'68 F100 instrument voltage regulator

[mnkeeking]

Need advice on what you guys are using or where you can buy one of the bimetallic arm and heating coils just ahead of the actual voltage regulator for the instrument cluster. The heating coil heats the arm when the ignition switch is turned on, heating the coil, and opening and closing the switch using that heat. My regulator is good, but the arm is cracked due to age. I can solder the heating coil wire ends back on and limp it through, but I'm hoping someone has a Radio Shack suggestion. The arm and coil are about the size of a quarter and there's plenty of room in the instrument panel for mods.

Thanks,
Joe

EDIT: Found an excellent homemade solution. Will post pix, parts and price list later today. About $5 in parts from Radio Shack and a few minutes soldering, a little heat shrink and you've got a solid ICVR to replace the old one. Will probably work in many different year trucks. Back with info later.

Edit 2:
Parts needed from Radio Shack: one p/n 276-1770a 5vdc regulator
one p/n 276-1368 heat sink
one p/n 272 1025 10mf capacitor
Cost of parts: about $6.00
You'll want a little shrink tubing, three bits of wire to use as leg wires (I used a color-coded method) and some wire connectors to fit your application. The center post of the regulator is the ground, so solder the negative post of the capacitor and one leg wire to the center post. Solder the positive side of the capacitor and a leg wire to the outgoing, regulated voltage post, and solder one leg wire to the incoming, pre-regulated positive post of the regulator. Heat shrink it up and install. It's running the gauges in my '68 F100 right now and saved me a bundle of cash. Much thanks to 63beater on ford-trucks.com for the parts list and construction tips.