PRND12 in Speedometer on a floor shift car

I have a 72 GS 350 Convertible. Before I owned it, it was changed from a bench seat car to a floor console. Who ever did it did a good job, you would never know it wasnt a floor shift car to begin with. (except I dont think they made any bucket seat / floor shift autos in 72)

My question is the selector in the speedometer. At the bottom of my speedo, there is P R N D 1 2, that was colored over with black on the speedo lens. The needle doesnt move when moving the auto on the floor.

I have searched high and low for a speedo without this but no luck.

Any of you guys with a automatic floor shift have this same speedometer?
Does the needle in the speedo move when you move the floor shifter?
The floor console has the markings PRND12 also.

If the needle in the speedo is supposed to move, how does it work? I assume somethign like a brake cable on a bike or something?


Thanks

 

Officially no convert skylarks came with bucket seats in 71 or 72 however I know that they could be special ordered under SCO code in 71 so I imagine it was also possible in 72. The person who blacked out the speedo is wrong the needle should indicate the trans position on the speedo. I believe this was true with Buicks but not Oldsmobile which used a specific speedo fo floor shift. If you watch your steering column when you shift you should see it move. This is due to the long rod setup that connects the trans linkage to the steering column. You can see the rod to steering column connection on the inboard side of the brake booster. there should be a small paper clip type clip that attaches to the steering column bowl inside the car. You need to take the plastic filler under the column off by removing the two screws. You will see a small elongated slot in the lower side of the steering column bowl. The paper clip type clip attaches here with a small clamp and screw the opposite end of the clip in turn attaches to the underside of the speedo where a tab with a hole should protrude and be obvious. You may be able to rig a paper clip to make it work however searching a junkyard or someone breaking a car up for parts would be a better choice as the clip is the tough part. Also the clip needs to be adjusted in the slot so the indicator in the speedo is accurate. Let us know what you find!

 

Thanks for the update on that.

I must be missing more than I thought. I have had the transmission out of my car for a refresh, and the only thing that the linkage moves is the cable to the floor shifter.

you mentioned a "long rod setup that connects the trans linkage to the steering column". I dont have that part for sure. Are you sure a floor console shift car would have this? when the car was converted to floor shif, the column was changed too because there is no shifter on the column.

 

You are missing the linkage that spins the column and moves the neutral safety switch. I believe it also moves the shift indicator on your 72.

 

Sounds like you might be missing some stuff as all floor shift autos as well as column shifts used the same rod set-up. First go and look at your cars engine compartment and look just befor it enter thru the firewall on the inboard side of the brake master/booster. Do you see a metal tab with a hole in it protruding from the column? If it is not there someone used a hacksaw! This is where the rod should be attached. The rod then goes down to the frame and attaches to a bracket on the frame. another rod with a spring on it then goes to the transmission linkage. The linkage and the bracket for the cable attached to the trans pan are the only unique parts for a floor shift. The rod set is the same for all 350 and turbo 400s in think. Where is the cable attached? The cable should be attached to the bracket bottom hole and the rod should pass through the two upper holes on this linkage bracket. Another purpose for the rod attaching to the steering coulumn is to operate the neutral safety switch which in 72 should be on the column. Does your car start in reverse? It shouldnt. This rod set up is even found in manual shift cars! Go look at the steering shaft for the attaching loop. Also get a assembly manual as very detailed photos on how this is set-up. It is in section #7 of 70 and 71 assembly manuals. Probably also in service manuals. You cant live without these books if you have one of these cars. They answer lots of questions.

 

Here is the underside picture.

 

You guys have been soo helpful.

I do have the 72 service manual but wasnt looking for linkage. I figured there had to be a cable like what the floor shifter uses.

I remember seeing the tab with the hole on the column. And linkage bracket on the transmission looks the same as pictured. 2 extra holes in it.

So my list of parts to watch for at the scrap yard just got longer ou:

 

Any skylark 70-72 should have what you need. Don't forget the small clip that attaches to the speedo... Nice detail on the car in the photos by the way!

 

I think the photos for this are in the trans section of you service man.

 

I recommend getting that linkage hooked up. It's a safety issue also because the car can be started in gear. And if you are like most of us. You have reached in and just turned the key to start it. Wouldn't want to be chasing it down the street yelling STOP!!! :laugh:

Thanks. :TU:

Here's some more of it..

http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?p=721189#post721189

 

You are correct. I have started the car in reverse. Lucky for me it didnt move much. I plan to hit the junk yards this weekend to find that linkage. I have a new neutral starting switch to go on too.

I was looking at the car yesterday, and that tab on the column in the engin compartment is there. although I could only move it about 1/4 inch. Then I realized, that it was locked. So I turned the Key and then I could move that tab. I also noticed that part of the column in side was rotating also as if a column shift was in place. I thought I'd be lucky to have the needle move when I turned this, but wasnt.

I got a speedo on ebay for $5 last year just for the lens because someone painted over the bottom part of mine to cover the PRND12 needle, however it had this "paper clip" piece that you mentioned. So Im all set when I find the linkage. Not much to pick from in the yards around here though, but I did find a early 70's Nova last weekend, maybe I'll check that.

I plan to have the dash rechromed so I guess I'll deal with the needle at that time. But plan to get the linkage as soon as I can.

Thanks all for your help... :TU: :laugh:


Curtis

 

If you still need this I have all the linkeage . Also people do not realize that unlike a lot of cars the Buick console is not lighted . That is why the speedo has the PRND2L . The only Buick I know of without it is manual shift cars . The collumn movesd as this is connected to that tab under the hood , that also mentioned actuates the neutral safety switch .

 

I would expect it would be easier to find on an auto equipped car . Doesn't have to be floor shift except the bracket on the trans I think . I believe that Mike Garrison makes those

 

My 69 console has 2 bulbs in it and they illuminate the whole shift patten. :TU: There is no indicator on the speedo. :Smarty:

 

I am sure the difference there is the 70-72 aspect since the only 68-69's I have owned were 4 cars bought from the same guy in a package deal and sold before moving them . ( Now I wish I had kept the 3 converts 1 a GS 400 red with white/white 4 spd ) . I would imagine if you can illuminate the console pattern there would be no need for the pattern on the dash .