Clock Judging

[Jeff B.]

Which results in the most points deduction?

1) A non-working clock
2) Same clock, working, but with a quartz conversion

Mine needs repair, but wondering which is best way to go.

[Jack H.]

Re: Clock Judging

If the clock isn't working, you loose all points associated with its operation and you fail a PV test. If the clock is working, but it's been converted to quartz, you still loose points in operation and fail PV.

For Flight Judging under Interior inspection, both (failed original + quartz conversion) should judge alike. Bottom line: zero sum game with no difference...

[Stephen L.]

Re: Clock Judging

IF you repair the clock with original movement and if you use a battery disconnect, the clock will last many years, as the movement won't be used much... only when the battery is connected.

Get the points at judging and enjoy the car.

[Jeff B.]

Re: Clock Judging

Well, now that I know all sides of this, think I might get the clock fixed like it originally was, and may put a toggle switch somewhere under the dash to turn it off and on. Thanks to all for the info.

[Pat M.]

Re: Clock Judging

IF you repair the clock with original movement and if you use a battery disconnect, the clock will last many years, as the movement won't be used much... only when the battery is connected.

Yup. My 70's has lasted 5 years, and is still working fine, with a battery disconnect.

[Michael W.]

Re: Clock Judging

And even when the battery is disconnected the clock is still correct twice a day. Not bad for 40+ year old stuff.

[Jim C.]

Re: Clock Judging

First, let me say that I totally agree with fixing the clock's original movement so that it operates "correctly" and using the battery disconnect switch thereafter.

When I bought my car, the clock had already been rebuilt with a quartz movement. Everything was original on the clock except for the movement. I wanted to have the car judged, but wondered about that clock. It would be expensive to get an original movement, so I just decided to take the point hit. I figured I'd a least get some points for the original face, hands, etc.

I ended up having my car judged a few years ago. The guy who conducted the operations check was a very senior judge with a lot of experience. I just figured the clock would take a hit and we'd just move on. Well, he looked at the clock and pointed out that the movement was quartz. He then said that he saw absolutely no reason to deduct a single point for an original working clock, and saw no sense in "restoring" it back to a condition that would only result in it being a non working clock again. He went on to say that he never deducts for original clocks that work. I didn't argue with him. Don't worry, he deducted for other things.

I'm all for originality and correctness, and if I had a non working clock, then I'd probably go for repairing the original movement and using a battery disconnect switch. But, I gotta admit, that judge made some sense. He also threw me a bone, which I greatly appreciated.

Jim C.

[Jack H.]

Re: Clock Judging

You ran into an 'enlightened/liberal' Operations judge. Most, will follow what's dictated by the PV manual OR provided in the JG descriptive text in the form of a specific scoring guideline. That's for a full deduction under operation...

Even the version of quartz movements that demonstrate a 'ticking' movement, the conversion is detectable. The clock doesn't have mainspring cocking solenoid that fires audibly every 90 seconds or so.

There ARE pro/con issues here because later era Corvettes WERE equipped with quartz movements. So, what's to say there shouldn't be some form of 'service replacement' partial credit for a quartz movement in the clock of an earlier car that had an electro-mechanical movement?

But, 'ignoring' the quartz movement during Flight Operations judging is probably the exception rather than the majority rule among judges.

[Jim C.]

Re: Clock Judging

You're right Jack, he was enlightened I guess. I was surprised at his response to my quartz clock, because he didn't give me any breaks on the other operations and also was a "stickler" when he judged my interior. This guy seemed to be VERY experienced and went by the book - for the most part. I do believe that some points should be awarded for a working original clock, regardless of how it's made to work. I'm still in favor of keeping things as original as possible, and if I had an original movement, I'd have it repaired. In my case, it didn't and still doesn't, make sense to replace the quartz movement. It's there, it works, it's fine. If it ever stops working, however, that's when I'll start looking for an original movement, working or not. If I have to fix it anyway, I may as well fix with an original part if possible.

Jim C.

[Gary J.]

Re: Clock Judging

Quote...Well, he looked at the clock and pointed out that the movement was quartz. He then said that he saw absolutely no reason to deduct a single point for an original working clock, and saw no sense in "restoring" it back to a condition that would only result in it being a non working clock again. He went on to say that he never deducts for original clocks that work. I didn't argue with him. Don't worry, he deducted for other things.

Yep, you caught a break that day on the clock. The quartz clock movement is a 25 point hit in the Operations section. If you take your car to another meet rest assure that the clock will take the hit. Even if you go as far at to attempt PV having a quartz movement will stop you dead in your tracks.

[Pat M.]

Re: Clock Judging

Yep, you caught a break that day on the clock. The quartz clock movement is a 25 point hit in the Operations section. If you take your car to another meet rest assure that the clock will take the hit. Even if you go as far at to attempt PV having a quartz movement will stop you dead in your tracks.

Yup. (and here's a few more characters for the editor killjoy, er, program)

[Jim C.]

Re: Clock Judging

[QUOTE=Yep, you caught a break that day on the clock. The quartz clock movement is a 25 point hit in the Operations section. If you take your car to another meet rest assure that the clock will take the hit. Even if you go as far at to attempt PV having a quartz movement will stop you dead in your tracks.[/QUOTE]

No doubt. I went into the judging fully expecting to loose 25 points for the quartz movement. I personally pre-judged my car before going to the event and gave myself the 25 point deduction!!

If you really think about it though, the cars didn't come with battery cut off switches and the clocks eventually stopped working - probably sooner than later. Many were probably never fixed until we started judging these cars. Given the fact that the clocks were less than reliable, and mostly didn't work for much longer than it took to drive off the dealer's lot, couldn't it be said that a properly functioning clock is actually one that DOESN'T function at all? LOL!!! Just a thought.

Jim C.