[62convert]

At a cross roads on the 62' convertible and need some input. I want to dress up my factory original instrument cluster and bezel. I can not find a replacement 62' cluster or bezel. So I am faced with either restoration of what I have or replace with a 63' set up. Any tips / tricks on restore? Will a 63' bezel fit with out modification? Would it be to wrong to replace original with a 63 SS repo cluster with a tack in place of the clock ? Pros and cons welcomed.

 

[DesertDeuce]

If it were me... If the gauges(speedo and fuel) are working then I would just have the bezel re chromed, cut a new lens to fit, and give the whole things a light cleaning.

Or buy a whole used 63 ss guage cluster and restore that. A 63 cluster and bezel will go and bolt in like stock.

 

[venturesomerite]

Well it depends on the type of resto you want. Do you want every nut an bolt correct, or are you just looking to make it nice and look presentable, but with orignality and correctness taking a back seat to availablity and price?

In the end it's your car, only you can say if it's right for you.

 

[Duane]

put in a dakota digital dash and be done with it. :yes:

 

[venturesomerite]

put in a dakota digital dash and be done with it. :yes:

Depends on the person, I personally can't stand digital gauges.

 

[Duane]

Depends on the person, I personally can't stand digital gauges.

I thought the same thing too, until I got mine and all the cool stuff it does too.

 

[64PRONOVA]

 

[SuperNova66]

Only one word... BEAUTIFUL!

 

[64PRONOVA]

Only one word... BEAUTIFUL!

Thanks!

The 1965 140 & 160 MPH speedos are the hardest to do. Did you notice the new factory 60 PSI to 80 PSI oil pressure gauge and Ammeter to Voltmeter conversions?

66-67 is next.

I'm already working on 140 MPH and possibly 160 MPH "Police Interceptor" speedos for the 2nd gens. I haven't decided what to do with the rest yet though. Can't really put a decent-sized tach anywhere and still have it look stock. I'll probably go with factory-style gauges with similar options to the 1st gens.

 

[Duane]

Thanks!

The 1965 140 & 160 MPH speedos are the hardest to do. Did you notice the new factory 60 PSI to 80 PSI oil pressure gauge and Ammeter to Voltmeter conversions?

66-67 is next.

I'm already working on 140 MPH and possibly 160 MPH "Police Interceptor" speedos for the 2nd gens. I haven't decided what to do with the rest yet though. Can't really put a decent-sized tach anywhere and still have it look stock. I'll probably go with factory-style gauges with similar options to the 1st gens.

Yes, those are beautiful, very nice work on those gage sets.

 

[1970 WARRIOR]

If it were me... If the gauges(speedo and fuel) are working then I would just have the bezel re chromed, cut a new lens to fit, and give the whole things a light cleaning.

Or buy a whole used 63 ss guage cluster and restore that. A 63 cluster and bezel will go and bolt in like stock.

X's two!!!!!

 

[fore-speed]

1962 Gauge Cluster Bezel

If you can't find a 62 bezel, you haven't looked very hard. They are available all the time and there is an NNN member in Florida that has been replating them for ages.
You send him yours as a core and he will send you a replated one.
My opinion is the 62 conv. is unique in many ways and the cluster bezel is one of the unique items. When I see 62 cars with unique parts replaced by the more common 63-65 parts, my first thought is the owner is too lazy to take the time to find a correct part.
Many of us spent years restoring our cars and before all the reproduction parts being produced in China and the Internet, that is what it took. In todays world of want it now, if it is not in a catalog, available with overnight shipping, guys go to the next best option and "Git r done".

 

[firebird77clone]

toss in the 63, and put the 62 on a shelf.

tomorrow, or possibly the day after ( whatever ) when you have the $$ to get the old one restored, put it back in.

 

[64PRONOVA]

Unless you already have a nice 63-65 SS gauge cluster, a 62 is less expensive to restore. All they have is a speedo on one side and a gas gauge with idiot lights on the other. You can find decent bezels and have them re-chromed or buy one already done on ebay.

While the bezels for 63-65 are reproduced, they are still expensive (around $80) and to get an original one re-chromed costs around the same as a 62. The lenses are the same and are reproduced. 62 speedometers are the same as 63-64 speedos. If you need to, you can have the 62 gas gauge restored for less than it would cost to do an SS 4-gauge cluster.

The only real reason to change to a 63-65 SS cluster would be if you want to upgrade to gauges and don't really care about total 62 originality.

 

[nodice333]

i would keep it correct, it kind of bugs me when people pick and choose diffrent year stuff that is incorrect and put it on your car. 62' is a very unique year.

 

[carsanova]

speedo

If you go with a 63 cluster you will have to change your under dash wiring harness,there are differences with the blinkers .

 

[tony]

CLICK

You are now awake.


When I snap my fingers next -

You will go back to sleeeeeeeeeep...............

 

[asteeler4life]

At a cross roads on the 62' convertible and need some input. I want to dress up my factory original instrument cluster and bezel. I can not find a replacement 62' cluster or bezel. So I am faced with either restoration of what I have or replace with a 63' set up. Any tips / tricks on restore? Will a 63' bezel fit with out modification? Would it be to wrong to replace original with a 63 SS repo cluster with a tack in place of the clock ? Pros and cons welcomed.

HERE'S WHAT I DID RON, DIDN'T WANNA CHANGE IT UP! JUS' FRESHEN IT UP....:yes:

 

[asteeler4life]

YA WANT ME TO HOOK YA UP SEND IT ON DOWN TO ME! :yes:

 

[redfaction]

sure hope he's been hooked up this thread started 3 years ago.....:turn: