Has anyone put a quartz replacement clock in their car? My 1969 300 clock is burnt out.
Clocks
- Thread starter jmustian
- Start date
The original clocks operated via a set of contact points which "wound" the clock mechanism. Many times, just a hit with a point file on the contacts would get them working again.
The quartz conversion became somewhat popular in the middle 1980s, when the quart movements became standard on many OEMs' vehicles. Seems like it used to be about $50.00 or so, back then?
Enjoy!
CBODY67
The quartz conversion became somewhat popular in the middle 1980s, when the quart movements became standard on many OEMs' vehicles. Seems like it used to be about $50.00 or so, back then?
Enjoy!
CBODY67
Mine has the power wire to the coils burnt and the coils look burnt too
I had mine professionally rebuilt because I love mechanical clocks, but it only lasted a little over a year. I have thought about taking a points file to the points and seeing how long that works. If not I will give up and switch to a quartz clock.
I switch to a quartz clock in my 78 T-Bird back in the 80s. It worked perfectly for the rest of my ownership probably 4-5 years. These mechanics clocks were in all the American car manufacturers.
I switch to a quartz clock in my 78 T-Bird back in the 80s. It worked perfectly for the rest of my ownership probably 4-5 years. These mechanics clocks were in all the American car manufacturers.
That happens on GT / General Time / Westclox clocks when the car battery gets low on voltage. It's too low to "fire" the coils and they overheat. I have a few NOS mechanisms I swap in when I run into this.
I'm not a fan of the quartz conversions. I have a box with 5-6 defective ones in it from clocks that I swapped original movements back in.
Thanks. If I had the coils I couldn't switch them. Too much shake from agent orange haha.
When I looked at options for repairing my '70 300 clock, I was told by the guys that do conversions that they couldn't do my clock. You might find they can't do yours either. I opted for repair instead.
Places I've checked say they can't get the parts. I got a couple locals I'm gonna check.
Back in the times when the cars were newer, "clocks" were everywhere, it seemed. Service stations, banks, businesses with a big block in the window, etc. As if we were so time-obsessed? But for the service stations we normally patronized, THEIR clocks were "golden" to their customers. The clocks they set their personal clocks too, in many cases, or glranced at on the way to work in the morning! All of this in a time when people wore watches, too!
In more modern times, almost everybody has a cell phone with a clock function on the main screen. Service stations turned into gas station/convenience stores, etc. When those earlier big clocks stopped working, they were not replaced with new ones, it seems. PLUS, all of the newer car radios/infotainment systems have a self-compsnsating clock in them. Corrects for time zones, etc, all by itself! Calibrated to the atomic clock, so it is always accurate. Can't forget electronic smartwatches, either. All of which tends to make the old analog clocks in cars . . . obsolete . . . as most of them stopped working with age.
Now, it seems that "the clock still works" is a good point about the car's maintenance/condition as "the a/c still works" can be.
Take care,
CBODY67
In more modern times, almost everybody has a cell phone with a clock function on the main screen. Service stations turned into gas station/convenience stores, etc. When those earlier big clocks stopped working, they were not replaced with new ones, it seems. PLUS, all of the newer car radios/infotainment systems have a self-compsnsating clock in them. Corrects for time zones, etc, all by itself! Calibrated to the atomic clock, so it is always accurate. Can't forget electronic smartwatches, either. All of which tends to make the old analog clocks in cars . . . obsolete . . . as most of them stopped working with age.
Now, it seems that "the clock still works" is a good point about the car's maintenance/condition as "the a/c still works" can be.
Take care,
CBODY67
Well I soldered a wire across the power terminals, can't believe it haha. Still didn't work . Oh well
Picture
Smoked...... I have more than a dozen like that.
I'm having trouble finding a 12 volt quartz to replace it. May have to go with a 1.5v battery clock.
MrMoparCHP
Old Man with a Hat
Ocalanewport
New Member
I purchased a quartz replacement kit from this company on Ebay for my ‘65 Newport I followed the instructions and it was simple. The clock has been 100% on time for the last six months so far. Cost was about $90.00 and I am very pleased with it.
S-30151 Quartz Conversion Clock Repair Kit | eBay
S-30151 Quartz Conversion Clock Repair Kit | eBay
The kit works in Borg made clocks only, per the eBay listing.
The original poster has a GT / General Time movement. It is usually stamped on the rear of the clock case.
"Borg"
"G.T." (General Time)
Or "Westclox" are the three 1960 and later manufacturers for U.S. cars
Ocalanewport
New Member
I think they have other applications. I’m sure they would respond to your email.
my1966chrysler
New Member
had all my mopars converted to quartz from instrument specialties. glad i did
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