Restoring instrument cluster - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

2low72 · 04-13-2004, 05:08 PM

Whats the easiest way( if any) to restore an instrument cluster. Ive heard talk about it but not sure how to do it without breaking anything. thanks

krue · 04-13-2004, 06:48 PM

What are you wanting to do to it? New bezels can be had fairly cheap from some of the vendors that hang out here.

402GLH · 04-13-2004, 07:22 PM

They aren't too hard to take apart.. I broke mine down, cleaned it up and put it back togather, didn't run into any of those "Suprises" where springs etc jump out .. and you go "Oh Sh#$"..

You can match the paint on the needles, but I am not sure about the greenish/white background paint..

Ruckus · 04-13-2004, 08:19 PM

You can do a search on it....I took the advice of others: Wal-Mart has it : Krylon paint, fluorescent orange, and the pale green color. Both colors matched very well- I just did mine yesterday. Looks almost new and it wan't hard.

Pilgrim · 04-13-2004, 08:34 PM

Removed mine, cleaned it up, repainted where necessary, repainted needles, cleaned inside of lens. Much easier than working on a heater coil, and like 402GLH said, no snakes...

While the cluster is out, good time to check wiring, wiper and washer pump motors, leaks in firewall, defroster duct, vacuum out crud.

Longhorn Man · 04-13-2004, 11:17 PM

Something you can do while it is apart, is painting all that funky green white. It'll give off more light, and in a brighter color at night. You'll actually be able to read your guages at a glance instead of doing a double take.
Here is a pic pirated from Josh.

71Chevy4-speed · 04-13-2004, 11:48 PM

Hmm...everytime I think about doing something and might ask a question...its already on here...lol. I love this website. quick question...what is the gauge next to the the oil pressure that is blank?... Its not coming to me what it could be. I was thinking volt meter or auxilary fuel tank gauge?...and what are the lines on the side of the fuel guage?

bpmcgee · 04-14-2004, 12:17 AM

Vacuum.

And mine isn't blank!

Brian

Longhorn Man · 04-14-2004, 12:18 AM

The 'blank' hole is used for a vacume guage or an air pressure guage on the C/40 and bigger trucks, but in the light duty rigs, they were always blank.
As for lines on the side of the fuel guage...

**too much stuff** · 04-14-2004, 12:27 AM

The lines on the side of the fuel, are you referring to the idiot lights for brake and temp?

Jeepster376 · 04-14-2004, 01:57 AM

Is it a big deal to add a vacuum guage? Is there anyplace where one could be ordered? I'd love to add one. LMC Truck lists all but the vacuum guage.

Warbones · 04-14-2004, 03:24 AM

My oil pressure guage is loose after I put it all back together. I don't know if this is common or if you will run into the same problem. I go to tighten it and find that it is all crooked afterwards. I need to remove and restart. What type of guage cluster do you have?

Low69CST · 04-14-2004, 09:21 AM

I put a new bezel and lens in mine. If you reuse your old lens, get some rubbing compound at a car parts store. That will take out most of the scratches and shine it up some. The white stripes on the guages will smear if you use a wet rag to clean them, but they will clean back up with a dry rag imediately after.

71Chevy4-speed · 04-14-2004, 08:47 PM

hmm thats cool. I wasn't refering to the idiot lights...to much stuff.... I ment the lines next to them on the side.

jmanz69 · 04-14-2004, 11:15 PM

There is no purpose to the lines, just there for looks. They don't go to some super obscure guage that no one has. It would look lop-sided if the speedo has lines all around and the fuel gauge didn't.

jorgensensc · 04-15-2004, 12:11 PM

Go to www.durangedesign.com and get theoverlays for the gauges. Ask for the black with white lines and he will make them for you, no problem. That is what I did and mine look brand new. The lines on the overlays aren't perfect, but they are not bad for a driver. Then just paint the needles orange and you are good to go. I also recommend painting the back of the instrument cluster white, it really improves the brightness!
Shawn

bouncytruck · 04-15-2004, 12:49 PM

jorgensensc - can you post pics of your gauges with the overlays? I have a tach dash that I'm working on but some of the gauges have surface rust, including the tach. I could easily swap the rest of the gauges with my current cluster but I would still have some surface rust on the tach. I was thinking about getting their white face kit, but I don't really want white gauge faces.

jorgensensc · 04-15-2004, 01:36 PM

sure, I willl post them tonight when I get home.

***Josh*** · 04-15-2004, 01:40 PM

Just a quick thing about durange designs, they were banned from this board for spamming, and refusing to pay an advertisers fee.

jorgensensc · 04-15-2004, 07:06 PM

I was unaware of that Josh

Sorry I will not recommend them on this forum again.
Shawn

bouncytruck · 04-15-2004, 08:05 PM

Josh, I'll avoid their products then. Do you know of any other companies that make a similar product?

04-13-2004, 05:08 PM	#1
2low72 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Cheyenne, Wy Posts: 555	Restoring instrument cluster Whats the easiest way( if any) to restore an instrument cluster. Ive heard talk about it but not sure how to do it without breaking anything. thanks

04-13-2004, 06:48 PM	#2
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,450	What are you wanting to do to it? New bezels can be had fairly cheap from some of the vendors that hang out here. __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

04-13-2004, 07:22 PM	#3
402GLH Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 37	They aren't too hard to take apart.. I broke mine down, cleaned it up and put it back togather, didn't run into any of those "Suprises" where springs etc jump out .. and you go "Oh Sh#$".. You can match the paint on the needles, but I am not sure about the greenish/white background paint.. __________________ 1972 Cheyenne Olive over Dark Green, Longbed 402BBC, TH400

04-13-2004, 08:19 PM	#4
Ruckus Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 127	You can do a search on it....I took the advice of others: Wal-Mart has it : Krylon paint, fluorescent orange, and the pale green color. Both colors matched very well- I just did mine yesterday. Looks almost new and it wan't hard. __________________ 1971 GMC LWB 350/350--SOLD 1970 Chevy LWB 350/350--SOLD 2000 VW VR6!

04-13-2004, 08:34 PM	#5
Pilgrim Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Crescent City, FL Posts: 492	Removed mine, cleaned it up, repainted where necessary, repainted needles, cleaned inside of lens. Much easier than working on a heater coil, and like 402GLH said, no snakes... While the cluster is out, good time to check wiring, wiper and washer pump motors, leaks in firewall, defroster duct, vacuum out crud. __________________ Bob 68 C20 Camper Special Last edited by Pilgrim; 04-13-2004 at 08:36 PM.

04-13-2004, 11:17 PM	#6
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Something you can do while it is apart, is painting all that funky green white. It'll give off more light, and in a brighter color at night. You'll actually be able to read your guages at a glance instead of doing a double take. Here is a pic pirated from Josh.

04-13-2004, 11:48 PM	#7
71Chevy4-speed Speed Limit = Floorboard Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kasilof, Alaska Posts: 803	Hmm...everytime I think about doing something and might ask a question...its already on here...lol. I love this website. quick question...what is the gauge next to the the oil pressure that is blank?... Its not coming to me what it could be. I was thinking volt meter or auxilary fuel tank gauge?...and what are the lines on the side of the fuel guage? __________________ 1971 C20 350, 4-speed - Sold. 1985 K10 350, Built 700r4, Edel 1406, Performer intake, MSD Ign, Hooker Comps, Silverstars, Piaa drivers, LED tails, Toyo A/T 31's, Eaton Posi, the project. "Build for torque, horsepower will follow"

04-14-2004, 12:17 AM	#8
bpmcgee Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 2,181	Vacuum. And mine isn't blank! Brian

04-14-2004, 12:18 AM	#9
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	The 'blank' hole is used for a vacume guage or an air pressure guage on the C/40 and bigger trucks, but in the light duty rigs, they were always blank. As for lines on the side of the fuel guage...

04-14-2004, 12:27 AM	#10
too much stuff Roadtrip! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Grand Rapids MN Posts: 13,718	The lines on the side of the fuel, are you referring to the idiot lights for brake and temp? __________________ 67 gmc custom lwb dakota truck. Sold...And bought back 69 swb 4x4 project (in progress) 70 c-10 lwb texas truck 70 4x4/BB/bkts/posi/tach(retired) 70 swb (wifes) 70 jimmy camper 71 K-5 factory 2wd 71 cheyenne 4x4/tach/posi/ plow rig 71 Cheyenne20 BB, buckets, tach, tilt, 4 speed 72 jimmy CST wyoming rig 72 jimmy Colorado rig 72 lifted texas 4x4 3/4 ton burb 65 fury conv. 383/auto 65 chrysler 300 "L" 413 auto

04-14-2004, 01:57 AM	#11
Jeepster376 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 269	Is it a big deal to add a vacuum guage? Is there anyplace where one could be ordered? I'd love to add one. LMC Truck lists all but the vacuum guage. __________________ 72 Cheyenne Super 4x4 SWB

04-14-2004, 03:24 AM	#12
Warbones Navel Inspector Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Wichita, Ks Posts: 1,373	My oil pressure guage is loose after I put it all back together. I don't know if this is common or if you will run into the same problem. I go to tighten it and find that it is all crooked afterwards. I need to remove and restart. What type of guage cluster do you have? __________________ 1948 Chevy Aerosedan GONE! I think. 1984 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham Coupe WANTED 1967 IMPALA 1967 CST C10 Long Bed with a 283

04-14-2004, 09:21 AM	#13
Low69CST Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA Posts: 2,163	I put a new bezel and lens in mine. If you reuse your old lens, get some rubbing compound at a car parts store. That will take out most of the scratches and shine it up some. The white stripes on the guages will smear if you use a wet rag to clean them, but they will clean back up with a dry rag imediately after. __________________ '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

04-14-2004, 08:47 PM	#14
71Chevy4-speed Speed Limit = Floorboard Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kasilof, Alaska Posts: 803	hmm thats cool. I wasn't refering to the idiot lights...to much stuff.... I ment the lines next to them on the side. __________________ 1971 C20 350, 4-speed - Sold. 1985 K10 350, Built 700r4, Edel 1406, Performer intake, MSD Ign, Hooker Comps, Silverstars, Piaa drivers, LED tails, Toyo A/T 31's, Eaton Posi, the project. "Build for torque, horsepower will follow"

04-14-2004, 11:15 PM	#15
jmanz69 Careful, they attack... Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Waterford, MI, USA Posts: 1,107	There is no purpose to the lines, just there for looks. They don't go to some super obscure guage that no one has. It would look lop-sided if the speedo has lines all around and the fuel gauge didn't.



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

04-15-2004, 12:11 PM	#16
jorgensensc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cypress, Tx Posts: 4,005	Go to www.durangedesign.com and get theoverlays for the gauges. Ask for the black with white lines and he will make them for you, no problem. That is what I did and mine look brand new. The lines on the overlays aren't perfect, but they are not bad for a driver. Then just paint the needles orange and you are good to go. I also recommend painting the back of the instrument cluster white, it really improves the brightness! Shawn __________________ 1972 C20 Suburban- Big Blue Betty '56 Chevy Bel Air Sedan- Frame up Restoration -What would you attempt to achieve if you knew you could not fail?- -I Refuse To Tiptoe Through Life, Only To Arrive Safely At Death's Door- R.I.P. EAST SIDE LOW LIFE

04-15-2004, 12:49 PM	#17
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,049	jorgensensc - can you post pics of your gauges with the overlays? I have a tach dash that I'm working on but some of the gauges have surface rust, including the tach. I could easily swap the rest of the gauges with my current cluster but I would still have some surface rust on the tach. I was thinking about getting their white face kit, but I don't really want white gauge faces. __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

04-15-2004, 01:36 PM	#18
jorgensensc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cypress, Tx Posts: 4,005	sure, I willl post them tonight when I get home. __________________ 1972 C20 Suburban- Big Blue Betty '56 Chevy Bel Air Sedan- Frame up Restoration -What would you attempt to achieve if you knew you could not fail?- -I Refuse To Tiptoe Through Life, Only To Arrive Safely At Death's Door- R.I.P. EAST SIDE LOW LIFE

04-15-2004, 01:40 PM	#19
*Josh* He's got mean nasty FANGS! Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Rockwell, NC Posts: 6,509	Just a quick thing about durange designs, they were banned from this board for spamming, and refusing to pay an advertisers fee. __________________ 2004 K2500 Burb 1999 C3500 1985 Cutlass Supreme 1969 C-10 1967 C-10 Panel josh@67-72chevytrucks.com

04-15-2004, 07:06 PM	#20
jorgensensc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cypress, Tx Posts: 4,005	I was unaware of that Josh Sorry I will not recommend them on this forum again. Shawn __________________ 1972 C20 Suburban- Big Blue Betty '56 Chevy Bel Air Sedan- Frame up Restoration -What would you attempt to achieve if you knew you could not fail?- -I Refuse To Tiptoe Through Life, Only To Arrive Safely At Death's Door- R.I.P. EAST SIDE LOW LIFE

04-15-2004, 08:05 PM	#21
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,049	Josh, I'll avoid their products then. Do you know of any other companies that make a similar product? __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.