[Ron Landis]

I knew it didn't work, 'cause it registered way past full. We put two gallons in to get me to a station, and it held $4.85, so I'm running some out first chance I get. Still working on insurance. Is this a common problem, or are they typically problematic? Again, all new to me. Thanx for any input. Ron

[mikediaz]

I cannot comment on fuel guage problems' commonality, but from my search for these cars I do know one thing almost NEVER works: the clock!

[68Prix]

My gas gauge has not worked since I got my car. It reads way above full and it goes down normally until 1/2 tank then Jumps arround then is fine from 1/4 tank down. Just weird to me. Have not found the problem and not sure if it is just the gauge or the sending unit. Any one else have that problem on there cars? Mine is a 68 Grand Prix.

[Jerry H.]

Ron, I restored a 65 2+2 over 20 years ago, the gas tank sending unit was bad. The tank sending unit is bad on the 65 2 dr sedan (the car in my avatar) now. The one in my convertible works ok. I'm holding my breath. I have a good one for my sedan, just haven' gotten around to dropping the tank yet.

By the way, you should have picked up the NOS spinners I offered on here a while back. No one picked them up, so to ebay they went. Sold for a good price. I do like the poverty caps better than the crappy full hubcaps on the Bonny though. If you need a full cap, let me know, I think I have a good one.

[LASJayhawk]

running way past full is an open circuit. Most of the times I've seen it happen the strap on the sender between the reostat and the terminal outside the tank has corroded in 1/2. A bad gauge, bad ground wire at the tank, or open feed wire can also cause the problem.

stevep. just checked 2 cars
65 Bonneville 4D Build date 04C body # BC 4677. Shift quadrent has white letters on dark background.
65 Catalina 6W build date 04E body # BC 1929 Shift quadrent has dark letters on white background.
Both cars have 1st type dash....I've never seen a car with 2nd type dash.

[Ron Landis]

I just need to run out @ $75 worth of gas...then drop the tank? lol Thanx, I'll play with it if/when it warms up some. Right now...just gonna cruise! Thanx for your input. I appreciate any and all help. Ron

[LASJayhawk]

If you get under the back end between the tank and rear axel you can check the ground wire where it bolts to the floor pan with a sheet metal screw.

If your arms are small enough, you can try to reach the feed wire where it goes into the tank. If you can clip a test wire on it, hook the other end to the chassis. If the gauge goes to empty, the problem is in the tank.

[Ron Landis]

I'll get underneath and see what it's like. I guess I should round up an ohm meter. Isn't '65 the first year for GM's use of the 0-90 ohm set-up? Good start, with the ground wire and all. I'll post my findings. Ron

[68Prix]

Thanks LASJayhawk, I will have to check mine before I through a NOS gauge in it. Pat

[stevep]

LAS, Look in the PY catalog for the wood grain on the 65 Bonneville dash. It will show the difference between 1st and 2nd design.. My 65 has the 2nd design. I had a 1s design bezel on it until I put a new wood kit on my original.

Well, you proved my indicator theory wrong! We'll find the answer some day.

[LASJayhawk]

tevep, I've seen the drawing (it's from the IPC) but I've never seen a 2nd design dashboard. Can you post a picture?

[stevep]

LAS, You probably have a 2nd design. Are you sure you have the 1st design?

[stevep]

LAS, I looked at the PY online catalog and it did not show a picture. But I have the #'s.
1st design - W3554S 2nd design - W3555S

If you have the catalog, it shows a diagram of the dashface.

[Ron Landis]

Originally Posted by stevep

Here is another thing I just noticed. It looks like it has the 1st design dashboard. Maybe that has something to do with the white indicator??

what does a 2nd design look like? Learning every day! lol Ron

[LASJayhawk]

I have 3 cars in operatible conditions and 2 additional dashpanels from Bonnevilles/GP's.

All are the 1st type, using p/n 9780066 for the lower wood insert.(3 cutouts)

Note that the IPC refers to them as 1st TYPE and 2nd TYPE.

I'm Stressing that as the 2nd TYPE (with 1 large cutout for radio and 1 for the heater) has a "earlier" Part number (9777450) This is the one I have NEVER seen.

I have 1 car that has a Casco lighter, all the rest are Rochester. Almost split on the shift quadrent thing. My GP was built with 3 clock bezels.

[stevep]

LAS, It just goes to show that sometimes nothing makes sense.
Maybe it's an East/West thing?? I've seen more 2nd type dashes here in the Boston area. But the car I parted out 20 years ago with the 1st type was an original east coast car. Is the dash on your 2+2 a 1st or 2nd type?
What's the difference with the clock and gauge bezels?

[LASJayhawk]

Keep in mind the 1st/2nd thing only applys to the woodgrain trim used in GP's and Bonnevilles.

All Cats and starchiefs would be a "2nd type" since they have no wood trim, the bezels for the radio and heater have to be part of the dashboard. This leads me to believe the 2nd type woodgrain insert would be used to put a catalina/starchief dash into a Bonneville or GP.

All my cars are are CA or KC cars except the GP. She's a jersy girl. It's the only 65 I've ever had with a casco lighter.

If you look at the clock bezel it has a small half circle cutout at 3 o'clock for the set stem on the clock.

[mikediaz]

On the Type 1 vs Type 2 thing:
I think there was a minor confusion for a second there between stevep and LASJ. And i can understand why:

Ames catalog lists "Type 2" to be the single, large cutouts (one for radio, one for heater).
It lists Type I as the multiple-slitted cutouts for both.

Mine has a Type 2 (via Ames definition of single, large cutouts)

I've never seen an (AMES) type 1 dash either. (and it seems no one on this thread has either.)

[LASJayhawk]

No mike every Bonneville / GP I have ever seen or owned has been a type 1 (3 cutouts and bezel part of the wood)

Would someone with a type 2 dash in a Bonne/GP please take me a few pictures!!!!!

Mike the switch looks like it is OK.

[mikediaz]

This is a pic of my dash. I believe it to be Type 2 but you all tell me

Sorry for the bad shot, if I was with the car I'd take another and post it.


LAS: Email me back on the switch thing. I believe I noted an offer for you in my e-mail. (I believe I made an appologetic $30 offer on it in my first email which stands.)