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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Sacramento CA
Posts: 1,255
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Gauge cluster refurbish?
I hear about members refurbishing gauge clusters and I wonder what products are available and where can they be purchased. Wha are the do's and dont's when refurbishing the gauge cluster? Does anyone have an FAQ on this subject? Thanks.
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Got bored, sold everthing. Got bored, looking for a 1960-66 C-10. Want to build my last truck. |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Sacramento CA
Posts: 1,255
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anybody!
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Got bored, sold everthing. Got bored, looking for a 1960-66 C-10. Want to build my last truck. |
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#3 |
Questionable
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 13,376
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Someone said they were gonna do a writeup on this recently. There's a thread around here that talks about stuff...like how to clear up the lenses (they cost too much to buy flat out, just use ultra fine grit sandpaper and a goob polishing compound). The needles can be popped off and repainted with Testors orange model paint (I never heard what the color bottle # was though). You can pop the two screws out of the gauge faces, wirewheel and paint flat black. Someone recently posted the exact match of the color green to repaint the inside of the gauge cluster. The face of the gauge cluster (the plastic) can be purchased for around $20 brand new from several of the vendors in the vendors list on the front page.
I wish I had pictures for you - I am going to need to hack mine in order to get it up with the new engine/tranny. I just bought a used dash cluster for $30, looks like I may not use it after all.
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If I've got anything up for grabs, it'll be here: 7-hole gauge cluster for a 67-72 p/u FREE (link) I can't check the forum daily. If I don't reply to you within 24 hours, drop me a PM! I'm (hopefully) still alive and will reply faster to a PM. |
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#4 |
I have a radical idea!
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sweet Home Alabama!
Posts: 6,513
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Here is the paint I found. It is Krylon #3509 Jade Satin Desgner Finish. I got it at Wal-Mart
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'67 C-30 Dually Pickup 6.2 Turbo Diesel, NP435 ‘72 C-10 SWB , 350 4bbl, TH350 '69 C-10 SWB , 250 L6, 3 OTT '69 GMC C3500, dump truck, 351 V6, NP435 '84 M1009 CUCV Military Blazer 67 C-30 Turbodiesel build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=254096 My trucks http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ediafilter=all Member of the 1-Ton Club! |
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#5 |
Born a Chevy Man
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Navarre, Florida
Posts: 10,221
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What are you wanting to do with your gages? I have a post on here about my gage that I refurbished. That might help.
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John or 86 (Viet Nam combat Vet-BIG RED ONE) '65-'66 *1986 Chevy SWB Silverado *1984 Chevy Longbed Silverado New Kia Sportage (Wife's car and she loves it) ![]() ![]() If you can read this, YOU NEED TO THANK A TEACHER! If you can read this in ENGLISH, PLEASE THANK A SOLDIER! ![]() GOD BLESS AMERICA AND BLESS OUR FIGHTING TROOPS |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Houston
Posts: 388
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When I did mine i just masked off the needles and painted with bright orange krylon. I just used light green for the inner part, I don't think it matters too much. I buffed the clear guage faces, put a new bezel on and it looked good as new.
Saulgoode |
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#7 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Painting the green white makes for better and brighter inst lights at night.
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#8 |
Born a Chevy Man
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Navarre, Florida
Posts: 10,221
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I took mine apart and painted behind the gages with chrome paint and also back side of the black plastic with chrome paint. The needles I painted with foresent orange paint and I replaced the bulbs with LED's. Have not got aroung to putting back in let because I hurt my back but will as soon as I am up and going again. The chrome paint makes everthing show up much brighter at night.
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John or 86 (Viet Nam combat Vet-BIG RED ONE) '65-'66 *1986 Chevy SWB Silverado *1984 Chevy Longbed Silverado New Kia Sportage (Wife's car and she loves it) ![]() ![]() If you can read this, YOU NEED TO THANK A TEACHER! If you can read this in ENGLISH, PLEASE THANK A SOLDIER! ![]() GOD BLESS AMERICA AND BLESS OUR FIGHTING TROOPS Last edited by 86swb; 08-14-2005 at 08:21 PM. |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA
Posts: 2,163
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I bought a new bezel and a lens (but I did polish it up and will use on a different truck). I washed down the guages. They smear a little, but using a dry towel that cleans up. I painted the needles with dayglow orange paint. Looks like night.
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'69 CST Short fleetside Lowered, 400 small block, 700R4, 4 wheel disc brakes, front sway bar & rear camaro sway bar (in progress) '87 V10 4x4 Short Fleetside Quad Suspension and Dual Tanks |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Sacramento CA
Posts: 1,255
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This is all very helpful information. How do I clean the surface rust on the face of the tach?
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Got bored, sold everthing. Got bored, looking for a 1960-66 C-10. Want to build my last truck. |
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#11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Joppa, Maryland
Posts: 4,408
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same here on the minor surface rust on the gauges. How do you clean it without missing up the numbers?
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1997 GMC Sierra Ext 1965 Mustang |
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#12 |
67-72 Addict!
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: The TAX State!
Posts: 7,857
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I do what Longhornman said about the white paint instead of the green. It looks way better at night in my opinion. I use Testors Flourescent Orange paint. As far as the rust I believe most people are using the black vinyl overlays (instead of the white ones) to restore the gauges. Byrd does awesome work and hopefully sees this post to offer some advice.
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Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Melissa, TX
Posts: 799
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Taking to the top in hopes of more info on the vinyl overlays
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68 short bed driver (71 clip on it now, swapping to 68 when weather cooperates) 67 short step project (will get SWB from the 68) 67 Camaro, #'s matching (my wife's) 03 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 diesel 5 speed 4.10 rear |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Sacramento CA
Posts: 1,255
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I pm'd 'byrd' inviting him to join this thread with hopes of learning more about refurbishing gauges. I don't want to take anyones business just want to be able to do my own stuff. I am sure if the search function was functioning we could all find this information from past posts.
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Got bored, sold everthing. Got bored, looking for a 1960-66 C-10. Want to build my last truck. |
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#15 |
67-72 Addict!
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: The TAX State!
Posts: 7,857
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I think this guy can make the vinyl in any color you want;http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/67-72...QQcmdZViewItem
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Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads |
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#16 |
Born a Chevy Man
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Navarre, Florida
Posts: 10,221
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Here is the web site http://www.durangedesign.com/
__________________
John or 86 (Viet Nam combat Vet-BIG RED ONE) '65-'66 *1986 Chevy SWB Silverado *1984 Chevy Longbed Silverado New Kia Sportage (Wife's car and she loves it) ![]() ![]() If you can read this, YOU NEED TO THANK A TEACHER! If you can read this in ENGLISH, PLEASE THANK A SOLDIER! ![]() GOD BLESS AMERICA AND BLESS OUR FIGHTING TROOPS |
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#17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Joppa, Maryland
Posts: 4,408
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ttt
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1997 GMC Sierra Ext 1965 Mustang |
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#18 | |||
Union Electrician
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Louisville, Ky.
Posts: 3,356
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Yes the black vinyl overlay is the only way I have been able to refresh a rusty gauge, I always use durange design for the overlays, some like them (durange) and some don't, their product is not perfect, but what after market product is? I really like the overlay and the are fairly easy to install and look great!! I do not spray paint the needle, I paint them with a brush as well as the hot mark on the temp gauge, I have used the spray paint and found for me it was more trouble than it was worth( too much time) I can paint the needles with two coats in less time. I do not paint the inside of the inner metal tin, I just paint the backing plate and clear it as I have already had it blasted and it needs to be painted anyway, and you get the same results for less work in my situation( Remember I restore several at a time and the way I do it may not be the easiest way to restore one at a time) I understand where you guys are coming from about doing them yourself, beleive me I worked for about three months on figuring out how to do it all and make it as nice as I do, and destroyed many good gauges and associated parts with trial and error. I started doing this to restore mine, and then my nieghbor saw it and wanted one for his , and the his buddy and so on. I honestly don't make any real money at these, I do it because I like it and I like the reaction from the people who buy them,( That is the best part who doesn't like and attaboy!!!!) Randy
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Covington,Ga
Posts: 453
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Tach Reface
I have another way to tackle the rusted tach face. Bead blast it, prime, paint gloss black and hand paint the orange in the center. Then apply the new tach markings that I had made. The markings are white but they are exact match and lokk pretty good, if you find a gas and speedo that are the whiter looking rather then the light green, you can hardly tell the reface from a factory tach. Here are a couple pics of one that has the new markings. Lamar.
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72 C-10 |
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Sacramento CA
Posts: 1,255
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Very nice Lamar. Are you keeping it a secret or are you going to let us know how you made the new face? Again, very nice Lamar.
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Got bored, sold everthing. Got bored, looking for a 1960-66 C-10. Want to build my last truck. |
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#21 |
I have a radical idea!
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sweet Home Alabama!
Posts: 6,513
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Here is the current state of my '67 C-30 cluster. I am putting a Diesel engine in my truck, and I found a cluster that has a cable driven 4000RPM tach out a '67 C-60 with a vacuum gauge. It has a cool looking redline at 3200. I restored mine with nice used gauges that had no rust on the letters, a 80lb Oil pressure gauge, and a new Temp gauge. I have a Woodgrain overlay on order now. Excuse the dust on the lens. I haven't got used to what my new camera will pick up yet!
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'67 C-30 Dually Pickup 6.2 Turbo Diesel, NP435 ‘72 C-10 SWB , 350 4bbl, TH350 '69 C-10 SWB , 250 L6, 3 OTT '69 GMC C3500, dump truck, 351 V6, NP435 '84 M1009 CUCV Military Blazer 67 C-30 Turbodiesel build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=254096 My trucks http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ediafilter=all Member of the 1-Ton Club! |
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#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Sacramento CA
Posts: 1,255
|
Wow! One of these tach's sold yesterday on eBay. Nice looking cluster.
__________________
Got bored, sold everthing. Got bored, looking for a 1960-66 C-10. Want to build my last truck. |
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#23 | |
I have a radical idea!
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sweet Home Alabama!
Posts: 6,513
|
Quote:
Another idea I have toying with is to adapt the vacuum gauge into a BOOST gauge for my turbo diesel. I would have to use another head behind a vacuum gauge face. I have a friend at sign shop that says he can make me small decal printed backwards to stick onto the lens to match the others. He said it would be as simple as printing several shades of green onto a piece of white vinyl and then cutting the letters out. He says anytime you print white vinyl a color, it has a tint of that color on the backside, which is what you would see with it stuck to inside of the lens. That is the reason it would have to be printed backwards. Here is a quicky Photoshop of what it would look like. I think it would look killer with any turbo or super charged 67 -72.
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'67 C-30 Dually Pickup 6.2 Turbo Diesel, NP435 ‘72 C-10 SWB , 350 4bbl, TH350 '69 C-10 SWB , 250 L6, 3 OTT '69 GMC C3500, dump truck, 351 V6, NP435 '84 M1009 CUCV Military Blazer 67 C-30 Turbodiesel build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=254096 My trucks http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ediafilter=all Member of the 1-Ton Club! Last edited by 67_C-30; 08-17-2005 at 07:27 PM. |
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#24 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Gypsum Kansas 67448
Posts: 1,681
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has anyone figured out how to make the #'s brighter on a dash that has white overlays
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21 2500hd duramax 58 apache HILLJOB GRAPHIX--for all your graphic needs My build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=542497 LS ENGINE SWAP INFORMATION THREAD http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=377348 4l60 to an NP205 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...43#post3697343 |
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#25 | |||
Union Electrician
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Louisville, Ky.
Posts: 3,356
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durange is going to be releasing one for sale soon. It will be a clear overlay and there will be two diferent styles, one that goes on the inside and outlines the #'s and the other is installed on the outside of the lens and covers up the old #'s and makes them black..Randy
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