I have a 71 SS gauge package. It has a 5500 rpm red line, and a clock delete. Is this rare?? All the gages I see in SS (71-72) have a 5000rpm red line, and clock.

Thanks - Ron

No. That 5.5k redline is for a BBC. The 5k redline came with a small block.

My 69 has the same tach rpms it is a 396 BB.

Was there alot of clock delete? Ive never seen one. I dont even see a delete panel in OPG cataloge.

Yes there were a lot of clusters ordered without the clock option. The SS gauge set (idiot light or tach/gauges) came without the clock. Clock was an option.

According to my 1972 Chevrolet Passenger Car Prices (Models and Options Book), It says that the U35 option (clock) was included when special instrumentation was ordered. I never saw a tach cluster without a clock. The book was right from a dealer who was closing and I got to go through some of their old books. This is how I aquired this book. Many "dummy" light clusters had clock deletes since they were not considered special instrumentation clusters. Cheers!

So, what was in the place of the clock? Any pics?

So, what was in the place of the clock? Any pics?



http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r119/TT402LS1/S5000128.jpg

Ron

Hey Ron-

For whatever reason why the clock delete is there, I don't know why. From my standpiont, I'm about 99.99% sure that the clock was replaced (the cluster did NOT come original from the factory like it is shown in the picture). I never saw an original tach cluster with a clock delete. Just telling you what I know. The cluster does look like it is in great shape though!

OK......... If it didnt come from the factory like that, than where did the delete panel come from?

I was looking on the back of the custer. Nothing looks cobbled. The delete "insert" has a PN 6493352 on it. This is the peice that the delete plate rivets to. Could this have came from another car?

Thanks - Ron

I don't know this for sure .... but chevy truck pannels have what looks to be the same size pannels & I've seen lots of guage delete sets in them .... so maybe

It looks like this one here, it is one with the clock delete or without the optional clock depends on how you look at it. I would say the clock most likely quit and the just put the blank panel in.

Nelson



http://i9.ebayimg.com/02/i/000/86/66/d9b5_1.JPG

First, the gauges are not SS specific, the Special Instrumentation (RPO U14) could be ordered with any V8 Coupe or Convertible plus El Camino in almost any year. Why there's no clock is odd. In 71/72 the clock was an option (under RPO U35) but was part of the U14 Special Instrumentation package - at least, according to my Chevrolet documents.

My information agrees with Dale's.

So this didnt come from the factory like this? This could never be correct for a 71 SS Chevelle? Could you order the U14 package without the U35 clock??

Thanks - Ron

According to Chevrolet literature the clock was part of the U14 package in 71 and 72. Apparently there is a valid plate that goes in that pod in lieu of the clock and I'm sure that plate wasn't designed, tooled and mass produced just so someone could delete the clock from a option that included it (1) because they don't like clocks or (2) to save a few pennies. To me it makes as much sense to delete a portion of an option (where multiple items make up the option) as it might to order the car without an air filter because you like Fram/Purolator/Wix and didn't want the AC Delco filter.

The U14 gauge option got a buyer the round gauge pod even in a Malibu. I'd suspect - and this is pure speculation - the panel is from a SS car, which would have the round pods but no gauges and no clock as standard equipment, and someone added the gauges from another U14 panel. Maybe the clock didn't work in the donor panel and the user saw no reason to transfer a broken clock. Maybe? :)

My '71 SS 454 has a 6500 RPM tach. Its not a '70 unit either. Weird things happen.

If you look close you can see that the stem hole plug is also missing. My guess is that there was a clock there and removed because it did not work or on the other hand maybe that person wanted the clock for another dash.

Nelson