Im hoping to finally address my foggy dash lens and broken clock in my 71 Skylark Custom as it looks like crap before summer strikes in Florida and have a few questions. If the lens itself is foggy can it be restored with something like plastic polish or will I need to replace the whole lens/cluster? Any idea how much a replacement clock or maybe and OEM tach would cost? Is the breakdown of the dash to access the cluster a pain where clips and parts will break?
Its been a while, but I think you can sneak out the clock without removing the cluster. You'll have to take the radio out for access though. The lens is done, no saving it. Personally, I would put a tach in. TPP sells a repro for 199 on Ebay.
The lenses are individual. this one. I cant vouch for its quality though. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1970-72-BUICK-GS-NEW-DASH-TACH-WITH-FLAT-LENS-FACTORY-METAL-HOUSING-/271117468992?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3ABuick&hash=item3f1fdc4540&vxp=mtr
The repro's are nice, but the plastic is different from stock. It's clearer and shinier if that makes sense. If the other lenses are nice, I'd get another good stock lens for that spot in the cluster, and drill the adjuster hole myself.
Jason, can that TPP tach be fitted into a 69 clock position? I've thought about doing this but I think it requires some patient re-engineering if I remember correctly?
What do you mean by adjuster hole? ---------- Post added at 06:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:59 PM ---------- Do you think I could I do the clock to tach swap without pulling the dash apart or removing the cluster?
If it's got a factory clock, it's got a hand adjuster knob sticking out towards the lower middle of the lens thru a small hole.
Lens is separate. I think you can sneak the clock out if you take the radio out and use the hole left by the radio for access. Like i said, its been a while, but I think you can.
I like to use Simichrome, you can get it at most motorcycle shops. Blue Magic works, Wenol, Novus...lots of products that will polish the lens.
Once the original lens becomes hazed from age and you polish it clean, will it go back to the same "hazed" condition over time? ---------- Post added at 08:13 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:12 AM ---------- Has anyone else ben able to do this??
Haze again over time? Probably, but it took 45 years to get like that! Something about the clock, some say it's the heat generated, some say it's the release of gasses from the points arcing inside, and some say the lenses were made differently, or from a different mix than the other lenses and were never as clear. I don't think anybody who's cleaned one has hazing yet.
I used Meguires clear plastic polish. Use a rag and wipe it in. I polished mine for hours over and over again to get them right. See if someone here will sell you some better used ones to start with. I took some of junkyard cars. Some yard owners may yell at you if you take them off a guage. Buy them from a Northern car. They are usually in better shape than southern or western cars unlike sheet metal. Get them from a 71-72 and not a 70. The 71-72's have a slight blue tint and usually hold out better than the clear 70 type. Also steer clear of the early 70 cone shaped lenses if you did not already know.
