YOU can paint your stock gauge panel (here's how)

[texascowboy593]

After seeing oj70chevy's gauge panel, I thought I should crack 2 of mine open and try it myself. Its not professional but for $15 and an hour or two here's what I came up with...

In the 1st pic is my GMC panel already painted and in front is my red Chevy's panel. I had already painted the glass black for the tach hole and 4 gauge holes below. It was time to repaint a new blue to match the interior...


The next 3 show the dis-assembly of the panel...
pic #5 shows the front of the where the gauge's fit into. Clean this with a good cleaner...

[texascowboy593]

Next, paint 2-3 coats of your color of choice

if you wish to block out the lower gauges, just paint the outside glass on those areas.(be sure to mask what you don't want paint on...)

I also chose to repaint the needles. I used flourescent red model paint.

Here's how it should look after reassembly...

[texascowboy593]

Here's the finished product re-installed... Hope this helps anyone who was unsure on pulling your gauge panel apart. Its really easy... Just be sure when you remove the panel you unscrew the speedo cable and unplug the wiring harness above the fuel gauge...thats it!

[1LoC10]

what happened to all your lower gauges?

[texascowboy593]

1LoC10- the gauges are still there...they are just behind the painted glass. Figured if I want to re-use them someday, I'll just buy new glass...

[RicksTrucks]

You can also paint the metal parts that don't show, the you will get a glow of that color at nite when your lites are on. My son's was done that way and he has an orange glow at nite.