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03-22-2008, 09:19 AM | #1 |
VA72C10
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Midlothian, VA
Posts: 25,267
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Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
I like the factory panel, but not the texture. I would like to smooth the inside and leave the outer trim rings. THen i would paint the inside to match the truck. Any tips? Anyone done this before and have pictures? Will I have to use a special primer to aid in the paint adhesion? Any comments/ info/ pictures are welcomed!
Here's a chromed one from Athey's truck shop. I will leave the chrome on the outside and in the rings, but want the textured part in the middle gone and replaced with smooth paint. Thanks! |
03-22-2008, 09:42 AM | #2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: branson mo
Posts: 933
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
You would probably end up with a better product if you fabed one up from metal, if you have the tooling. It would probably look better, there are some out there that have that idea already tho.
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03-22-2008, 09:44 AM | #3 |
VA72C10
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Midlothian, VA
Posts: 25,267
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
I really don't have any metal tooling. Plus, i'd rather keep the costs down and work with the factory bezel.
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03-22-2008, 10:01 AM | #4 |
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Location: branson mo
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
heres just one i found doing a quick search, its 190 with the gauges.
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03-22-2008, 10:14 AM | #5 |
User #12137
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: kingsport,upper east tenn
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
sumbody on here a while back fabed up a glovebox door to do kinda what you are talkin bout but i dont think the outer edges were chrome
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03-22-2008, 12:36 PM | #6 |
Long Fleet Club
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Deer Park, TX
Posts: 5,666
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
You have a link to that. The speedometer is worth more then that.
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Chris Meeks '69 Chevy Custom/10 Long Bed <-- Thread of the work I did before selling. Truck is now finished to the new owners design and running around. I was shown some pictures of the finished product. At least it survived the junk yard. FAQ Index by Krue Site Vendors Subscribe Here Forum Rules |
03-22-2008, 12:43 PM | #7 |
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
Guess i shoulda read the fine print "bezel only no gauges" was kinda misleading tho, the fine print was on a different page.
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03-22-2008, 12:51 PM | #8 |
Long Fleet Club
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Location: Deer Park, TX
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
Man I was going to jump all over that Buy about 10 and resell the gauges and dashes separate
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Chris Meeks '69 Chevy Custom/10 Long Bed <-- Thread of the work I did before selling. Truck is now finished to the new owners design and running around. I was shown some pictures of the finished product. At least it survived the junk yard. FAQ Index by Krue Site Vendors Subscribe Here Forum Rules |
03-22-2008, 01:45 PM | #9 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
I would get the woodgrain overlay, paint it, then stick it on the bezel.
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03-22-2008, 02:48 PM | #10 |
Wrenchin & Sandin!!!
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Location: Joliet, IL.
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
That's just what I did on my chrome glovebox door. Wanted it to match my bezel.
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03-22-2008, 03:44 PM | #11 | |
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Location: Ennis Texas
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
Quote:
I did that too. Extra glove box door with VDO gauges. Alumn panel was cause it was 1991!!!
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WWW.freewebs.com/luckysrodandkustom Last edited by lowmaster; 03-22-2008 at 03:45 PM. Reason: Add pic |
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03-22-2008, 04:01 PM | #12 |
Never enough time!!
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: sw Wisconsin
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
Here is the only picture I could get to upload. Wiped the benzel down with thinner and painted with 4-5 coats of single stage paint, didn't thin the paint much so it filled in alot of the texture of the benzel.
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03-22-2008, 04:19 PM | #13 |
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Location: Mcgraw, ny
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
Could you powder coat them?
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03-22-2008, 11:22 PM | #14 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,690
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
a plastic bezal would not hold up to the 400 degrees in the oven, so no.
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03-22-2008, 11:34 PM | #15 |
chevy truck fan
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Gilbert, arizona 85298
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
don't they make a plastic filler that you could smear over the top & then just sand it smooth???
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03-22-2008, 11:37 PM | #16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: South Florida
Posts: 158
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
It would take time, but you could tape off the chrome and apply a thin layer of Evercoat glaze-it finishing putty to the texured part and sand it smooth.
But, I like Longhorn Man's idea better. Rob |
03-22-2008, 11:45 PM | #17 |
Account Suspended
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Location: Monroe, WA
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
One approach might be to get rid of the chrome on the center (CAREFUL brushing of 409 should do it) and then using a plastic modeling filler. IMHO, too darn much work.
I guess you could also do a mold and create a fiberglass piece...also a lot of work. I agree with the idea of a little matching texture on the glove box door |
03-23-2008, 12:42 AM | #18 |
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Location: Nebraska
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
I think longhorn man's ideas would be the easiest, and turn out the best.
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03-23-2008, 12:57 AM | #19 |
VA72C10
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Midlothian, VA
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
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03-23-2008, 04:36 AM | #20 |
Special Order
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
The woodgrain overlay is just mylar.You could probably get a piece from a sign company.
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
03-23-2008, 06:34 AM | #21 |
67-72 Addict!
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
Here's one I made a few years ago with a carbon fiber overlay.
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03-23-2008, 07:26 AM | #22 |
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
Man I like the looks of that gauge panel... Anymore pictures?
Last edited by LooseCannon; 03-23-2008 at 07:27 AM. |
03-23-2008, 07:27 AM | #23 |
VA72C10
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Midlothian, VA
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
I like that A LOT! I still want to do mine the color of the truck in the center, but i really like how you integrated the tach? Do you have the part number on that tach (I would want the same one but in white) and want to integrate it into the dash like that. Thanks for any info you can provide on doing that!
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03-23-2008, 08:14 AM | #24 |
Special Order
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
Get yourself a piece of lexan or other plastic at Home Depot,or whatever.Then,cut it,dress,and paint.
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
03-23-2008, 09:18 AM | #25 |
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Re: Anyone smoothed a factory gauge panel?
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