Automatic gear indicator needle install

[ToonMan]

I just picked up a new year indicator needle for my non-tilt column in my 67. I was just wondering if there were any tips or tricks to getting the needle in there. I have not tried to do it yet so I thought I would ask you guys if there was some little trick that I should be aware of. Thank you

[pjmoreland]

The gear indicator in your photo is the 71-72 style. Is the replacement "needle" also a 71-72 style? Will you be replacing the fiber optic line that lights it up? The photo below shows the components of a 67-70 indicator, although the little L shaped lens is not shown in the correct orientation in the photo. The housing has two delicate little feet on the bottom at the wide end that are disengaged from the colum by rotating the housing left or right prior to lifting up on it. If you pull straight up, you will likely damage the feet.

[ToonMan]

Okay the replacement piece I ordered isn't even close to that. I got it from ecklers. I tried to upload the photo but I can't get a tough load right now but yeah the one I got isn't even close to that

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

The gear indicator in your photo is the 71-72 style. Is the replacement "needle" also a 71-72 style? Will you be replacing the fiber optic line that lights it up? The photo below shows the components of a 67-70 indicator, although the little L shaped lens is not shown in the correct orientation in the photo. The housing has two delicate little feet on the bottom at the wide end that are disengaged from the colum by rotating the housing left or right prior to lifting up on it. If you pull straight up, you will likely damage the feet.

[pjmoreland]

Does it look like this?

[ToonMan]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

Does it look like this?

No it does not

[pjmoreland]

That pointer is for a tilt column, so it won't fit your non-tilt column.

[ToonMan]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

That pointer is for a tilt column, so it won't fit your non-tilt column.

Well okay that explains it thank you very much

[pjmoreland]

If you want a pointer to match your existing 71-72 indicator, this is what you'll need.

https://www.ecklers.com/1971-1972-ch...-859074-1.html

Here's the fiberoptic cable that goes with it.

https://www.ecklers.com/chevy-truck-...-178377-1.html

You may also need the bulb socket that the fiberoptic cable attaches to on the gauge cluster.

https://www.ecklers.com/chevy-and-gm...-324634-1.html

[ToonMan]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

That pointer is for a tilt column, so it won't fit your non-tilt column.

Okay I just snapped a picture of my column. Basically you're saying I have a 71 72 column in my 67.

[pjmoreland]

There are a couple of subtle differences between a 67 column and a 71-72 column.

1) The 67 column has a solid steering shaft that runs all the way from the steering wheel to the gearbox, whereas the later years have a joint that allows the column to kink in a crash.

2) The chrome shifter lever is narrower at the base where it inserts into the column on a 67, and the lever is shorter overall

I am pretty sure the shift indicators and pointers are interchangeable between 67 and 71-72, so you could get a new 67-70 style indicator lens and housing if you wanted to.

[pjmoreland]

The problem with trying to switch back to the 67-70 style of shift indicator is that the L shaped lens is not reproduced, as far as I know. The rest of the parts are available though.

Pointer housing:
https://www.classicparts.com/mobile/...ctinfo/91-383/

Indicator Lens:
https://www.classicparts.com/mobile/...tinfo/91-354B/

Indicator Housing:
https://www.classicparts.com/mobile/...tinfo/91-354C/

Fiber Optic:
https://www.classicparts.com/mobile/...tinfo/91-394A/

[ToonMan]

Well thank you very much for your help I very much appreciate it. I've been building 55 to 59 Chevy trucks for 40 years. I've had three cameos I still have one cameo. And this is my first foray into 67 to 72 so I very much appreciate your assistance

[pjmoreland]

That's a beautiful truck you've got there

[ToonMan]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

That's a beautiful truck you've got there

Thank you very much I bought it in 1982 when I was a junior in high school. It didn't look like that when I bought it though took a lot of work. And I still have it today

[pjmoreland]

When I first got it in my head that I wanted to get a truck to restore, I originally wanted a 55-56, but I couldn't find one in decent shape, so I went with a 67 that was available locally. I ended up becoming obsessed with 67-72 trucks after that though, so it worked out. I still have a soft spot for those mid-50s trucks though. It's cool that you've held onto it.

[ToonMan]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

When I first got it in my head that I wanted to get a truck to restore, I originally wanted a 55-56, but I couldn't find one in decent shape, so I went with a 67 that was available locally. I ended up becoming obsessed with 67-72 trucks after that though, so it worked out. I still have a soft spot for those mid-50s trucks though. It's cool that you've held onto it.

When I was born in 65 my dad had a 56 Chevy stepside. And all he could talk about was wanting to put a cameo box on it. So I grew up listening to Cameo this and Cameo that. And when I was 17 I just accidentally fell into this truck. And I built it up and drove it to high school my senior year and my ex and I drove it away from our wedding. And it's still a cool truck it was in the Portland roadster show years ago. And I just can't bring myself to get rid of it. But now that I'm divorced and I have a fiance and she's really into hot rod trucks I wanted something different for us. I have the motor out of my Cameo right now so it's not running anyway so I bought this little 67 short wide and that will be our truck

[pjmoreland]

That's a great pair of trucks you have there. They should keep you busy. I have only ever seen one Cameo in my life, and it was many years ago.

[ToonMan]

Like I said I've had three cameos this 56 I still have a 55 and a root beer Brown and orange 58. Plus I have an extra set of rear fenders and tailgate sitting around. I've always liked the 67-72s cuz they were more modern looking but they were still very classic. And that's why I decided I wanted to either have a 67 or 68 because I like the front end and the hood. My divorce took a lot out of me mentally and financially so now that I have my new gal and I'm starting this whole hot rod thing over again

[ToonMan]

This is my 67. And yes I know it has marker lights. I get so much s*** about that. The truck was originally a step side the previous owner put a newer fleet side bet on it then he put on matching front fenders so he could have the marker lights

[pjmoreland]

Now that's a good looking driveway! It's funny how we associate memories with the vehicles that were present.

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by ToonMan

This is my 67. And yes I know it has marker lights. I get so much s*** about that. The truck was originally a step side the previous owner put a newer fleet side bet on it then he put on matching front fenders so he could have the marker lights

There aren't too may of these trucks left that are perfectly original. My 68 would have had the grille painted white or silver, but I went with body color instead.

[ToonMan]

Crap my pictures didn't come through. Yeah that was at my old house and that's a 62 Nova up in front of the two cameos

[MikeB]

Just wanted to add here that a 69 fiber optic cable will snap right in to the 71-72 pointer and red lens. So I assume that's true for 67-68 cables.