65 Special With Upgrades

[Rollaround]

Loren, Here's my favorite interior shot, I'll post some more but I like this one. We showed up for this young lady's second birthday and someone put her in the car for a photo op. What we did not realize was this would be the first time she had ever been in a car not strapped into her car seat. She was overwhelmed by the chrome, steering wheel and window cranks. Being the bright young gal she is she made an announcement, she proclaimed MINE! Needless to say getting her out of the car was quit the event.

Back to the interior. I redid the seats, installing high density foam with Skylark covers the door panels, original Special where in great shape. I removed the rubber matting and installed carpet. The dash was removed and restored with some additions.       

[Brian]

Where did the tach that fits in the clock hole come from?   Is that custom made, or available somewhere on the open market? 

[Rollaround]

Brian the tach is out of a 71 Chevelle. I removed the clock then using the back of the clock case for the tach I was able to make it fit. The hardest part was getting the depth set so the needle distance behind the glass would match the gas gauge and speedo needles.
If you look very closely, just below and inboard from the 7 is a very small but bright LED light, it serves as my check engine light.
I have photos of the conversion process I just need to find them if your interested.     

[Loren At 65GS]

Extremely SWEET!

Do tell more.  Beautiful engine and your overall detail is fantastic.

She is a  cutie and has good taste already. LOL

Thanks for the posting,

  Loren

[cwmcobra]

What a neat and elegant idea.  I'd love to see the photos if you can find them.  Is this a Shiftworks product?  Do you have a part number?

Cheers!

Chuck

[GS66]

Very nice!

[dsags]

Is this a Shiftworks product?  Do you have a part number?

Yes it is. Part number S518-W

[cwmcobra]

Thanks Dan!

[cwmcobra]

Has anyone used this tach AND the tach in the consolette?  Just wire them in parallel?

[Rollaround]

They are from Shiftworks and Herb is a great guy to deal with.  He has two tachs one PN S517-W is for a 68-74 Nova, PN S518W is for a 70-72 Chevelle they are not the same size one fits better than the other. Wish I could find my notes. 
I have not tried to wire this in conjunction with another tach.

[SBRMD]

Hey Kevin,

Contemplating doing a tach similarly to yours........you mention you have more pictures of the conversion.   Would love to see them if findable.

Thanks either way in advance!

[Rollaround]

Steve,
Replacing the clock with a tach was a very simple task, not much more than removing and replacing the clock.  I had my dash removed during restoration at the time. One might be able to do it without removing the dash but it would be tight.

I removed both the clock and tach from their respective mounting cases then modify the clock case to receive the tach. Next I had to ‘discover’ the correct amount of shimming for the tach inside the dash case to establish the correct depth or distance behind the dash glass. I wanted the tach to be the same depth as the fuel quantity and speedo gauges, it's tight but it's in there.

Herb at Shift Works was very helpful and helped me research dimensions for several in dash tachs.

Once installed the wiring is straightforward as any tach. I had some additional issues, I needed to amplify the tach signal from LS computer.  I also added a yellow LED light by the 7 on the tach to serve as my check engine light.

Good luck
K

   

[elagache]

Dear Kevin and mid-60s Buick "clock watchers," . . . . 

Replacing the clock with a tach was a very simple task, not much more than removing and replacing the clock.

. . . . Looks great!  Just one small question.  With your dash like that, how do you know what time it is? . . . . . 

. . . . .

Seriously it is a great use of that space and avoids the hot rod look that the dash of my wagon has.  I'm sure your wristwatch solves your clock problem!

Great job Kevin!

Cheers, Edouard 

[SBRMD]

Many thanks Kevin, this is greatly helpful!

So, you actually used the original clock's "case" ?  I think I'm at a disadvantage there,  I don't have the clock.  But I do have at extra blank (the standard piece that stands in for the clock), need to figure out an alternative mounting strategy.

What happens if you just mount the tach as built?  I suppose it'd be too far back?

[Rollaround]

Steve,
Somewhere around here I should have my original tach case, the same case that will come with your tach.  If I can find it I'll send it to you, you can use it to build a prototype. I think if you cut the flange off, then simply move it back further on the case you could make it work.