misc. interior beautification..?

[dmartin1]

so ive been fixin the interior in my truck up lately,new carpet,seats etc etc...and funds have got a tad low at the moment.

the clear facing over the guage cluster----mines all foggy,,is there a way to restore this thing to where its nice and clear? i thought like a headlight restorer? haha

in dash lights----the lighjts that light up the dash at nightwith the headlights on,,,what exact bulb do i need? mine doesnt have even one in it to go off of? lol

and im still tryin to find tips on how to cover door panels etc in a grey tweed material?

thanks all in advance!

[ChevyC102007]

Your dash lights are a 194 bulb if I remember right. as for the Gauge "film" to get them clear that I know of is taking it apart and cleaning it with Windex. I took the one for my 71 and let it suck in a tub with of all things Pine-Sol (there was alot of dirt in there. ) Just my .02

[gas-n-rods]

Any non abrasive rubbing compound should help clear up your gauge cluster.

tweed is fairly easy to stretch and form over a panel. Just use a spray adhesive let it tack up on both sides then start applying the material and work it down smooth as you go across the panel and wrap the edges under. Here is a picture of mine. the dash is also covered in tweed.

[lilpoindexter]

There's a mild plastic polish called PLASTIX (i think) available at any autozone.

[SeanPaintsFlames]

I've polished the plastic gauge lenses with a paper towel and rubbing compound, then wax. If it's really bad, you can sand it with 600 and work down to 1200 or 1500 wetsand paper, then clear coat it with a good, wet coat of clear. I do that to yellowed and fogged headlights at work all the time.

[dmartin1]

Originally Posted by gas-n-rods

Any non abrasive rubbing compound should help clear up your gauge cluster.

tweed is fairly easy to stretch and form over a panel. Just use a spray adhesive let it tack up on both sides then start applying the material and work it down smooth as you go across the panel and wrap the edges under. Here is a picture of mine. the dash is also covered in tweed.

wow,your interior is abseloutly gorgeous!
thats EXACTLY what im wanting to do!
what year is your truck?

and do you by chance remember where you got the material from?

ive searched and found like 500 different material tweeds for 500 diff. uses. :

[gas-n-rods]

It was done in Washington State, so not sure. To bad your wanting it now. I am hoping that sometime in the next 2 years I will be tearing into this truck for a total rebuild. The interior will be one of many things to get changed.

[gas-n-rods]

I have a good friend in Colorado that does interiors. If you want I could get you his contact info, I am sure he could order it for you or he could even cover your parts if you want.

[dmartin1]

if you could ask him what kinda material it is that'd be great!

too bad your not doing the rebuild right now haha.id buy that in a heartbeat!

i LOVE the look of the tweed interior.looks clean and nice.

[iceship]

Hum.. any one else have any tricks,before and after pics..

[TKCR]

I took my cluster out and put a new lens in. I tried all the polishing and cleaning tips out there, and it just didn't do the job the way I wanted it. But while I had it out, I came across a clock to add to my cluster. So I went ahead and got the new lens with the hole for the clock stem.

Also while you have the cluster out, change out all your bulbs to led, it will make a huge difference.

[Titomars]

I would love to add a clock but I can't. My fuel gauge is in that position.

[motornut]

If your cluster is right out/apart you can paint it white inside,big improvement with stock "peanut" bulbs, they are same as the front markers.
I use brasso on plastic, seems nicely polished to me.

[Ohchiiit]

Originally Posted by TKCR

I took my cluster out and put a new lens in. I tried all the polishing and cleaning tips out there, and it just didn't do the job the way I wanted it. But while I had it out, I came across a clock to add to my cluster. So I went ahead and got the new lens with the hole for the clock stem.

Also while you have the cluster out, change out all your bulbs to led, it will make a huge difference.

that looks good! is that a factory bezel? the one in my 83 don't have the chrome rings and I would like to go to one just like that after seeing it!

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by Ohchiiit

that looks good! is that a factory bezel? the one in my 83 don't have the chrome rings and I would like to go to one just like that after seeing it!

That is also new, got it from LMC.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by TKCR

I took my cluster out and put a new lens in. I tried all the polishing and cleaning tips out there, and it just didn't do the job the way I wanted it.

My thoughts exactly, buy a new lens.

[andrewmp6]

Upgrade to led dash lights you will be able to read the gauges easy with them.

[Oberon67]

Where's the best source for the replacement instrument lens?

[chrismoore701]

I collected several gauges from swap meets for like $5-$10 each. Took them all apart and made one good cluster. I painted all the needles polished the lense to like new and rolled the odometer back to zero. Looks great

[TKCR]

Originally Posted by Oberon67

Where's the best source for the replacement instrument lens?

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cc/full.aspx?Page=74
http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cc/full.aspx?Page=76

[Oberon67]

Thank you!

[1redbowtie3]

FYI ... the led's are directional, if they don't work pull and turn 180*, they make a big difference. The panel on the 78 I just picked up was so bad I could barely see the speedo, wet sanded it with 2000 and then used headlight polish on it, it made an incredible difference.