HELP!!! I need to find replacement guage needles - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Estanley · 12-24-2010, 03:54 PM

I've got an 81 4x4 and am in the process of refurbing the dash. All of my guages work fine and look pretty good except the needles. I have a couple that are broken and the rest are really faded. They are too brittle to paint. Someone PEASE tell me that I can get new needles without replacing the whole guage.

BLE 'BURBAN · 12-25-2010, 01:40 AM

Nope sorry. Gotta yard 'em outta a wrecking yard.

TheWhiteElephant · 12-25-2010, 01:44 AM

They're pretty cheap on ebay, aren't they? As far as the needles being too brittle to paint, I saw an article several years ago on Hot Rod I believe where they painted them using model paints and brushes.

jgknowla1 · 12-25-2010, 06:52 PM

I just painted mine using one of the little bottles of auto touch up paint. I used the brush instead of the ball-point part. Worked fine.

RuralRoute C-30 · 12-27-2010, 03:22 PM

Recall explaining this once before about painting needles. Mine were faded as well. Tried brushing on a spare gauge and didn't like the result.

So what I did was to take some newspaper or any paper and tear a slit in , carefully tuck it under the needle. Do it a few more times with each piece at another angle, under the needle until the gauge itself is covered and only the needle is exposed. I recall I used some GM red spray paint, the kind from NAPA in the small cans. A few light coats, allowing drying between coats and I liked the end result.

Worked better than trying to brush paint the darn things for me. Plus I too broke a needle once. Tried taking one off. Bad idea as they really are easy to break. Fortunately I had a spare gauge.

Try the spray paint. Beats touching the darn things. They are fragile!

Mark

12-24-2010, 03:54 PM	#1
Estanley Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Eatonton, GA, USA Posts: 191	HELP!!! I need to find replacement guage needles I've got an 81 4x4 and am in the process of refurbing the dash. All of my guages work fine and look pretty good except the needles. I have a couple that are broken and the rest are really faded. They are too brittle to paint. Someone PEASE tell me that I can get new needles without replacing the whole guage.

12-25-2010, 01:40 AM	#2
BLE 'BURBAN In the Forgotten far North. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 2,627	Re: HELP!!! I need to find replacement guage needles Nope sorry. Gotta yard 'em outta a wrecking yard. __________________ 1987 R3500 CREW CAB DUALLY (BIG RED)Acquired 06/12/2015 1990 chevy suburban V2500 5.7L My cluster Mods-Nov 2007 overhead console Stereo install Round 2 Aug 2009 Heated/turn signal mirror upgrade

12-25-2010, 01:44 AM	#3
TheWhiteElephant God is good! Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 689	Re: HELP!!! I need to find replacement guage needles They're pretty cheap on ebay, aren't they? As far as the needles being too brittle to paint, I saw an article several years ago on Hot Rod I believe where they painted them using model paints and brushes. __________________ Mando *"It takes a smart man to know when he's stupid." -- Barney Rubble* My build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=430367

12-25-2010, 06:52 PM	#4
jgknowla1 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 48	Re: HELP!!! I need to find replacement guage needles I just painted mine using one of the little bottles of auto touch up paint. I used the brush instead of the ball-point part. Worked fine.

12-27-2010, 03:22 PM	#5
RuralRoute C-30 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: East Central Illinois Posts: 511	Re: HELP!!! I need to find replacement guage needles Recall explaining this once before about painting needles. Mine were faded as well. Tried brushing on a spare gauge and didn't like the result. So what I did was to take some newspaper or any paper and tear a slit in , carefully tuck it under the needle. Do it a few more times with each piece at another angle, under the needle until the gauge itself is covered and only the needle is exposed. I recall I used some GM red spray paint, the kind from NAPA in the small cans. A few light coats, allowing drying between coats and I liked the end result. Worked better than trying to brush paint the darn things for me. Plus I too broke a needle once. Tried taking one off. Bad idea as they really are easy to break. Fortunately I had a spare gauge. Try the spray paint. Beats touching the darn things. They are fragile! Mark __________________ 1985 Chevy C-30 Hydraulic Dump Bed 2001 Saturn SC2 (go to work car) 2010 PT Cruiser (wife's car) "Reality is just a hallucination brought on by lack of alcohol."



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