Cheap dash rebuild (with pics) - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

jimmydean · 03-27-2006, 02:19 PM

So after looking at dash options, I decided to just "refresh" the one I had. It took about 8 hours total and cost $35 total. I used a white face kit (stickers for your stock faces) and some fake carbon fiber. I repainted the needles and replaced all the bulbs while I had it apart. I think it looks great, thought I would share. The install pic is bad because of the sun angle, but it looks great in person. Now if I can just finish the rest of the truck, I'd be set.

69ride · 03-27-2006, 02:29 PM

love the look of white face guages on anything. Looks good. The white face guages on my dodge minivan really add to the "sportiness".

70c10 · 03-27-2006, 02:32 PM

Great job!. I just called the local sign shop Saturday to ask about carbon fiber vinyl to do the same exact thing. Now I know what it's going to look like. Perfect timing.

Any problems with the vinyl adhering?

jimmydean · 03-27-2006, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70c10

Great job!. I just called the local sign shop Saturday to ask about carbon fiber vinyl to do the same exact thing. Now I know what it's going to look like. Perfect timing.

Any problems with the vinyl adhering?

Not at all. I used alcohol to clean the plastic real well, then used a hair dryer to make sure it stuck to the surface. The stock texture made the carbon a little more real looking.

I am real happy with it, I got the carbon and faces off ebay, the carbon is an Avery label and is very tacky. I can't decide if I want to cover the glove box door to match. It fits the budget build of my truck as well as matching the rat rod/modern mix I am going for.

The real carbon cluster with autometer guages is damn nice, but is nearly what i paid for my truck.

70c10 · 03-27-2006, 02:48 PM

The glovebox might look pretty cool to match. Did you use soapy water to apply?. I have a few clusters I'm playing with currently.

Joe67 · 03-27-2006, 03:04 PM

That looks great - nice work

jimmydean · 03-27-2006, 03:14 PM

No soapy water on the carbon, it's made by Avery that is wicked sticky. I just made sure the surface was clean and dry, then used the heat to set it. The guages called for soap like window tinting does. They were sort of a pain because the hole on the fuel and speed were small and you had to stretch it over the needle without it sticking to the face. The volt guage is a little off, but you can't tell unless you look real hard.

70c10 · 03-27-2006, 03:25 PM

Thanks. I know what you mean with the white decals.

jrb71c20 · 03-27-2006, 04:07 PM

WOW, that looks great, I may look into that myself, thats for the pics AND the ideas

FIVE 0 · 03-27-2006, 04:14 PM

Your restored guages look great!

Anyone know where you can find the decals in silver? I saw complete restored clusters on ebay in silver but never the kit like the white ones.

jay-dawg · 03-27-2006, 04:44 PM

looks great, awesome job.

jay

72armyswbtruck · 03-27-2006, 05:51 PM

I was wondering where you got the decals from? Who was it, yours are a little darker green than the ones that I have.

nvrforgotten52 · 03-27-2006, 06:03 PM

would it be too much trouble to get a link of where you bought the white faces from? thanks, looks awesome,
david

jimmydean · 03-27-2006, 06:08 PM

Here is where I got my face kit from, WhiteGauges.net

The next step is to upgrade to LED's, but that gets expensive since they are like $25 each for 8.

matthufham · 03-27-2006, 06:55 PM

that looks awesome! now you need some more carbon fiber to match.

thejoker · 03-27-2006, 07:28 PM

That turned out really good.

JKR

cstanley · 03-27-2006, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIVE 0

Your restored guages look great!

Anyone know where you can find the decals in silver? I saw complete restored clusters on ebay in silver but never the kit like the white ones.

i'll watch for that answer

70c10 · 03-27-2006, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmydean

Here is where I got my face kit from, WhiteGauges.net

The next step is to upgrade to LED's, but that gets expensive since they are like $25 each for 8.

You really only need 4 colored LED's. No need to really do the turn signals and hi-beam indicator. I posted pics last month of my white face cluster showing how it's lit up with 4 LED's. I paid like $12 delivered off ebay for all of them. Board member byrd also sells the white decals.

FIVE 0 · 03-27-2006, 09:59 PM

I clicked on the link provided by jimmydean and called them. The white face kit is $20.00 and colored, including silver is $30.00. Super guy to talk to. Thanks for the link.

**Ricks1971** · 03-27-2006, 10:11 PM

Looks great! Looks like you next project is a steering wheel! LOL

chevy_fatman · 03-27-2006, 10:48 PM

Looking good!

jimmydean · 03-28-2006, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricks1971

Looks great! Looks like you next project is a steering wheel! LOL

Funny you should say that. I have one, I just haven't gotten around to borrowing a wheel puller from a friend to take the old one off.

vtblazer · 03-28-2006, 06:18 AM

Nice look.

Thanks for the info.

CrazyJdub · 03-28-2006, 01:46 PM

Hey, looks great. Thanx for the pics and ideas. I was just looking for something to do with the gauges. Where'd you get the carbon fiber? im lookin to do the glovebox and maybe a console with it. Oh, sorry to get off topic, but to the guy lookin to borrow a puller...you can make one real easy. I made one out of a used lawnmower blade. Works great.

Rock on

mrein3 · 03-28-2006, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69ride

love the look of white face guages on anything. Looks good. The white face guages on my dodge minivan really add to the "sportiness".

Did I just see sportiness and minivan in the same sentence?

03-27-2006, 02:19 PM	#1
jimmydean Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Beaverton, OR Posts: 3,728	Cheap dash rebuild (with pics) So after looking at dash options, I decided to just "refresh" the one I had. It took about 8 hours total and cost $35 total. I used a white face kit (stickers for your stock faces) and some fake carbon fiber. I repainted the needles and replaced all the bulbs while I had it apart. I think it looks great, thought I would share. The install pic is bad because of the sun angle, but it looks great in person. Now if I can just finish the rest of the truck, I'd be set.

03-27-2006, 02:29 PM	#2
69ride All Go, No Show Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Creighton SK Posts: 286	Re: Cheap dash rebuild (with pics) love the look of white face guages on anything. Looks good. The white face guages on my dodge minivan really add to the "sportiness". __________________ 69 LWB Rebuilt 283, aluminum intake, edelbrock carb, Mild Melling Cam, HEI.

03-27-2006, 02:32 PM	#3
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,857	Re: Cheap dash rebuild (with pics) Great job!. I just called the local sign shop Saturday to ask about carbon fiber vinyl to do the same exact thing. Now I know what it's going to look like. Perfect timing. Any problems with the vinyl adhering? __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

03-27-2006, 02:48 PM	#5
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,857	Re: Cheap dash rebuild (with pics) The glovebox might look pretty cool to match. Did you use soapy water to apply?. I have a few clusters I'm playing with currently. __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

03-27-2006, 03:04 PM	#6
Joe67 67 is sold Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Troy, Michigan Posts: 6,738	Re: Cheap dash rebuild (with pics) That looks great - nice work __________________ Joe - Formerly 67c10step ------------------------------- 1967 Chevy Stepside - ECE 4/6, fuelcell, 5lug - SOLD gr8lakes - My ebay auctions Click here to order forum apparel :: Click here to become a subscribing member

03-27-2006, 03:14 PM	#7
jimmydean Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Beaverton, OR Posts: 3,728	Re: Cheap dash rebuild (with pics) No soapy water on the carbon, it's made by Avery that is wicked sticky. I just made sure the surface was clean and dry, then used the heat to set it. The guages called for soap like window tinting does. They were sort of a pain because the hole on the fuel and speed were small and you had to stretch it over the needle without it sticking to the face. The volt guage is a little off, but you can't tell unless you look real hard.

03-27-2006, 03:25 PM	#8
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,857	Re: Cheap dash rebuild (with pics) Thanks. I know what you mean with the white decals. __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

03-27-2006, 04:07 PM	#9
jrb71c20 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Claremore, OK Posts: 486	Re: Cheap dash rebuild (with pics) WOW, that looks great, I may look into that myself, thats for the pics AND the ideas

03-27-2006, 04:14 PM	#10
FIVE 0 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 84	Re: Cheap dash rebuild (with pics) Your restored guages look great! Anyone know where you can find the decals in silver? I saw complete restored clusters on ebay in silver but never the kit like the white ones.

03-27-2006, 04:44 PM	#11
jay-dawg chevelito Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI USA Posts: 1,609	Re: Cheap dash rebuild (with pics) looks great, awesome job. jay __________________ New deadline...when my son can drive. Aloha from Honolulu, HI

03-27-2006, 05:51 PM	#12
72armyswbtruck Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Idaho Posts: 4,034	Re: Cheap dash rebuild (with pics) I was wondering where you got the decals from? Who was it, yours are a little darker green than the ones that I have. __________________ "Remember, They can Kill You, but they can't eat You, That's against the law!!!!!!!!!"

03-27-2006, 06:03 PM	#13
nvrforgotten52 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Morro Bay C.A Posts: 179	Re: Cheap dash rebuild (with pics) would it be too much trouble to get a link of where you bought the white faces from? thanks, looks awesome, david

03-27-2006, 06:08 PM	#14
jimmydean Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Beaverton, OR Posts: 3,728	Re: Cheap dash rebuild (with pics) Here is where I got my face kit from, WhiteGauges.net The next step is to upgrade to LED's, but that gets expensive since they are like $25 each for 8.

03-27-2006, 06:55 PM	#15
matthufham Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Carl Junction, Missouri Posts: 2,061	Re: Cheap dash rebuild (with pics) that looks awesome! now you need some more carbon fiber to match.

03-27-2006, 07:28 PM	#16
thejoker Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Gulfport Mississippi Posts: 364	Re: Cheap dash rebuild (with pics) That turned out really good. JKR __________________ **Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight....I ask that of all my prey** 68' C10 Short Step (rebuilding as we speak) 72' Custom Camper (wrecked, parting out) 79' C10 Fleet (rough, parting out) 97' C1500 Short Step Custom (DD) 97' Kawaski VN800a Customized 99' Z71 Silverado 04' Suzuki Volusia



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03-27-2006, 09:59 PM	#19
FIVE 0 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 84	Re: Cheap dash rebuild (with pics) I clicked on the link provided by jimmydean and called them. The white face kit is $20.00 and colored, including silver is $30.00. Super guy to talk to. Thanks for the link.

03-27-2006, 10:11 PM	#20
Ricks1971 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Clarkrange Tennessee Posts: 1,781	Re: Cheap dash rebuild (with pics) Looks great! Looks like you next project is a steering wheel! LOL

03-27-2006, 10:48 PM	#21
chevy_fatman Where's my beer? Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I live in the state of denial.... Posts: 5,621	Re: Cheap dash rebuild (with pics) Looking good! __________________ Paul How do you make the invisible, visible?.........You take it away.

03-28-2006, 06:18 AM	#23
vtblazer Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Central Vermont Posts: 8,538	Re: Cheap dash rebuild (with pics) Nice look. Thanks for the info.

03-28-2006, 01:46 PM	#24
CrazyJdub Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 30	Re: Cheap dash rebuild (with pics) Hey, looks great. Thanx for the pics and ideas. I was just looking for something to do with the gauges. Where'd you get the carbon fiber? im lookin to do the glovebox and maybe a console with it. Oh, sorry to get off topic, but to the guy lookin to borrow a puller...you can make one real easy. I made one out of a used lawnmower blade. Works great. Rock on

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