here's an odd one... have had my 75 164e for only about 5 months now, and ever since it came into my posession the clock never worked. i've had a bunch of work done (new exhaust, engine electrical, front-end etc), but after the most recent repair (new clutch) the clock miraculously started working again. granted, it's now very noisy in a semi-metallic grinding way, and it doesn't keep proper time, but i just thought it strange... i'd already bought a replacement and was just waiting until i got around to it - now that the original's "working" in such an annoyingly loud manner, this time has come i think.

i'll also replace the dash-mounted toggle switch that someone thought to install for the overdrive (not sure why it was removed from the gearshift, though the gearshift has also been replaced) - - trying to find a nice blue illuminated rocker switch of proper size for this.

the ham-handed goons that installed my am/fm/cd deck also broke 2 of the other rocker switches so they don't sit flat in the dash anymore.

has anyone replaced the whole bank of switches with something home-made / custom, ie: a nice panel with a new bank of switches?

finally, the "rear defog" switch does nothing. i assume this is the controller for the rear glass defogger that consists of the old-style wires that are supposed to heat up and defog the glass. on the other hand i noticed two smallish vents on the rear package tray. what do these vents do? i didn't notice any ductwork back there last time i had my head in the trunk.

speaking of - i had my head in the trunk quite a bit on 24 Dec when i had a blow-out up in Mt Hood and came to find my spare was flat as well - - much fun at 4,000+ feet elevation in the snow and no one around on the side-road i decided to take! luckily i did have a pump on hand. otherwise the car handled and acted great - other folks either had tire chains, studs or SUV's and i was still cruising around them on regular (and old) all-season radials. took the interstate home and man - this car just loves the highway - overdrive on at 60mph and at 80mph+ it seems happiest. i did get some of my front-end work finished (tie rod ends, idler arm bushing, bearings repacked), and got a new set of tires after the blow-out, and it rides very well - - still need upper ball joints and a-arm bushings all around, and the ipd anti-sways are looking like a good investment now that i can take it out and thrash it about.

anyone get anything good for the holidays? rosie (the car) got her new tires, but failed DEQ (Oregon emissions test) - too much CO. my cat got some new catnip toys. i went to the strip club and tipped nicely.

righto,
-daniel
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== 1975 164e ==