Building A Clock For Your Dash...........

[B1B Keven]

Ken Craven was nice enough to take pictures and give intructions of his clock build.

He passed them on to me to post.

Hope this helps folks with thier own project.

 

Thanks Ken and the missus!!!!

[Dajudge]

mine is a reostat, hence the variable speed, but also not "original". I kinda like it.

Ok so now to find an old speedo. Just need the bucket. Definitely need a clock. That looks great.

Edited May 22, 2013 by Dajudge

[B1B Keven]

Ok so now to find an old speedo. Just need the bucket. Definitely need a clock. That looks great.

 

I've got a few old speedo housings.

[Dajudge]

Dangit,  what's that going to cost me?    Plus the sticker of course.

Edited May 23, 2013 by Dajudge

[B1B Keven]

LOL. $115. Sticker, housing, glass and chrome.

 

Free shipping.

[Merle Coggins]

Ok, now I guess it's my turn... Keven asked me to write a build on my clock when we were at the BBQ, but Procrastinator's Law kicked in and I never got a round to it. I has posted a few pics when I first posted that I had it done, but I didn't have all of my pictures organized for a complete build process.

 

Well,

 

So. here it goes...

 

First I gutted a spare speedo and saved all usable parts. Then I went on the internet and did a search for clock movements. There are a few different places that offer them and I don't remember now which place I used. The first one I got had a short shaft length, around 1/2" or so. That would be good for a flat, thin, clock face but wouldn't work with the original speedo face since it has the raised center. I also found that I needed extra shaft length for mounting plate. So I went shopping again and found one with a longer shaft that also has steppless movement. (it doesn't click off the seconds, so there's no tick, tick, tick) The movement came with one set of hands, but I paid an additional $.99 for a different second set because I wasn't sure which would work better.

 

I couldn't find a clock face that I liked the right size, plus I wanted to keep it looking like the speedo, so I used the speedo face. I had to drill out the center hole with a step drill to fit the clock movement shaft. That's where the project got put on hold for a few years until Keven started doing gauge faces and I asked him if he could make the clock face. I sent him the speedo face plate and the project resumed.

 

Here is the modified speedo face mocked up with the clock movement. You'll notice the clock face is slightly off center. Keven quickly corrected that for me.

 

I cut the "cup" off the back of the speedo housing.

 

I then cut an aluminum plate to fit inside the housing. I then drilled mounting holes through the corners and attached with some screws. I located the center and drilled the hole for the clock shaft.

 

I initially used sheet metal screws, but switched to machine screws as you'll see later on.

 

 

 

[Merle Coggins]

As I began mocking things up I found that I needed some spacers. I made a few with a hole saw and a piece of aluminum plate.

 

I ended up only using a couple of them, plus a neoprene washer notched out for the screw dimples in the face plate.

 

 

I also needed some nylon spacers at the 4 corners to get the placement I wanted.

 

Then after some paint to freshen things up, at least on the inside, I began the assembly.

 

 

[Merle Coggins]

Now the clock movement with spacers,

 

Then install the clock face, tighten the nut, and install the hands. (sorry no picture at this step) Then clean the glass and bezel and reassemble with new eyelets. I found that I had it so close to the glass that I couldn't use the closed ended nut for the hands. I had to use the open nut that would normally be used with a second hand, even though I didn't use a second hand.

 

And install in the truck, stare, smile, and get ready to field questions like, "Is that an original option for the trucks?"

 

I didn't cover the back of the clock movement and I can easily reach up behind the dash and replace the battery or set the clock as needed. I also didn't install the light socket for back lighting because I seem to have lost it. When I come across it I'll wire it up and install it. Then I'll find out how it looks all lit up at night.

Edited May 23, 2013 by Merle Coggins

[B1B Keven]

Thanks Merle!!

[Jeff Balazs]

Yes thanks Merle........I will be following suit. I have most of the stuff.......just got a pile of things to do first.

Jeff