New clock...hack

[mark houghton]

My clock has been inoperable since day one, so I took it apart. One tiny broken gear, the thing is fubar. New clocks, if you can find one, or repairs, cost just a few zillion pennies.

So I decided "why not find a suitable 12v car clock that perhaps with some modifications a person could stuff inside the housing?"

Found an appropriate analog clock someplace in the Amazon forest and spent a couple hours modifying it in order to fit. Was able to retain the original sweep arms (with modification) and of course original face plate. I did have to remove the center clock adjuster white needle due to clearance issues. Clock adjustment is easy now by switching a single wire to ground (need to install a push button somewhere yet).

$40 plus my labor.

[mark houghton]

[quattrorunner]

Clock? Phhhhsssss

[mark houghton]

Originally Posted by quattrorunner

Clock? Phhhhsssss

Yeah, who really gives a rip! Guess I'm just a purist, the MacGyver in me taking over yet again. Can't help myself.....no help for me!

[jayhawk]

The clock in The Pumpkin (1982) keeps better time than the Seth Thomas clock hanging in my living room. I find it very useful to keep track of session times while on the track, just setting the sweep hand at the start of each session make it easy to know how much time is left etc.

[mark houghton]

Originally Posted by jayhawk

The clock in The Pumpkin (1982) keeps better time than the Seth Thomas clock hanging in my living room. I find it very useful to keep track of session times while on the track, just setting the sweep hand at the start of each session make it easy to know how much time is left etc.

A purist will notice the lack of the white sweep hand on mine now, but otherwise it looks OEM except for the inner guts. Stepper motor driven workings, moves once every minute. Draws less than 60mA, so call that around 1.5 amps in 24 hours. Good reason to plug the car into a charger during winter storage.
I really have no need of a clock, but WTF....it was bugging me. Should increase the value of my car by $1000 (ha!).

[kamaro]

Since my clock points to the correct time 2 times a day, that's accurate enough for me.

[Bucketlist]

If I had a clock where would I put my boost gauge?

[Mocker]

Lotsa folks (like the PO of my car) have installed a boost gauge and moved the clock to the console. I'm thinking of pulling the clock and putting in an AFR gauge. I really don't need the clock, and the AFR is pretty important...

[mark houghton]

Ahhh sheet mahn...you guys are no fun! My point being....if you have a clock it needs to be functional and if not... make it so. Get rid of the ash tray and install your boost and AFR gauges there.
I sure as hell don't need a clock, that's what cell phones are for. But now that I have one I will be forever fixated on the time.

[Mocker]

All good, Mark-- your clock is sexy as hell!

[mark houghton]

Originally Posted by Mocker

Lotsa folks (like the PO of my car) have installed a boost gauge and moved the clock to the console. I'm thinking of pulling the clock and putting in an AFR gauge. I really don't need the clock, and the AFR is pretty important...

Past time for me to get another AFR gauge, and I suspect I'll move my now functional clock to the console. But until then....time is of the essence as they say.

[fourblades]

Cool project. I see the point of making everything work.

John

[mark houghton]

Originally Posted by fourblades

Cool project. I see the point of making everything work.

John

Appreciate the positive feedback. My motto" if it ain't broke, don't fix it...and vice versa"

I did have to drill a small hole in the dash next to that rocker switch below the clock to install a mini push button switch in order to set the time for the clock. Unobtrusive, don't even know it's there unless you look closely.

Here's what I used for the new guts if anyone is interested. Put the OEM clock face on and had to modify the OEM clock hands to fit the new movement, and cut a notch opening in the back of the clock housing in order to plug in the new wiring socket. So far, so good and keeping good time.