With a bit of research, innovation and skill you can do a decent job of making things look factory. I wasn't going to bother to post this but decided to show my cluster. About 15 years ago I modified it with Factory parts from other Pontiac models. It was so innovative at the time that the Ultimate GTO.com site featured it and even used my photo.
It's obvious to me what wasn't avaiable in the 1973 LeMans line but since the 73's are so uncommon I will tell you that the 160 MPH speedometer is from a 4 speed 1970 Trans Am.
The speedometer obviously did not have a cut out for the auto trans indicator needle nor a shift quadrant. The rest of the cluster came from a salvage 1973 GTO as the cluster was an option.
On top of all of this, as an Oshawa built car fitting a US GTO cluster requred me to solder a jumper wire on the cluster circuit board to make sure the tach worked. The Canadian harness was one lead short when compared to the US one. It all works.
So very likely you can add that you never saw a 160 MPH speedometer in a LeMans before.
I'm thinking it's aftermarket for a couple of reasons. Firstly, you can see that the hole isn't perfectly centred in the turquoise circle and the font of the numbers isn't consistent between the tach and the speedometer. It's a well-done install though.
Agree.
Plus there's no redline on the tach. I haven't seen a factory tach install yet that doesn't have a redline that is consistent with the factory specified rpm limit.
It is still a really nice install and a cool story. Lots of 'stuff' went on in the factories back then, so at this point I never say never...
Thanks for that link - it will fun to look through - as for the redline, many did not have red lines, they had a 'yellow zone' (as this one does) and I am pretty sure late '60's Firebird hood tach's did - would not bet a fist full of nickels though - I had a lot of fun in the late '60's at, least, I think I did.
The tach is starting to look to a bit like a contemporary mini Sunpro to me - or like a tach from a 442 of that era, no provision for the clock however; and the 'revolution' symbol makes me think off-shore.
I did remove the rear seat and found the sheet - or what was left of it - vermin had made a nest under the seat and used a good deal of the sheet for it, no other signs so far.
Some codes can be made out , for example "Y96 FIRM RIDE".
Removing the faux blue fur seat covers (attached with 40 hog rings) revealed upholstery that is in perfect condition.
Thanks for that link - it will fun to look through - as for the redline, many did not have red lines, they had a 'yellow zone' (as this one does) and I am pretty sure late '60's Firebird hood tach's did - would not bet a fist full of nickels though - I had a lot of fun in the late '60's at, least, I think I did.
You're welcome. The old car brochures site is one that I visit regularly - there's so much good stuff there it would take weeks of constant browsing to go through it all.
The redline comment was based on the fact that OEMs are very particular about protecting their interests, and it wouldn't be like them to install a tach without a rpm limitation that's obvious to the driver. One could imagine warranty claims whereby the customer says they didn't know that they shouldn't rev the engine that high because the tach didn't have a redline. That said, I don't know if this is true for GM accessory tachs.
I'd love to see some pics of the rest of the car, if you get a chance to post them.
Thanks for that link - it will fun to look through - as for the redline, many did not have red lines, they had a 'yellow zone' (as this one does) and I am pretty sure late '60's Firebird hood tach's did - would not bet a fist full of nickels though - I had a lot of fun in the late '60's at, least, I think I did.
You're welcome. The old car brochures site is one that I visit regularly - there's so much good stuff there it would take weeks of constant browsing to go through it all.
The redline comment was based on the fact that OEMs are very particular about protecting their interests, and it wouldn't be like them to install a tach without a rpm limitation that's obvious to the driver. One could imagine warranty claims whereby the customer says they didn't know that they shouldn't rev the engine that high because the tach didn't have a redline. That said, I don't know if this is true for GM accessory tachs.
I'd love to see some pics of the rest of the car, if you get a chance to post them.
I would be happy to attach photos ASAP.
Long ago I was involve is a case where the colour of an idiot light was called into question - is it red or is it orange - the Judge did not give a hoot and decided in favour of the customer, although it was clearly operator error that caused the destruction on the engine.
With a bit of research, innovation and skill you can do a decent job of making things look factory. I wasn't going to bother to post this but decided to show my cluster. About 15 years ago I modified it with Factory parts from other Pontiac models. It was so innovative at the time that the Ultimate GTO.com site featured it and even used my photo.
It's obvious to me what wasn't avaiable in the 1973 LeMans line but since the 73's are so uncommon I will tell you that the 160 MPH speedometer is from a 4 speed 1970 Trans Am.
The speedometer obviously did not have a cut out for the auto trans indicator needle nor a shift quadrant. The rest of the cluster came from a salvage 1973 GTO as the cluster was an option.
On top of all of this, as an Oshawa built car fitting a US GTO cluster requred me to solder a jumper wire on the cluster circuit board to make sure the tach worked. The Canadian harness was one lead short when compared to the US one. It all works.
So very likely you can add that you never saw a 160 MPH speedometer in a LeMans before.
