Installing Clock in a truck that didnt come with one

[wildwilly4x4]

Im building up my cluster for my truck similar to CarbonCrew's. Im unsing the same tach (you have to dremel out part of the brake/seatbelt light area in the housing), and instead of a clock, I have trimmed and modded another temp. guage to fit where the clock goes. I am in the process of trying to make a decal for a trans temp indicator, which I will use to keep tabs on my 4l80e. I uses my crew for a DD/ towrig, and I know that big block 8.1 pulling my rock crawler is bound to heat up my tranny in the mountains.

My cluster housing has plastic towers that needed drilled for the screws (not sure if the are correct for the clock though), and the guage hole is already in the plastic housing cover (just popped off the blank area IIRC), for the new guage to sit. the lens is the same as the clock lens on mine ('90 model).

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by slimneverdies

I wonder does anyone have pics of what you did here now that the pics aren't showing here anymore. I'm trying to install a Quartz clock in the blank space on my gauge cluster also.

Here is mine. It didn't have a clock but I added one. It was pretty easy to use the mounting hole that is shared with the temp gauge and the other one off to the left. The lens, you will need a hole for the little adjust rod. I opted for a new lens with the hole already. A new clear leans made a huge difference.

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cc/full.aspx?Page=76

The black couple gets plugged into the ground cluster on the left dash panel and the orange plug goes to the fuse box under the dash, it is marked (clock) on the fuse box.

[TKCR]

Here's a pic with the cluster out.

[TKCR]

And then the clock itself, with a new set of knobs.

http://www.classicparts.com/1973-87-.../#.VdaKk3j890g

Sorry for the multiple post, when your using the phone to post, it will only let you do one photo.

[slimneverdies]

Just what I was looking for. I have to cut the entire little pod that is in the way to bolt it to the temp gauge. I wasn't aware the made the lens with a whole at lmc. That was a big worry for me. I'll call them to find out which one of these has the pre drilled hole for the knob

Thanks

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by slimneverdies

Just what I was looking for. I have to cut the entire little pod that is in the way to bolt it to the temp gauge. I wasn't aware the made the lens with a whole at lmc. That was a big worry for me. I'll call them to find out which one of these has the pre drilled hole for the knob

Thanks

No you don't cut the pod off, just remove the screw to the temp gauge and then put your clock in. Put the screw back, it holds both the temp & clock. And then another screw on the left side.

The lens part# you need is 38-8051

[Zach079xxx]

Wow! That is a beautiful cluster! I have a clock in my 85 C10, but dang the tach adds a lot and I love the gas gauge! Jealous!

Originally Posted by carboncrew

Hmm...seem to have lost the pics I had. This is the completed cluster. Wiring was just plug and play if I recall correctly.

[slimneverdies]

Originally Posted by TKCR

No you don't cut the pod off, just remove the screw to the temp gauge and then put your clock in. Put the screw back, it holds both the temp & clock. And then another screw on the left side.

The lens part# you need is 38-8051

I wish I wasn't at work and I could take a pic of how mine looks. It's not an open space like how yours looks. It's sectioned off as if there was never any plans to use this area...

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by slimneverdies

I wish I wasn't at work and I could take a pic of how mine looks. It's not an open space like how yours looks. It's sectioned off as if there was never any plans to use this area...

When you can post a pic and I'll help you out the best I can.

There are several layers. You got the lens and then a thin black coverlay, this is not shown in the pic. When you take the lens & the black overlay off, then it open looking like the photo.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1440122824

[slimneverdies]

Originally Posted by TKCR

When you can post a pic and I'll help you out the best I can.

Thank you kindly sir. I'll get it soon as I'm off

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by TKCR

When you can post a pic and I'll help you out the best I can.

There are several layers. You got the lens and then a thin black coverlay, this is not shown in the pic. When you take the lens & the black overlay off, then it open looking like the photo.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1440122824

This is what I mean by the black overlay. This one is thin metal, yours will be plastic.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/73-80-Chevy-...bec092&vxp=mtr

[slimneverdies]

Originally Posted by TKCR

This is what I mean by the black overlay. This one is thin metal, yours will be plastic.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/73-80-Chevy-...bec092&vxp=mtr

Where do the metal versions come out of? I tried painting my plastic one and it came out pretty rough

[TKCR]

[QUOTE=slimneverdies;7280395]Where do the metal versions come out of? I tried painting my plastic one and it came out pretty rough[/QUOTE

73-80 CK trucks. This one is for $20 on eBay. I did start a thread in the WTB section to see if anyone has one, plastic or metal.

[slimneverdies]

As you can see I cut away the inside pieces just to be able to fit the clock inside of it but none of the mounts line up. I would have to cut away the column to use that same mounting that holds up the water temp gauge. I ordered the new top lens so I would need that before I try to make a permanent position for the clock so it lines up in the lens.

[TKCR]

That doesn't look like an original cluster. They are green. That might be what the issue is of why it won't line up without having cutting away at the plastic.

[slimneverdies]

Originally Posted by TKCR

That doesn't look like an original cluster. They are green. That might be what the issue is of why it won't line up without having cutting away at the plastic.

It's an original 90-91 suburban electric gauge cluster. Needed to go this route for my 4l80e swap. It's white because I painted it white for my LEDs to shine brighter...

[TKCR]

Ok, makes sense now. Well it looks like you will have to keep cutting away until it falls into place.

[TKCR]

I wonder if you could put a small L bracket, and attach it to the inside of the cluster and then the other end can be used to mount the left side of the clock. I keep staring at you pictures trying to come up with an idea.

[slimneverdies]

Originally Posted by TKCR

Ok, makes sense now. Well it looks like you will have to keep cutting away until it falls into place.

Thanks for your help. Finding the lens with the pre drilled hole will make it easy. I now have a know location to set it up

[carboncrew]

slimneverdies: I took a look at home and I can't find the pics I took of this process. I have the same cluster - 1991. I don't remember coming up with a new bracket, but I do remember doing a bunch of trimming. Sorry I'm not much help. If I find a pic I will def post it up for ya.

[truckin 79]

Just trim away at the area that divides the clock and temp gauge and then the clock will match up with that lower mounting hole and will hold clock just fine with that one screw

[slimneverdies]

Thanks fellas. I'll be sure to post pics up of what I did and the final product