A previous owner of my 69 mounted an after market tach on top of the steering column. It's actually fastened to the column with a water clamp! I was planning on getting rid of this tach. Today, when I removed the dash pad, I saw that he had cut away that part of the carrier assembly; in other words, the recessed compartment above the column that said "Camaro" is completely gone. Does anyone know of a way to deal with this situation without buying another carrier assembly? They're pretty expensive. I'm trying to get an original look. Are there any clocks or other guages that would fit in this square hole and look like they belonged there? I thought of finding an old assembly and somehow piecing the the plastic carmaro sign in there, but my assembly is blue, which is going to make it a hard find, I think. I'd appreciate any ideas you have. Thanks.

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Paul

paul,

there was a clock assembly that came from the factory that fit in that space. just look around. you will find an original or aftermarket one.

If you have no console, and you want a factory tach (which goes in the right pod) you would put a center fuel gauge in that opening. I'm betting it was factory cut for clock, or automatic on the column.

Alternatively, you could get the bezel for the column automatic to fill the void.

Angelo and Unreal, thanks a lot for the reply. I think you're both right. As I continued working on the car, I noticed a hole on the column for a shifter. The car is now auto in the floor, which I had thought was original. I should have noticed this when I bought the car, but the hole on the column was partially hidden by the tach mount. It would stand to reason then that the hole contained the gear read out at one time. Only thing is that the hole doesn't appear to be a factory cut. I'm thinking the carrier assembly is not the original but was put in after the switch from column to floor. Then someone thought the camaro sign was a waste of space and cut it out to halfway stick in the tach. I think I'll go the clock route and hope that the bezel will fit and mount in the hole. Were there any center mounted tachs (original, not aftermarket)?

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Paul

No, there were no center mounted tachs. in 69's, depending on the options, In a base car the speedo mounted in the left pod. In the right pod, there was a large fuel gauge. As an option you could have the tach mounted in the right pod and in the center pod they would mount the fuel gauge, unless you had the console gauges. In that case, the fuel gauge was in the console and a clock was mounted in the center pod. You should be able to mount a clock or fuel gauge in the center as long as someone didn't cut it out too far and remove the plastic that you need to insert the screws. Good Luck.

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69 SS, 350, 4 Speed
75 400, 4 Speed
93 Z28, 6 Speed

Thanks X11, that's what I was guessing from looking through catalogues, etc. I don't want to move my fuel gauge so I guess I'll get a clock. If I can't find a way to screw it to the carrier assembly, maybe they'll take it back. I've been dealing with Firewheel Classics and they seem to be pretty good about that type of thing. Thanks again.

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Paul

The factory cut holes are not as smooth as you might think. I would no rule out factory cut for column automatic. A clock is a good solution.

Unreal, right after I wrote the reply to X11, I found the actual gear display. It was shifted kind of down behind the carrier assembly. I guess the guy didn't want it in his way (of the aftermarket tach) but didn't want to fool with completely removing it...I don't know. Anyway, I guess that means it is a factory cut afterall--not a carrier assembly with a camaro sign that's been hacked away. I'm feeling more confident about the clock solution. If only the dang thing would hurry up and get here!! By the way, I see you're pretty much my next door neighbor: I live right in the western tip of NC.

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Paul

Paul,
The clock will be held on by two screws on the side of the clock housing. Look at your carrier, and there should be two thin plastic ears sticking up toward the front. They would have metal clips with threaded centers, for clock or center fuel. I bet yours does not have those clips. I have a couple of old carriers that might have the clips on them. If you need them, let me know, and they are yours.

Hey thanks alot...my clock ought to be here day after tomorrow. I looked pretty close at the "hole." There are two tabs or clips alright, but they're at the top of the hole. They look like the same kind of tabs that held the heater control in. I don't think they're there to connect to the dash pad, but I might be wrong. When the clock gets here, I'll see if I can move the tabs from the top to the sides somehow--to match up with the clock mounts. If not, I might just take you up on your offer. Thanks again.

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Paul

The two tabs at the top are to secure the bezel. The top of the clock housing has two notches that fit behind the bezel screws. But you should have two 1/2" X 1/16" (or so) tabs on the side. These tabs should have push on type fastenters for screws. These are to hold the clock housing.

Unreal, I don't have the tabs on the side. The bezel screws at the top might hold the clock, but it'd probably shake or vibrate. I'd appreciate it if you could drob those clips in an envelope and get them to me--although, I can't see how I'm going to attach them to the carrier assembly since the ears or tabs themselves are not there. I should have posted this reply sooner, but I had a wiring mishap (some fry'n & sizzl'n!) that occupied me for a while. Being a first time camaro owner, I haven't accumulated many parts yet, but I do have some extra mirror stuff (two boots, two shafts, the mounts that go behind the headliner, etc.). They're in good shape. Let me know if you need any of that stuff. Here's my address:
Paul Wilson
564 Wilson Road
Brasstown, NC 28902

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Paul

[This message has been edited by camaro-novice (edited 12-28-2002).]

Paul,
I just looked at the two "extra" housings I have, and I only have 1 fastener. I remember breaking one, but I should have had some extras. You are welcome to the one...maybe someone else has one, and can help you out. I have other fasteners that have a stud on the end, rather than female threads. I can send a couple of them.

I'm not sure they would help you, though. I took a good look at my "good" housing, to see how you might make yours work. I don't think you could epoxy replacement tabs to the original location, and make them stick. However, you might glue a wooden block to the side of the speedo and fuel pods, and put a couple of screws through the clock tabs into the blocks.

let me know if you need the fasteners I have

Yeah, I guess I'll need to jerry rig something. Luckily, my dad is a carpenter and an all around handyman. I'll get him to look at it and give some ideas. I let you know what we come up with and how it works out. I don't guess I'll really need those tabs since this is not going to be a factory type intstall, but thanks just the same. I wonder, what exactly was above the gear display? The clock fits perfectly but there's no sign of there ever being any ears or mounts for the sides? Did some carriers have the recessed Camaro sign above gear display (auto on the column)?

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Paul

I don't have a solid center carrier to check for sure, but I think all carriers were molded the same, and then the center area was cut out for Auto on the column, center fuel gauge, or clock.