Reproduction Tach Dash Bezel Lens Text Not Lighting Up

[pjmoreland]

Continued from previous post. More photos showing the tach installed

[Rich72C10]

interesting.... another thing to look at when I get mine pulled. Did you happen to reach out from where you got it from their thoughts on this? Seems like a silly thing to make wrong and easily done correctly.

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by Rich72C10

interesting.... another thing to look at when I get mine pulled. Did you happen to reach out from where you got it from their thoughts on this? Seems like a silly thing to make wrong and easily done correctly.

I haven't yet, but I will once I get it reinstalled in my truck and confirm the needle is lit up at night. I'm waiting for a replacement speedometer to arrive. Should be here today.

[CarlsLQ9SS]

I need the tachometer template that you used to cut the hole in the rear tin...

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by CarlsLQ9SS

I need the tachometer template that you used to cut the hole in the rear tin...

I can scan it and send you a PDF. I will scan it along with a ruler so you can play around with scaling, if necessary, when you print it. PM me your email address.

[pjmoreland]

Here's a template for cutting the rear tin for a tach.

[pjmoreland]

Here are two photos that show how the speedometer needle was not illuminated when using the reproduction tach rear tin, and how it is lit up nicely with the original tin.

[Rich72C10]

wow

[jocko]

Thanks for documenting this, probably lots of folks do a resto and never notice until they are driving at night. Lotsa good info in here and with helpful pics too.

[pjmoreland]

One thing I should point out is that I posted a photo earlier in this thread that showed the speedometer needle lit up fairly well at night using the aftermarket tin. The difference was that I was missing the rubber pad that goes between the back of the speedometer and the tin. This caused the speedometer to be farther back, letting some light through to the needle.

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by Rich72C10

interesting.... another thing to look at when I get mine pulled. Did you happen to reach out from where you got it from their thoughts on this? Seems like a silly thing to make wrong and easily done correctly.

I contacted the place I bought my tach kit from. They informed me there is only one manufacturer making the tins. They sent a message to the manufacturer about the issue, although it seems highly unlikely that they will do anything about it since it would be expensive to remake the tooling.

[CarlsLQ9SS]

I just printed off the template, it looks to be the right scale and I will check the ruler to make sure it is. Thanks for taking the time to do this for everyone that may need it!

[Rich72C10]

Well if there is only one making it, then that means mine will have the problem too (from GMCPaul's). I just cannot remember if I kept it and put it into my parts box at my brother's. I have to wait until I get my truck back to know, if not I'll be on the hunt for one

[pjmoreland]

Member 70shortfleet sells modified tins:

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=792563

[CarlsLQ9SS]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

Member 70shortfleet sells modified tins:

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=792563

He does excellent work as well!

[Rich72C10]

just asked 70shortfleet for on. I have also asked GMCPauls if I can pre-pay for a new lens and get a refund when I return the bad one. I am convinced the green is painted on the wrong side.

I can hardly see any numbers or any of the labels. The Speedometer is the worst as I cannot even see the indicator peg!

[pjmoreland]

Originally Posted by Rich72C10

just asked 70shortfleet for on. I have also asked GMCPauls if I can pre-pay for a new lens and get a refund when I return the bad one. I am convinced the green is painted on the wrong side.

I can hardly see any numbers or any of the labels. The Speedometer is the worst as I cannot even see the indicator peg!

Yeah, it's not a good situation all around. You can get your speedo needle to light up if you mount your speedo without the thin rubber piece that is sandwiched between the rear of the speedo and the rear tin.

[Andy4639]

Haven't used the tins I bought about a year ago but here are some pictures I just took tonight. They are suppose to be NOS but I have my doubts they really are. They are in clear plastic bags with no markings. The guy had several of them a few years ago at a swap meet. I bought these 2.
The picture show they are the same depth as a factory dash though.
Here are some pictures of a dash I put together for my Ramp truck using original dash and aftermarket lens with LED bulbs.
No problem seeing the numbers at night for sure.
The LED are suppose to be able to dim but when I try they dim slightly then just go out. Doesn't matter to me anyway I need all the light I can get at night.

[Rich72C10]

nice looking inside lights! I have similar LEDs but they do in fact dim. I am on getting a new tin (70shortfleet) and now to see if GMCPauls will work with me getting a new lens. Their pan "A" was for me to send my bad one before getting a new one. I have requested that I pre-pay for a replacement and to get a refund when I return mine.

When fix all this, I really hope I don't need break apart the dash again - ever. It really sucks as when I did it the 1st time a few months back I was also installing my tilt column.

btw, here is my LED spare - I used these in my dash cluster.

Edit:

I got them from http://www.whitegauges.net/ but I am not seeing them anymore. They only seem to have these, which are 6v~12v dimmable too.

found them! WHITE High Power 194 Style LED Replacement Instrument Cluster Gauge Bulb

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by Rich72C10

nice looking inside lights! I have similar LEDs but they do in fact dim. I am on getting a new tin (70shortfleet) and now to see if GMCPauls will work with me getting a new lens. Their pan "A" was for me to send my bad one before getting a new one. I have requested that I pre-pay for a replacement and to get a refund when I return mine.

When fix all this, I really hope I don't need break apart the dash again - ever. It really sucks as when I did it the 1st time a few months back I was also installing my tilt column.

btw, here is my LED spare - I used these in my dash cluster.

Do you have a link for those bulbs? I may try a set in the next cluster I build.
Here is a video of one of my cluster's I did.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPXrJSpJq5U

You Tube

[Rich72C10]

I got them from http://www.whitegauges.net/ but I am not seeing them anymore. They only seem to have these, which are 6v~12v dimmable too.

Edit: found them! WHITE High Power 194 Style LED Replacement Instrument Cluster Gauge Bulb

[Rich72C10]

for the record, I would not call it a wide range of dimming. Also seeing I never used my truck at night before the swap I am not a good judge of how well these LEDs dim (or not).

Once I get my Tin/Lens replacements only then will I know if I like the lighting. Right now is awful. I can't see a thing with my speed.

This Tach kit was not what I call a cheap upgrade or a fast one (not hard, just takes a lot of time). So I am somewhat disappointed in GMCPauls selling a subpart kit - IMO.

[davepl]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Be careful handling the 52 year-old OEM lenses. The white markings and letters are highly water soluable. I was trying to clean up a junkyard lens with a damp paper towel, and the white stuff came right off. Just dust it with a camels hair brush or canned compressed air.

[Nice Orange Stepside, BTW.]

Testify!

I had a nice speed-warning cluster for a '69 2+2. I was cleaning it up and lightly misted it with water, which was the end of it. I wiped the cloth across the face and took most of the number with it :-(

It's weird because some you can scrub aggressively with Windex, but if they've been baked in the sun the paint goes dry and powdery...

I spent a lot of time with my truck cluster on the bench in order to balance the lighting. I added reflective mylar tape in some areas to brighten, etc...

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by davepl

Testify!

I had a nice speed-warning cluster for a '69 2+2. I was cleaning it up and lightly misted it with water, which was the end of it. I wiped the cloth across the face and took most of the number with it :-(

It's weird because some you can scrub aggressively with Windex, but if they've been baked in the sun the paint goes dry and powdery...

I spent a lot of time with my truck cluster on the bench in order to balance the lighting. I added reflective mylar tape in some areas to brighten, etc...

And most of the rigs here in Tucson junkyards have been under the desert sun a good 40 years.

[Rich72C10]

Got my parts from GMC Paul's (lens) and 70shortfleet (tin for gauges) today and installed. I can now see stuff! Basically the difference between night and day ;-)