While I was cataloging the parts that I bought this past summer I came across a factory cruise control assembly. It was mounted in the left side dash panel and appears to be mostly mechanical in operation.
Would anyone have any info on the cruise control and how well does it work? Would it be worthwhile to install in my car since the dash is still out and the car waiting paint?
Dennis

 

A lot will depend on whether you have every part that you will need .
Parts for these are extremely scarce . there weren't many of these made , and few survive .
It would be necessary to have all the brackets , special speedo cables , and special throttle linkage pieces for this .
Here's a few illustrations to show you what you may need ;

 

 

 

 

Hello Dennis,
The selector head assy (3.883) has a plastic rack and a plastic spur gear that dry out and break causing the cable to not function correctly, I'm remaking both of these now. The rack is made from aluminium and the spur (pinion) gear is made from a better quality plastic. the black casing has to be cut apart and the new gears installed then re welded (melted on a couple of spots) to hold. The cruise control linkage rod (3.885) I'm also making, this part usually gets cut of lost when removing the engine back in the day.
Steve
JASWEST

 

Very cool! I almost bought a 62 Starfire convertible several years ago that had one. That assembly is huge. I am just glad someone is taking on the project to keep them alive.

 

I don't have all the parts to go original, just the dash side panel(pictured) and another speed wheel and cables. So, I'm going to install a Dakota digital cruise setup. I'll leave the speed wheel and chrome cover for nostalgias sake and install the Dakota control panel just in front of the chrome cover on the side panel.
Thanks Charlie or the pics. Looking at all of the parts in the original cruise control makes me appreciate modern technology sometimes.
Thanks everyone and Merry Christmas Dennis

 

May I see what the back of that looks like? I broke mine...

 

That was "cutting edge technology" back then .
From what I can see in my parts book , 1961 marked the introduction of cruise control in Oldsmobiles .

 

Cruise Control first appeared in the spring of 1962 as a dealer installed accessory only. A few months later, they came out with a service bulletin to retrofit it to '61s. Cruise was first available as a factory installed option in 1963.

 

As soon as I get these old bones moving and loosen my grip on the coffee cup I'll post a pic.
Dennis

 

This is the backside of the pnel with the speed wheel and rack installed. Hope this helps.
Dennis

 

Crud - yours is broken, too.

 

I guess I don't know what you are looking at. I do have a speed wheel that is attached to the cable tho, would a pic of that help you?
Dennis

 

Yes, I'd like to see that, please.

 

While reading this subject, I was wondering when Cruise Control first came out. How well did those early systems work?

 

I think the rack on this one is broken too.

 

I think that is from a '62 Cadillac. Olds didn't have a light until '63, and I don't know what the '63 control head looks like. I don't think it's broken. The cable looks like it has unhooked from the rack.

 

Considering that the technology and the parts are going on 60 years old, I think the system works fine. It maintains speed well. It's convenient because you can just reach over and adjust the dial to increase or decrease speed. And you can use it as a speed minder without setting the cruise.

The only drawback in the dial isn't real accurate. What you need to do is get to the speed you want, then adjust the dial to your speed (it gives pedal resistance), set it, and ignore whatever number is on the dial. It'll probably be in the neighborhood, but won't be 100 percent accurate.

I've been using the cruise for 10 years going to and from OCA and NAOC meets. It's a God-send.

 

Interesting, thanks for replying.

 

So it pushes on the accelerator? That's interesting.

 

Not so much pushes on it. More like creates a variable bottoming point. The regulator is connected to the accelerator linkage by a long rod. If the cruise is on, when you reach the predetermined speed, the accelerator/regulator linkage bottoms on the inner workings of the regulator and the accelerator pedal bottoms out. Now you know if you want to set the cruise you can push the set button and a magnet will lock everything into position and maintain speed. There is a heavy torsion spring on the side of the regulator that the accelerator rod is attached to. You can push past the resistance and override the regulator if you want to go faster than the speed that is set.