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cvsisinthehouse
Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2014
Posts: 25
Location: Silver Spring, MD
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 Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2025 8:40 pm Post subject: 4" Clock/Tach options? |
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I have the original 6 volt clock in my '65 Ghia, which is now 12 volt. I dont need a clock but dont really need a tach as well. What is my easiest or cheapest option to put something there that works? Thanks,
_________________
Working on a big funeral...
'65 Ghia Coupe
'09 Pontiac Solstice Coupe
Many motorcycles
2 Seaters owned: '88 CRX, '73 & '76 TR6, '93 MR2, '99 SLK, '93 Corvette, '12 Mini Cooper Coupe |
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bnam
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2006
Posts: 3437
Location: El Dorado Hills CA/ Bangalore, India
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| Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2025 12:20 am Post subject: Re: 4" Clock/Tach options? |
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Just run the same 6V clock. It should run on 12v as well. It did for me.
_________________
1971 1302LS Convertible (RHD) owned since '74
Click to view image
1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe - under restoration
1966 Fiat 1500 Cabrio (with 1600 Twin cam)
1952 Citroen TA 11BL |
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sputnick60
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 22, 2007
Posts: 4101
Location: In Molinya Orbit
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cvsisinthehouse
Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2014
Posts: 25
Location: Silver Spring, MD
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| Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2025 7:08 am Post subject: Re: 4" Clock/Tach options? |
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Thanks, I will try it. It wasnt working before.
_________________
Working on a big funeral...
'65 Ghia Coupe
'09 Pontiac Solstice Coupe
Many motorcycles
2 Seaters owned: '88 CRX, '73 & '76 TR6, '93 MR2, '99 SLK, '93 Corvette, '12 Mini Cooper Coupe |
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Era Vulgaris
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2012
Posts: 1893
Location: Raleigh, NC
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| Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2025 11:59 am Post subject: Re: 4" Clock/Tach options? |
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The cheapest and easiest thing, if your clock is actually broken, would be to simply not worry about it and leave it as is.
The 2nd cheapest would be to look for another clock that is tested working here in the classifieds, but make sure you keep a battery tender on the car if you don't drive it alot.
The easiest thing if you want a tach would be to send your clock to North Hollywood Speedometer and have them do the work to convert it to a tach. But it's really really not cheap.
Or, ISP West sells a early Ghia tachs that kinda match the early speedometers. Much much cheaper than having NHS do it, but it doesn't match exactly if that may or may not bother you.
https://vwispwest.com/gauges/tachometers/karmann-ghia/
Another option, one that cost me less than the ISP West tach, is you can make your own tach using a Porsche 914 tach, your old clock, and another speedo (just for the needle) like I did. But it's a good bit of work.
_________________
Currently own:
66 Karmann Ghia, L390 Gulf Blue, under construction, here: www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760505&highlight=
99 Mazda MX-5 10AE, Sapphire Blue Mica, 6 speed, LSD
Previously owned:
98 Porsche Boxster, silver, 2.5L -- 67 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1500sp -- 98 BMW Z3, Atlanta Blue Metallic, 2.8L I6 -- 75 Porsche 914, Laguna Blue, 2270cc -- 72 Porsche 914, Signal Orange, 1.7 FI -- 74 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1600dp -- 74 Triumph TR6 with O.D., sapphire blue |
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yorkjj
Samba Member
Joined: July 26, 2009
Posts: 88
Location: leesburg, va
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 2:51 am Post subject: Re: 4" Clock/Tach options? |
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Looking at the 914 tachs, it appears that they have far fewer lights and indicators which the Ghia clock has. If that is important, live with what you've got or have a clock converted to preserve the lights and additional gauges. My 74 clock was converted to a tach by North Hollywood, and it preserved the lights and the gas gauge.
A battery tender is important if you don't drive it daily. |
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Era Vulgaris
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2012
Posts: 1893
Location: Raleigh, NC
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 5:14 am Post subject: Re: 4" Clock/Tach options? |
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| yorkjj wrote: |
Looking at the 914 tachs, it appears that they have far fewer lights and indicators which the Ghia clock has. If that is important, live with what you've got or have a clock converted to preserve the lights and additional gauges. My 74 clock was converted to a tach by North Hollywood, and it preserved the lights and the gas gauge.
A battery tender is important if you don't drive it daily. |
There are no indicators in the 66 and earlier clocks, only a backlight (OP has a 65). The Ghia clock has one backlight, and the 914 tach housing has two.
_________________
Currently own:
66 Karmann Ghia, L390 Gulf Blue, under construction, here: www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760505&highlight=
99 Mazda MX-5 10AE, Sapphire Blue Mica, 6 speed, LSD
Previously owned:
98 Porsche Boxster, silver, 2.5L -- 67 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1500sp -- 98 BMW Z3, Atlanta Blue Metallic, 2.8L I6 -- 75 Porsche 914, Laguna Blue, 2270cc -- 72 Porsche 914, Signal Orange, 1.7 FI -- 74 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1600dp -- 74 Triumph TR6 with O.D., sapphire blue |
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cvsisinthehouse
Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2014
Posts: 25
Location: Silver Spring, MD
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 7:30 am Post subject: Re: 4" Clock/Tach options? |
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I hooked up my clock to a good battery last night. I connected the positive to the only connection on the back, and touched the negative to the case. It didnt work. Is this the way to check it?
I dont need a tach as I have one that came with my fuel injection monitor.
_________________
Working on a big funeral...
'65 Ghia Coupe
'09 Pontiac Solstice Coupe
Many motorcycles
2 Seaters owned: '88 CRX, '73 & '76 TR6, '93 MR2, '99 SLK, '93 Corvette, '12 Mini Cooper Coupe |
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yorkjj
Samba Member
Joined: July 26, 2009
Posts: 88
Location: leesburg, va
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 8:31 am Post subject: Re: 4" Clock/Tach options? |
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| Era Vulgaris wrote: |
| yorkjj wrote: |
Looking at the 914 tachs, it appears that they have far fewer lights and indicators which the Ghia clock has. If that is important, live with what you've got or have a clock converted to preserve the lights and additional gauges. My 74 clock was converted to a tach by North Hollywood, and it preserved the lights and the gas gauge.
A battery tender is important if you don't drive it daily. |
There are no indicators in the 66 and earlier clocks, only a backlight (OP has a 65). The Ghia clock has one backlight, and the 914 tach housing has two. |
Thank you for the clarification; I stand corrected. I looked at the '65 owner's manual and could not get a clear picture of the clock. It must just be the later models with the clock with all the indicators. |
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bnam
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2006
Posts: 3437
Location: El Dorado Hills CA/ Bangalore, India
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 11:04 am Post subject: Re: 4" Clock/Tach options? |
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If you search, youâll find some posts and videos on how to get a nonfunctioning clock to start again. I was able to do that - both that was 7 years ago and Indont remember the details well. There is a contact point with a blob of solder iirc.
Byas
_________________
1971 1302LS Convertible (RHD) owned since '74
Click to view image
1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe - under restoration
1966 Fiat 1500 Cabrio (with 1600 Twin cam)
1952 Citroen TA 11BL |
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|
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Era Vulgaris
Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2012
Posts: 1893
Location: Raleigh, NC
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 11:29 am Post subject: Re: 4" Clock/Tach options? |
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| yorkjj wrote: |
| Era Vulgaris wrote: |
| yorkjj wrote: |
Looking at the 914 tachs, it appears that they have far fewer lights and indicators which the Ghia clock has. If that is important, live with what you've got or have a clock converted to preserve the lights and additional gauges. My 74 clock was converted to a tach by North Hollywood, and it preserved the lights and the gas gauge.
A battery tender is important if you don't drive it daily. |
There are no indicators in the 66 and earlier clocks, only a backlight (OP has a 65). The Ghia clock has one backlight, and the 914 tach housing has two. |
Thank you for the clarification; I stand corrected. I looked at the '65 owner's manual and could not get a clear picture of the clock. It must just be the later models with the clock with all the indicators. |
Yep, it's only 72-74 with the clock/gas multi-gauge that has the indicators in it.
_________________
Currently own:
66 Karmann Ghia, L390 Gulf Blue, under construction, here: www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760505&highlight=
99 Mazda MX-5 10AE, Sapphire Blue Mica, 6 speed, LSD
Previously owned:
98 Porsche Boxster, silver, 2.5L -- 67 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1500sp -- 98 BMW Z3, Atlanta Blue Metallic, 2.8L I6 -- 75 Porsche 914, Laguna Blue, 2270cc -- 72 Porsche 914, Signal Orange, 1.7 FI -- 74 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1600dp -- 74 Triumph TR6 with O.D., sapphire blue |
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sputnick60
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 22, 2007
Posts: 4101
Location: In Molinya Orbit
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