Help Identify Gauges and How to Restore

[Rodney Nelson]

Hi Pelicans,

I received these gauges with my '72 project. I seriously doubt these gauges are original.

Obviously I could send them to one of the speedo shops and have them completely restored for big bucks, I would like to see how far I can get on my own to save money if possible.

1. What year are these gauges from?
2. Is there a source to buy new trim rings, original style not chrome ones?
3. Anyway to bench test the gauges or do I have to wait until the car is ready to go?
4. Any suggestions for restoration DIY past getting new glass, new rubber, wiping down surfaces, and painting trim rings?
5. And what would it cost to have someone like hollywood speedo redo all of the gauges?
6. Should I consider finding a good used set? What should I pay?

Thanks for your help,

Rodney

Clock:

[Rodney Nelson]

Fuel Gauge:

[Rodney Nelson]

Speedo:

[Rodney Nelson]

Tach:



Whats up with this screw hole being off center?

[Rodney Nelson]

blah

[Trackrash]

You can see the date stamp on the tach. 9.71. So that would be for a '71 i would imagine. The others look to be a match.

You have the bezel off the tach already. I would clean the glass, sand and repaint the bezel, and try a metal polish on the case. If that doesn't bring them up to your standard, then you will most likely have to send them off for a referb. Others may chime in on some options.

BTW, I am not sure if that tach is one that requires the "intermediate unit" that was used on '69, '70 and some '71 cars.

I know of no way to bench test a tach with out special equipment.

The speedo can be tested by running it with an electric drill.

I'm not sure what electrical requirements the other gauges have, but a search may turn up something on the oil and gas gauges.

[coldstart]

I disagree with Gordon. The tach could likely be original to the car. My 1972 911 was built in October 1971.

Given all the issues, I would send them off to a shop to be completely rebuilt. It is expensive but working gauges are important and make your car 43% cooler. I am struggling to justify doing the same but all the gauges on my car work well and are in decent condition (with only very minor chipping and fading). I like gauges so much I have a second set of 911 gauges on a shelf in my study.

I don’t think I expressed how much I like gauges in this post. Gauges....

[Fleming]

Rodney,
Most VDO gauges have two sets of dates:
on your Tach
1) die struck stamped into the back was the date of manufacture 6.71

2) rubber imprint in blue is inspection date prior to installation into a car 9.71 (more than likely a warranty date)

looking at yours, if I'm reading them correctly, there are a number of 1971 inspection dates, including months of 9, 10, 11 and 12 (Sept -Dec).

It looks like the clock was inspected in 1971 then with the sticker stamp date rebuilt in 1976.

Remember all parts had lead times from manufacture, ship to Porsche, received and warehoused, scheduled for assembly then installed into the cars - could be weeks or could be months prior. Check you date of car completion, they started the next model years cars in September. From the last inspection date on the gauges more than likely your car was a January 1972 or after.

You might want to find a local gauge fix-it shop, here in Minneapolis is
APT Instruments, Home
They can do power to the gauges to see if they are alive with a volt and amp reaction and movement ranges. But they are 45 year old electrical devises, getting parts is a hurdle to refurbishing, and replicating correct dial faces for colors and fonts, etc.

The two shops in California are highly recommended for doing accurate work.
And when you get them back they are like jewelry..

[Trackrash]

I'm not saying they couldn't be original to the '72. I was assuming the 9.71 meant the 9th week in '71. (Porsche uses that system for other parts)

After further research, I think the 9 is probably September, so that would be constant with the '72 MY.

[porschetub]

Never seen the bezel rings for sale ,I have pulled apart many of these gauges to repair them or fit LED light strips,the bezel rings can be reused,any damage to the rear of the rings is not seen when refitted.
I found repainting the rings is best done with the gauge assembled as you can mark the new painted when recrimping the ring.
I clean the lenses with window cleaner and refit using throw away gloves to prevent finger prints on them,gauge faces normally clean up easily.
Its amazing how they clean up and besides the hassle of removing the bezel ring its not hard really.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by coldstart

I like gauges so much I have a second set of 911 gauges on a shelf in my study.

I don’t think I expressed how much I like gauges in this post. Gauges....

Ditto.

I'd love to get a full set of 911 gauges, and mock up or cut the dash out of a junk chassis and make a wall hanging, maybe even some LED lights with a power source, but really, the gauges and a bit of dash would be good.

[Trackrash]

Funny. I have a half a dozen gauges on the shelves above the desk I where I am now. One set is an entire 914 dash.

[Rodney Nelson]

Seems like I can send the gauges to anyone of you guys for a free restoration for the fun of it!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Trackrash

Funny. I have a half a dozen gauges on the shelves above the desk I where I am now. One set is an entire 914 dash.

Ugh, yeah, you suck!

Yeah, that's what I want, but not much point in getting it right now. I don't have anywhere to put it in the apt. I should probably start collecting now as they won't be getting any more common or less expensive.

[SCadaddle]

The original tachometer in my 69 912 had quit working, so I looked around and found another years ago, probably on ebay and probably with the idea of using it for parts, as the glass face was shattered.

So I stuck it in my dash and what do you know, it worked fine. So I left it like that. Shattered glass face and all.

Years later, while giving my friend the 356 Guru and local Vintage Porsche Historian (one who knows what's right and what's wrong in a proper restoration) a ride in my 912, and he pointed out my shattered tach......

"What happened to THAT?!" He asked.
I told him "You didn't see what happened to the gauges in Das Boot when THEY got in too deep?!"

He laughed.