And now, like Paul Harvey, here's the rest of the story---

Think back about 20 years, somewhere around 1992. I don't even own a 66 Pontiac any more. Both GP's have been sold just a couple of years prior. I'm in a wrecking yard and I stumble on an optional gauge cluster in a 65 Catalina 2 dr hardtop, plain car, bench seat auto. I buy the cluster for the outrageous price of 30 bucks.

2 years later, I still have the cluster, no use for it, don't know why I bought it. We are heading off to the POCI convention, I think it was in Illinois. I decide to take the cluster along with thoughts of sitting with it at the swap meet. When I'm there, I realize I am not going to do that. I get talking to a guy who's selling at the swap meet. I've bought parts off him in the past, know where he lives, etc. Let's call him John Smith from Somewhere USA. I ask if he'd like to put the cluster in his stuff for sale and if he sells it, he can just pay me something for it. Never heard from him again, and I never had opportunity to buy more parts. I thought many times of calling him to see if he had money for me for the cluster but it was such a small amount I never bothered.

A few months back I see 2 guys conversing on a different forum (don't worry I don't spend much time on other forums!) and so I PM the one guy who is selling some 65-66 stuff. I ask if he has any optional gauge clusters. He says he doesn't think so but he will check. It was quite a while later, weeks maybe, after a reminder or two he replies that he doesn't have one but his dad does and he helps his dad with selling stuff. We do the usual back and forth about details, agree on a price and he ships it.

Tonight I get home the same time as our son who has picked up our mail at the post office. "Dad, come and get this box, my arms are full". I go pick up the box, look at the return address and yup, you betcha, John Smith, Somewhere USA!!!!

I bought my own cluster back (that I never got paid for!) 20 years later, and for a lot more than the first time! It's all good though. I already sent him a message, and laughingly told him the story and made sure to emphasize I am NOT looking for a refund!

Blackheart4355 wrote:

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Cool story...

But honestly..I don't see a difference between the 2 clusters....

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Look close, take your time Shawn. You'll see it.

Got a dumb question(s):  Is the speedo with the gauges a slightly smaller scale than a standard unit?  If so, does that mean you have to change the gear for accuracy?

what about the odometer?   how do you set the correct miles?   

Carl Stevenson wrote:

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Blackheart4355 wrote:

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Cool story...

But honestly..I don't see a difference between the 2 clusters....

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        x2    they are very much the same  except for the words Engine

Look close, take your time Shawn. You'll see it.

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THE GAUGES HAVE DIFFERENT INCREMENTS ON THEM AND THE #'S ON THE TEMP GAUGES ARE DIFFERENT.

COUNT THE VERTICLE WHITE LINES ON THE GAUGES CARL. ONE HAS THREE TALL MARKS WITH THREE SHORT MARKS IN BETWEEN, THE OTHER HAS THREE TALL MARKS WITH TWO SHORT MARKS IN BETWEEN. ONE TEMP GAUGE HAS 100 - 180 - 245. THE OTHER HAS 100 - 175 - 250.

You guys do not see it ?  The 65 and 66 gauge windows are totaly different shapes.

Might be time for me to chime in here. I'm the lucky guy that Carl is selling the 65 unit too.  I don't know why he think he owes me any favours but I'm glad he sees it that way. Its gonna go in the 66 and it's come up at a real good time as I have the dash pad  and the windshield out anyway.  Plus I just noticed my original is peeling a bit so I know it would bug me if I didn't fix it when I had the chance.  Carl, being the conversion expert on this setup is also rewiring it for me.

The real bonus is getting this unit that has a neat story along with it! What  a guy!

 

 

Pontiacanada wrote:

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66 Grande guy wrote:

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Might be time for me to chime in here. I'm the lucky guy that Carl is selling the 65 unit too.   

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 I'm no Sherlock Holmes, but I guessed that!  Enjoy Ken!

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Man, you can't slip nuttin' past private investigator Magnum PEI...

good eye on the windows being different shape.. I spotted the numbers on the temp gauge being different.. but I didnt feel like counting lines on the speedo. LOL

great items in both photos.