CJ3B Big Round Gauge Cluster

[dpcd67]

Thanks; no danger of leading me astray; we'll get there. Here is what I will go; use the 0-9 speedometer, because that is clearly the right one. I will hook up the 12 volt system to it.
All I need now is the light sockets.

[Joe Gopan]

Early CJ-3B were 6 Volt, Serial No. 35522 and later were 12 Volt. King Seeley Clusters have a voltage regulator.

[dpcd67]

Is mine a 12 volt then?

[Rus Curtis]

dpcd,
You posted up at the beginning that this came from your M606. A true Kaiser M606 or a clone tribute under construction?

Was this just parts you're collecting or from a complete vehicle? If complete, do you have any other electrical components on the vehicle, i.e. bulbs, generator, starter? These can easily be tested.

All the printed information I've seen on the M606 indicates 12V. That doesn't mean I know for sure.

https://cj3b.info/Military/M606Specs.html

If you have a 6V battery could you test the gauges? It does seem that if a 6V was connected to a 12V instrument, it would work - just not 100%. Connecting a 12V to a 6V instrument will most likely make it smoke. Once.

[dpcd67]

The vehicle didn't have the gauge panel in it; I got this one somewhere else; now long forgotten. It is a 12 volt vehicle with all other components, 12 volt. Of course, not running; I rarely get anything that runs or drives. It is the restoration that is the goal.
And if it is 6 volt, I don't want it anyway. So the test will be pass/fail. I do have a 6 volt battery that I can test it on though; out of my gpw.

[Rus Curtis]

Okay, so a gauge of unknown origin - and it's missing all the lights.

I'd been looking for more info and found it under Fuel And Temperature Gauge Problems:

https://cj3b.info/Tech/FuelGauge.html

See if this helps with your 12V confirmation.

[Joe Gopan]

Check the battery mounting bracket, if it was made for 6 Volt it would be the smaller Group #1 dimension.

[dpcd67]

Rus; thanks very much; you are working too hard!; that is the key page that will answer everything. And Brillmans to get the light sockets.
I actually have an original copy of the Sears Jeep parts catalog from 1971; most guys do not realize that Sears was a major dealer of WW2 and CJ jeep parts back then.
Joel, what are you talking about???? What has the Battery mounting bracket got to do with my gauges which I already said didn't come with the jeep.
You said you could tell by the part number from the back.
The jeep itself is a 12 volt BTW.

[Joe Gopan]

The 6/Volt and 12 Volt CJ-3B/CJ-5 came from the factory with specific size Battery Support Brackets and Battery Hold Down Frames. to match the specific 6 Volt and 12 Volt group length and width dimension. Check it out, I know I am correct.

[dpcd67]

Ok, my jeep is a 64, and I know it is a 12 volt. I am asking about a gauge cluster that did not come on my jeep. But which I wanted to use on it.
I still don't know what you are getting at with the battery hold down bracket, which were long gone as well; whether it is for a 6 or 12 volt battery is immaterial to my question. (It is for a 12 volt battery, which has zero to do with my gauges.) The jeep had a big hole in the dash when I got it.

[Joe Gopan]

Just sharing a bit of JEEP knowledge with you, plus give you an easy way to tell the difference.
Here's the length and width of the two battery mounting brackets as installed on the CJ-3B Frame.
6 VOLT, Group 1 ------8-23/32" Long--7" Wide
12 Volt, Group 24---10-15/64" Long- 6-25/32" Wide.

[dpcd67]

Now tell me if my gauges are 6 or 12 volt.

[W. Winget]

Hope this helps, had it sitting by my garage from a Mid 70's CJ5 (bet any AMC has the same dash bulb socket parts)

CJ5 dash cluster

CJ5 back of cluster

Metal bulb holders with claws along base

Dorman might sell the bulb holders, metal one's seem expensive at $14 a pop and doesn't quite look right, perhaps it IS right and the later FORD style is just what AMC bought from Fords manufacturer as they did with many parts:


https://www.kaiserwillys.com/speedomete ... gJFr_D_BwE

Or a 1.82 in plastic below.
http://www.classicpartsusa.com/product/ ... gI5rPD_BwE


Or from a Ford Bronco even Which implies 1964 or so through late 70's before the plastic sockets came in:
https://www.classygauges.com/products/b ... of-6-25-0/


Bet an old GMC step van dash or truck in a junk yard would yield identical parts.
V/R W Winget

Edit: regarding voltage, most dash civilian clusters have a voltage regulator and are 6Volts up into late 70's. Kinda shocked to find a 12V to 6V converter in the back of the dash cluster on a 77 Pinto I had, I had assumed they were all 12V. WAW

[dpcd67]

Yes, thanks; those do look like they will fit; from the Brillmans catalog that was provided above, I learned that they are a 5/8ths inch bulb holder; could be that is a standard of some sort. And the holes are. 5/8ths inch.
All this is new to me since I have only dealt with separate gauges like we all know.
thanks,