Dash lube

[ramair]

Hi, getting ready to pull dash out of 68. Wanted to know if anyone has lightly lubed any part of the speedometer? I can only imagine less is best on this item. Also it would be great to get some brand names of lube for speedo, clock and speedo cable. Thank you, Michael TOA 691#

[Schurkey]

Speedo cable = white grease OR special cable lube which usually involves graphite powder. Pull the cable OUT of the sheath, wipe some white grease on it, and slip it back in. It comes out from the top, which means you need to pop the sheath out of the speedo on the dash.

Clock = JB 80 or your favorite aerosol spray lube. WD-40 does not count; it's a terrible lube. JB-80 REALLY IS "twice as good"...maybe four times as good.

Speedo = Good Luck. If you actually take it apart, you can add a drop of JB 80 here 'n' there; or even drop some white grease on the odometer drive gears...but I don't know what the actual speedo magnet/bearing thingie is supposed to be lubed with.

[Sparky]

Hi Mike,

Schurkey is onto it....as far as the cable lube is concerned. Also the drive gear in the governor should be inspected.

I have a few dozen speedometers laying about. I took a few pics of one I use for a paper weight. Notice the worm gears, speedo barrel shaft (and end adjustment, similar to a watch jewel movement), magnetic pick up/clutch, and tension spring.

Mostly likely you will only need to go to the cable/governor to fix/service. The speedo itself comes out easy, once you drop the dash.....which isn't. ):

Hope this helps......

Sparky

DSC03619.JPG (92.12 KiB) Viewed 12234 times

DSC03619.JPG (92.12 KiB) Viewed 12234 times

[Schurkey]

Wonderful photos, Sparky.

If only GM still had engineers...

[Gulu22]

Alright, a question I have. Whenever I shift between from park to drive or reverse (or between the latter two), the car shifts forward (or backward, depending) and I hear a kind of creaking (I think the brakes complaining). Is this normal in a car like the '66 with such a powerful engine and relatively weak drum brakes, or a potential sign of trouble?

[Otto Skorzeny]

Is your idle speed too high? If the engine is revving higher than it should, it will slam the transmission into gear.

If the idle is correct, it shouldn't be extremely harsh. Check your trans fluid level as well.

[Schurkey]

Alright, a question I have. Whenever I shift between from park to drive or reverse (or between the latter two), the car shifts forward (or backward, depending) and I hear a kind of creaking (I think the brakes complaining). Is this normal in a car like the '66 with such a powerful engine and relatively weak drum brakes, or a potential sign of trouble?

Yes, high idle speed makes this worse.

MIGHT be the brakes. A brake inspection is appropriate. If any problem is found in the front, I recommend upgrading the front brakes to the later-model ('69--78) front discs.

MIGHT be the suspension, including but not limited to the control arm bushings. In that I sell Polyurethane control arm busing inserts, consider this an advertisement. Other possibilities include shock absorbers and the rubber mounts, ball joints and/or tie rod ends, and the idler arm.

The creaking is NOT normal, if everything is in proper usable condition, you should not hear "funny noises" from normal operation of the vehicle.