looking for a "how-to" for installing a Tii clock

[joebarthlow]

I've acquired what I believe is a working Tii clock (no orange/red and has the crosshairs). I'd like to install it into my '74 non-tii dash. Is there a how-to out there? I spent about an hour going through old threads in this forum, but didn't find much. 

 

I'm wondering if I can cut the hole and install it without removing the dash? is there a suggested hole size?

 

which wire to get power from, or run a new one (if so, from what). 

 

From what I can tell, it's one for power and one for ground. This clock has a harness with connector and small metal bracket. one of my thumb screws is missing, but can probably locate something to replace it.

 

thanks for your tips, links and direction 

[Swiss 2002Tii]

The hole diameter for the clock should fit the clock pretty snugly.  I have mine set in place without the mounting bracket, which is somewhat difficult to reach, although it is possible from below, and more easily through the glove box.

There is sheet metal behind that the mounting bracket seats against, but i think you could carefully make the cut without disturbing anything.

Access for the cable harness is easy from the instrument cluster.

 

Power for the clock comes from the back of the instrument cluster.  You don't have to use that cable access hole; you can slip it along behind the dash cover.

 

There are two sets of 3-pin points.  One is for the tacho, the other is for the clock.  The 3-pin connectors are slightly different, as you can see.  Do you have one on your harness?

 

On my Tii, the clock power was originally split off from the tacho.  This will work, if you cannot find the other 3-pin connector.

 

 

I separated the two, and made separate harnesses for the tacho and clock.

 

Tsingtao_1903 helped me with the other connector, and he designed a 3-D model that you could take to a 3-D print shop and have one made.  I suggest that they use vinyl, as the typical 3-D print plastic is too brittle. 3-pin connector:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3025966

 

The clock normally has a black plastic barrel as a spacer for mounting it on the dash.  I see on Tsingtao's 3-D site that he also designed a 3-D model for the shroud and both types of 3-pin connectors.  Way to go, Trieu!

 

Make sure to test your clock with +12V before completing the mounting process.  If it doesn't reset the servo and start ticking, inspect this point and see if the contact has opened.  If it is opened, you can use a small amount of solder to reconnect it.

 

 

 

 

Let me know if you need other photo for reference, I have more.

Clock (25) marked.pdf

Edited September 7, 2019 by Swiss 2002Tii
additional info

[Tsingtao_1903]

I believe all dashes have pre-molded "hole" for the clock.  It's a circular depression in the molded rigid foam.  Can be seen from the back.  "Feel" around the circumference of the hole with your fingers from the front.  Cut it out with an exacto knife.

 

Yes, you can install the clock without removing the dash.  It will be a great opportunity to brush up on your swear words.  You may even come up with some new ones.  ?

 

 

The original harness has three wires.  Brown is for ground, red is hot (always on), gray is switch power for the clock light bulb.

 

This thumb nut is larger and designed with a generous chamfer for installing blind.  https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3293694

 

Best regards,

 

 

Trieu

Edited September 7, 2019 by Tsingtao_1903

[Conserv]

It was 1976. I had a new '02. I was young. I was fearless. This is what I recall:

 

On a tii, I measured the distance from the instrument binnacle to the center of the clock. I inserted a sharp penknife through my brand-new '76's dash at that point. I cut outward in tight circles until my knife reached the edges of the clock hole in the steel armature underlying the dash's foam padding. Thus, the factory hole guided my knife. I had never seen a dash from the rear but had heard they all had the tii clock hole. This was long before Al Gore invented the Internet. What the eff was I thinking? ? If the knife failed to penetrate the dash, i.e., if there was no pre-drilled hole, my plan was to use a hole saw -- okay, at least I had a backup plan!

 

I probably could not do this today to a new '02 dash! ?

 

I had the factory clock wiring harness, so that was just a plug-in. Getting the two fingernuts on the back of the clock was the hardest part. I lost one in the bowels of the Underdash Cavern, so my clock was held in place for thirty-six years with a single fingernut. When I went to install a second nut ca. 2012, I lost a second nut in the Underdash Cavern, but had another spare... I think. Well, that's what I recall! ?

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

Edited September 7, 2019 by Conserv

[MikeWooldridge]

Without the amount of detail listed already, the main point I would make is to center the hole and cut horizontally to the right. That’s where you will contact metal. Then cut your hole to fit the clock snugly. No fastening from behind will be necessary. 

[Conserv]

46 minutes ago, MikeWooldridge said:

....No fastening from behind will be necessary. 

 

Huh... ? I guess I never tested this possibility, Mike. I figured the acceleration of the ‘76 would leave the clock hanging off the dash by its wiring harness... ?

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

[adawil2002]

Yes all '02 dashes have provisions for the dash clock visible on the rear of the dash.

 

Had to remove my clock from the dash to repair it, 10 minutes to remove and repair. 3 hours of cussing and I was able to get it secured with one of the plastic knobs. The other one was lost in another dimension with 10mm sockets and single socks.

 

Second time I had to remove it, I removed the FASTEN SEAT BELTS pod, and that provided light and reached up behind the glove compartment and not working blind made it much easier. Still had to cuss it to make it all work. 

[02Les]

So, to dispel a growing myth.

I have two spare one-piece dashes, NEITHER HAS A CLOCK HOLE VISABLE FROM THE REAR. My RHD late '73 dash doesn't either.

So, not all '02 dashes have the clock hole indent seen from the rear.

 

First pic is a Euro dash (no script around the switch holes) & the 2nd pic is a normal USA dash.

[jgerock]

Contrary to the above responses, I ran across the upper dash piece from a 1971 2002 (no seatbelt pod hole) that did NOT have the circular perforated clock location.  

[jgerock]

1 minute ago, 02Les said:

So, to dispel a growing myth.

I have two spare one-piece dashes, NEITHER HAS A CLOCK HOLE VISABLE FROM THE REAR. My RHD late '73 dash doesn't either.

So, not all '02 dashes have the clock hole indent seen from the rear.

 

First pic is a Euro dash (no script around the switch holes) & the 2nd pic is a normal USA dash.

Lol- same time response!

[halboyles]

Agree with jgerock and 02Les.  Our '71 1600 did not have a preformed hole in the dash and required quite a bit of cutting to create it.  On top of that I had to grind out an opening in the sheet metal so that the clock could slide back into the dash to fit flush.

[Mike Self]

If Joe's clock has cross-hairs, it's probably a solid state clock and not the electro-mechanical one used on the 72-73 tii's (and earlier Euro ti's) so it won't have the vulnerable solenoid and contact points to wind it.  But it's still a good idea--given the difficulty of installation--to wire it up to 12 volts for a day or two just to make sure it's working properly--and put a new bulb in for insurance!

 

mike

[Gordon]

8 hours ago, 02Les said:

So, to dispel a growing myth.

I have two spare one-piece dashes, NEITHER HAS A CLOCK HOLE VISABLE FROM THE REAR. My RHD late '73 dash doesn't either.

So, not all '02 dashes have the clock hole indent seen from the rear.

 

First pic is a Euro dash (no script around the switch holes) & the 2nd pic is a normal USA dash.

Les, I have to disagree with you. The dash in my tii looked like the Grand Canyon with all the cracks in it.  In 2004, I stumbled on to a crack free one piece Euro spec 02 dash (no fasten seat belt billboard) at a vintage auto flea market for 120 Euros in Ludwigshafen Germany.  I bought it and mailed it back home.  Before installing it,  the hole in the dash for the clock was carefully cut out. The Euro dash had the depressed imprint for clock hole  in the back of the dash and it was very obvious where the clock went.

 

G-Man

Edited September 7, 2019 by Gordon

[jp5Touring]

I have  clock that came with my 2002,  I haven't decided if I will install. If a tii I understand, but otherwise meh. 

Is this that desirable upgrade for people ?  

[Conserv]

2 hours ago, halboyles said:

Agree with jgerock and 02Les.  Our '71 1600 did not have a preformed hole in the dash and required quite a bit of cutting to create it.  On top of that I had to grind out an opening in the sheet metal so that the clock could slide back into the dash to fit flush.

 

The black “tii bezel” keeps the clock sufficiently out to avoid having to cut the sheet metal behind the dash! Hmm... And I thought it was just to improve readability... 

 

Best regards, 

 

Steve