knoxville in 06. Have proof.

So see if Joe has a NOS one. Plan B is that NOS ones are on ebay all the time for 125 bucks.
Why buy repro when you can get NOS.
Now if you own nice repromobile catalog car then by all means stay with the repro Dr. Chuck. Whew!!!! Must be the swamp heat. JD

[Chuck G.]

Re: 63 Ammeter. NOS vs. GM Resto Parts vs. Reproduction

Dr. Chuck, About 3 or so years ago I spoke to Joe Ray about the same subject as the ammeter in the 63 LWC had seen better days.

Joe said he highly suggested I buy nice NOS one as they are readily available. Said that in Knoxville in 06. Have proof.

So see if Joe has a NOS one. Plan B is that NOS ones are on ebay all the time for 125 bucks.
Why buy repro when you can get NOS.

Now if you own nice repromobile catalog car then by all means stay with the repro Dr. Chuck. Whew!!!! Must be the swamp heat. JD

The BATTERY gauge AND FUEL gauge, both still contained in the "pod" that mounts them is on its' way to Arkansas. Mailed the package off this morning.

JR can do what he wants, or what he feels is best, i.e. replace it with NOS, rebuild it, swap it with a working used gauge, etc. I just want it to work again. I also want the gauge faces to match. That's why I sent both gauges.

I don't want to buy a repro, JD. Every Corvette "Tom, Dick, and Harry" sells those for anywhere between $69.00 and $79.00. (Plus $37.00 "shipping AND handling" )

Chuck

[Terry M.]

Re: 63 Ammeter. NOS vs. GM Resto Parts vs. Reproduction

Chuck: We all use the di-electric grease for electrical connections and spark plug boots, but in reality the di-electric is an electrical insulator by design.

My point is that there is a different electrical grease that is actually electrical conductive, and is a better choice for these sensitive connections. Not certain of the name, perhaps one of our resident EEs will help us out. I have seen it mentioned on one of the forums/tech boards.

Like you, I use the di-electric grease on various car electrical connectors, but limit my applications.

FWIW. Larry

Now you are starting it Larry.

As an example:

http://www.dowcorning.com/applications/search/products/default.aspx?

Dow Ciorning #111 is a lubricant
Dow Corning #5 is a dielectric grease
Both are silicone greases, but with very different properties. For my work in the utility industry we do not use them interchangeably.

[John H.]

Re: 63 Ammeter. NOS vs. GM Resto Parts vs. Reproduction

I am sure these ammeters are shunting style gauges?
This means they are in reality milliamp gauges calibrated to indicate amperes.

Rick -

C1's have "ammeters", but midyears don't - that's why it's called a "battery gauge" on a midyear. On a midyear, it's a sensitive voltmeter (galvanometer) that senses voltage at the screw terminal buss on the horn relay and at the battery cable stud on the starter solenoid and displays the difference as current flowing TO or FROM the battery. There are no loads connected to it at all, and it's not part of the charging system. 1962 was the last year for ammeters in Corvettes.

[John D.]

Re: 63 Ammeter. NOS vs. GM Resto Parts vs. Reproduction

Here is what AC calls the "battery gauge" for 63.
Info taken from the NOS box.
1#1502578 AMMETER
Gr. .02.515
AC
Doesn't hurt for everyone to have nice NOS spare sitting on the shelf you know.
If you are going for PV and your battery gauge has issues the ride is over.

My original 63 owners manual calls the gauge. "AMMETER". Calls the alternator a Delcotron.

[Timothy B.]

Re: 63 Ammeter. NOS vs. GM Resto Parts vs. Reproduction

Hi Chuck,

I hope you get your guage repaired, please say hi to Pat for me. Everything OK up here in MD, I hope all is well with you and family.

No Ravens tickets, I sold the PSL's a few years ago after that Ray Lewis thing. Are you going to Corvette's at Carlisle show in August? That hot August sun shouldn't bother you now..

[Chuck G.]

Re: 63 Ammeter. NOS vs. GM Resto Parts vs. Reproduction

Hi Chuck,

I hope you get your guage repaired, please say hi to Pat for me. Everything OK up here in MD, I hope all is well with you and family.

No Ravens tickets, I sold the PSL's a few years ago after that Ray Lewis thing. Are you going to Corvette's at Carlisle show in August? That hot August sun shouldn't bother you now..

Not planning to make Corvette Carlisle again this year, Tim. Missed it last year for the first time since in began.

Not sure when Pat and I are coming up this fall. Mitzi, Thom, and the 2 grandkids still live in Forest Hill. We try to "coordinate" our travels up to Maryland centered around a Ravens game or two.

They're all supposed to come down here to Florida in July, BTW.

Say HI to Rose. Also, say HI to Dominic and Jackie.

Chuck

[Chuck G.]

Re: 63 Ammeter. NOS vs. GM Resto Parts vs. Reproduction

Here is what AC calls the "battery gauge" for 63.
Info taken from the NOS box.
1#1502578 AMMETER
Gr. .02.515
AC
Doesn't hurt for everyone to have nice NOS spare sitting on the shelf you know.
If you are going for PV and your battery gauge has issues the ride is over.

My original 63 owners manual calls the gauge. "AMMETER". Calls the alternator a Delcotron.

Thanks for the PN's, John. I've made note of them, and you're 100% correct, it doesn't hurt to have a spare on the shelf. Lord knows I've got spares for lots of other things.

I'd forgotten about the Delcotron thing. I believe 1963 was the first year in the entire Chevy line for the alternator. Prior to that, everything had a generator. I guess "Delcotron" was the new buzz word.

Chuck

[John H.]

Re: 63 Ammeter. NOS vs. GM Resto Parts vs. Reproduction

I guess "Delcotron" was the new buzz word.

Yes, it was - Chrysler had already copyrighted the word "Alternator", so they couldn't use it for commercial gain.

[Chuck G.]

Re: 63 Ammeter. NOS vs. GM Resto Parts vs. Reproduction

Yes, it was - Chrysler had already copyrighted the word "Alternator", so they couldn't use it for commercial gain.

Interesting, John. Did not know that.

I assume that somewhere along the line that Chrysler lost or gave up its' copyright on the "alternator" word.

Chuck

[John H.]

Re: 63 Ammeter. NOS vs. GM Resto Parts vs. Reproduction

Interesting, John. Did not know that.

I assume that somewhere along the line that Chrysler lost or gave up its' copyright on the "alternator" word.

Chuck

Chuck -

I think it finally got to the point where "alternator" became such a frequently-used generic word across the entire industry that it became pointless to pursue copyright violations, and they gave up.