68 Factory Gauge Question

[curtis0916]

I'm restoring a 68 SS 396 with standard interior, and I just discovered it did not come with a console.  Is there any way to know if it came from the factory with any gauges?  I would actually prefer to not use gauges (as I feel they are many times a problem), or just a minimum, but my goal is to restore it as close to factory as possible.

I really appreciate any help you can give.

[x66 714]

I'm pretty sure in 68 a console was required before you could order gauges. 69 was different. You could get tach w/o gauges which didn't require a console....Joe

[fsc66]

I checked the CRG option list: http://www.camaros.org/pdf/options.pdf, I also cross-checked each price book 67-69 and all 3 years state that V8 and the optional console, D55 was required in order to have the U17 gauge package. 
Paul

[curtis0916]

Thanks, guys!!!  That is great information and really helps me moving forward.

[curtis0916]

For an SS396 325hp was there a tach/clock combination on the dash instrument cluster?  I have read about a tic-toc-tac on some cars, but I'm not sure if mine would have come with one as it does not have a console.

[Kelley W King]

On 69,s with no console and a tach the fuel gauge move to the center where the clock would have been.

[curtis0916]

Mine is a 1968.

[cook_dw]

For an SS396 325hp was there a tach/clock combination on the dash instrument cluster?  I have read about a tic-toc-tac on some cars, but I'm not sure if mine would have come with one as it does not have a console.

If it didn’t originally come with a console then there is zero chance it came with a factory tach.  But for those that did come with tach & gauges the tach would have been a 5.5k/7k redline.

http://www.camaros.org/diffs68.shtml

FWIW just about every question you have asked can be answered by using the search function or by reading anything and everything on the main page link.

www.camaros.org

Glad to see another 68 given some love.  Post pics unless you have already.

[fsc66]

Curtis:
The stand alone Tach option U16 was not available in the 1968 Camaro. It became available as a stand alone option in  May of 1969. In 1968 the tach was only available as part of the U17 Special Instruments package.

Paul

[z28z11]

I'm restoring a 68 SS 396 with standard interior, and I just discovered it did not come with a console.  Is there any way to know if it came from the factory with any gauges?  I would actually prefer to not use gauges (as I feel they are many times a problem), or just a minimum, but my goal is to restore it as close to factory as possible.

I really appreciate any help you can give.

Out of curiousity, how did you determine it was a non-console car ? Trans tunnel piercings absent ?

Regards,
Steve

[curtis0916]

Great question!!!  This was my late brother's first car, he had sold it sometime in the late 70's and got it back in the 90's.  It was in very rough condition when he got it back, and he planned to restore it.  He had actually accumulated a lot of the required parts over the years.  He passed a little over 1 1/2 years ago, and just in the last few weeks I found some pictures of the car he had taken in 1974.  While they did not include a good picture of the instrument cluster, one did show that there was not a console.  He had made very few modifications to the car, so I knew a console had not been removed.  Another part of the story is that my first car was a 1967 Camaro, and about 6 months before his passing he and I had started looking for a nice '67 for me.  A few weeks before he died we actually took a trip to Texas to look at one, but it wasn't quite right for me.  This car will mean more to me than any '67 ever will.  Below is a picture of the car as we found it 1 1/2 years ago, and a picture of it's current state.

[z28z11]

Curtis,

Just to make sure - look and see if the two holes forward of the shifter opening for the front console bracket are present, and/or the Rivnuts are present in the tunnel top behind the shifter opening. If they are there, it most likely had a console (although they, too can be added or removed just like most other features on the car). Rare396bronze reminded me to add to look for the extended length forward harness for big block console cars with gauges, which I would not have thought of (thanks, Sport !). He can measure the right wires on his if you need to compare.

Just checking with you - I like the gauge combo to appear in any first gen (although I've only got one originally built with it).

Steve

[curtis0916]

Thanks for the heads up, I'll check it to make sure.

[x66 714]

Looks like you opted to add a spoiler...Joe

[z28z11]

Curtis,

Just to make sure - look and see if the two holes forward of the shifter opening for the front console bracket are present, and/or the Rivnuts are present in the tunnel top behind the shifter opening. If they are there, it most likely had a console (although they, too can be added or removed just like most other features on the car). Rare396bronze reminded me to add to look for the extended length forward harness for big block console cars with gauges, which I would not have thought of (thanks, Sport !). He can measure the right wires on his if you need to compare.

Just checking with you - I like the gauge combo to appear in any first gen (although I've only got one originally built with it).

Steve

I was reminded to clean this up a bit - the engine harness on a non-gauge equipped big block car carries the longer sender wire than a small block harness. Gauge cars used a hard line, obviously. Sorry for the misstated thought. The question was about gauges, not big or small block (age related confusion, believe me). At least the floor piercing indicating console appearance is correct !

Thanks, Sport -

Steve