refurb'd console clock

[Kit Sullivan]

I got my clock back today from Jerry at "Clockworks". I had the quartz conversion ($160) and a new lense ($40). Kind of pricy, but...now that the AMP gauge is working again, I couldn't say no the clock.

It works great!

He took the blue diffusers out for me, and wjth the green 5SMDs (LEDs), it looks fantastic.

Jerry at "Clockworks" does great work. A stock rebuild to electro-mechanical function is only $60 of so ( I think), but I wanted the durability and accuracy of quartz.

I'm blaming Mike in Houston and his fabulous Light Pswfer 429 Mach for gdtting me all jazzed up on fixing up "Ol' Boots" ( my Mustang). She's looking pretty sweet...

 

[73vertproject]

Nice, Kit. Any chance you could snap a pic of the LED in action? I know, could be hard to get a good pic with lighting challenges...

 

[Mike429cj]

I got my clock back today from Jerry at "Clockworks". I had the quartz conversion ($160) and a new lense ($40). Kind of pricy, but...now that the AMP gauge is working again, I couldn't say no the clock.

It works great!

He took the blue diffusers out for me, and wjth the green 5SMDs (LEDs), it looks fantastic.

Jerry at "Clockworks" does great work. A stock rebuild to electro-mechanical function is only $60 of so ( I think), but I wanted the durability and accuracy of quartz.

I'm blaming Mike in Houston and his fabulous Light Pswfer 429 Mach for gdtting me all jazzed up on fixing up "Ol' Boots" ( my Mustang). She's looking pretty sweet...

What! Not my fault Kit. I am slowly fixing little things on mine and entering a car show every weekend here in Houston. So far I have brought a trophy home each time. Totally spoiled and not sure I can handle the rejection if I don't snag a trophy some time. Having a great time and learning a little every time I show the car.

I am still amazed how much gas this 429CJ-R uses just driving to a from the different shows.

 

[Kit Sullivan]

Oh yeah...mine loved to drink that 100-octane juice. When I rebuilt mine I put 10.5/1 pistons in, hardened valves and seats ( of course) and a Magnum 280 cam.

HUGE DIFFERENCE!

Much smoother idle, more power, much stronger off-the- line punch, and far better gas mileage...all on unleaded 93-octane swill.

I wish I would have done all that years before.

I saved the orginal unrestored CJ heads in storage...have heavily-worked '73 460 PI heads on it now. They work great.

 

[will e]

Cool. I might have to get this done.

 

[Kit Sullivan]

Not great pics, but anyway...

 

[73vertproject]

Thanks, Kit. That looks sharp!

 

[71_resurrection]

it does look nice, you have kickstarted a revolution with the upgrades of led's. although i had already purchased a set of ccfl halo ring halogen headlights, i am saving up to convert all the other lights on the exterior to led. the interior will be a different story, as i am going to fit a 2010 or newer dash into my 71.

 

[OMS]

Just an FYI so no one else pays double for a lens

Item #71CCL

71-73 CLOCK LENS

Console clock lens for Mustangs and Cougars. Reproduction. Price: $19.95

 

[Kit Sullivan]

Yeah, i knew he was gouging me a bit on the conversion as well as the lense, but I like to try and support guys in our hobby with particular skills. We need to keep resto specialists afloat if we can.

I look at as I spent $100 for the clock and lense, and also :ade a $100 investment into the health of our hobby.

Or something like that...

Or maybe I just got gouged.

But I have a clock that I can see at night, and that works for the first time in 30 years!

 

[midlife]

But I have a clock that I can see at night, and that works for the first time in 30 years!

Now you'll know when it's 9:30 and time for bed!

 

[Mike429cj]

Yeah, i knew he was gouging me a bit on the conversion as well as the lense, but I like to try and support guys in our hobby with particular skills. We need to keep resto specialists afloat if we can.

I look at as I spent $100 for the clock and lense, and also :ade a $100 investment into the health of our hobby.

Or something like that...

Or maybe I just got gouged.

But I have a clock that I can see at night, and that works for the first time in 30 years!

But does it make that ticking noise like the old one?

 

[luxstang]

But does it make that ticking noise like the old one?

Only if you run it on low octane current.

 

[Kit Sullivan]

No, it does not tick nor does it have the whirring motor noise when it is winding up. The second hand is smooth, not notchy like original.

But, it also now works, keeps perfect time ( so far, anyway) and should last a long time.

My car is no show car...the deviations on the clock from stock are of no concern to me.

 

[Kit Sullivan]

Well, its been 5 days since I installed the clock and it has the exact time on it!

Exciting! This old buggy never kept time lime that before.

 

[marks73]

Even when new?

 

[Kit Sullivan]

Nah, these clocks were never that accurate. Resetting the OEM clock to the correct time every day would result in small adjustments to the clock, making it more accurate.

But it would never get much closer than +/- about 2 minutes a week. That doesn't sound like much, but in the horological world ( watch making) that is terrible.

I also collect watches, and the best automatics are just a little better than that. Quartz movements are literally about 1000% more accurate, and far more durable than any purely mechanical movement.

I dont wear quartz watches ( except when diving), only automatics. I like the old-world romance and cache of a 100% mechanical, 400+ part movement being so finely tuned to be able to keep accurate time. Quartz has no soul, no "romance". It sure is far more accurate and dependable, though!

The OEM clock in our cars is much like the old-school watches I like: basic and almost all mechanical. In fact, the little automatic electrical winding mechanism is quite fascinating in it own right.

But....I don't drive the car regularly, and the authentic functionality of the clock does not lend itself to infrequent use. I would never be in the car, resetting the clock frequently enough to get it to keep accurate time. Plus, I don't think the clock is the focal point of the car, or even of the interior.

I will say this, though: If my car was a good-condition, low-mileage original I certainly would not have converted it. A car like that deserves an OEM-style clock.