Clusters galore

[DoubleL]

About a year or so ago I started repairing mowers for extra cash. My wife and I are committed to becoming debt free. I've been trying to think of something a little easier on my back than lifting mowers unto my bench.
I'm thinking of restoring a few instrument clusters as a new hobby. I went out this last week and came up with these all 64-66 models:
2-warning light models
2-full gauge models
1-full gauge with a Tac as well
I plan on restoring a full gauge set for my truck and hope to someday find a
clock and a vacuum gauge for mine. I've gotten some good tips on this so hopefully it should go well.
I have a total of $200 in the five clusters.

[corvettejim1968]

here is a good resource

http://www.williamsons.com/index.html

http://www.williamsons.com/index.html

[theastronaut]

Nice collection! I've restored a few clusters and it's not hard, just takes patience and attention to details. You can fix that tach cluster up and sell it to more than cover your total investment, then the others will be all profit.


This is one I built for my '66.


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[DoubleL]

[QUOTE=theastronaut;5533346]Nice collection! I've restored a few clusters and it's not hard, just takes patience and attention to details. You can fix that tach cluster up and sell it to more than cover your total investment, then the others will be all profit.
This is one I built for my '66.



If I can get these clusters to look anywhere near as nice as the yours I will be happy


Thanks for the link CorvetteJim

[corvettejim1968]

it was very difficult to find an all correct gauges cluster. took me ten months

[biohazardbill]

Originally Posted by theastronaut

Nice collection! I've restored a few clusters and it's not hard, just takes patience and attention to details. You can fix that tach cluster up and sell it to more than cover your total investment, then the others will be all profit.


This is one I built for my '66.


Posted via Mobile Device

How did you get that air guage in there?

[losthope]

Air gauge's came factory on the big trucks.....just harder to find them,keep your eye's open at the junk yard they fetch a pretty penny!

[Slow Build]

Originally Posted by DoubleL

I plan on restoring a full gauge set for my truck and hope to someday find a
clock and a vacuum gauge for mine..

Do you happen to know what clock will fit in the cluster. I've seen pictures (one below) and have made inquiries but the best answer I've gotten so far is "It's something I picked up at a sawp meet".

I like your idea of restoring gauges. No heavy lifting and I like working with my hands.

[Envy]

Mine turned out good, could use a new lens but some more inspiration for you. The guy that sells the decals for these gauges has a restored cluster on ebay thats at $600 the last time i checked.

[rideblue00]

Im curious about the clock fitment as well.

[DoubleL]

Originally Posted by corvettejim1968

it was very difficult to find an all correct gauges cluster. took me ten months

I know I will be looking for a while!

[DoubleL]

Originally Posted by Slow Build

Do you happen to know what clock will fit in the cluster. I've seen pictures (one below) and have made inquiries but the best answer I've gotten so far is "It's something I picked up at a sawp meet".

I like your idea of restoring gauges. No heavy lifting and I like working with my hands.

I guess I assumed some of these trucks came with the clocks, maybe someone will chime in here with some ideas.

Envy- I saw that gauge set on E-bay, nice!!

[Slow Build]

Originally Posted by DoubleL

I guess I assumed some of these trucks came with the clocks

I think the only clock offered was a mounted on the top of the dash.

[corvettejim1968]

i took 2 peices from my cluster to powder coat. on the piece that is just behind the lens do i need to paint the back side light green like it is from the factory for the correct glow. or does it really matter and i can leave it powder coat satin black?

[Snowbound]

I've got a factory tach '67-72 cluster I want to restore and sell it for a '65 cluster. Mine is the base warning light cluster.
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[LostMy65]

I'd say you found a great hobby!
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[198plus]

Thought I would throw in a pic of mine, I've decided to go with a Dakota cluster......

[LostMy65]

I was looking at the back of my cluster out of my 65, and I notice it has a date stamped on it.
The date is exactly nine days after I was born

[DPowers]

JC Whitney still offers a tach that while not original is easier on the budget.

[DoubleL]

I've sold one to a member here. I have found I can find the full gauge clusters for $50-$60 if I look around. I have found a couple of tach's but they are hard to find. The next one I do will have a clock as well. If you do them properly they do take a lot of time. I have the interior paint custom made because despite trying several colors recommended on the forums I didn't find an off the shelf one that matched good enough for me. I am kind of anal about these clusters now so the ones I put out are going to be few and far between but I'm going for show quality. There are a lot of people on e-bay painting the bezels and calling them "restored" but I just can't do that. The guy from Greenback looks like he does nice work. It was more work than I thought but I need to do something to support my "habit"

[pestwagon]

I've got mine for sale on E Bay DoubleL..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300822993152...84.m1555.l2649..

[duallyjams]

post 65 vacuum gauge on the cheap
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=446527&page=3

[rockdogg2020]

Nobody got the 60-63.
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[corvettejim1968]

i thought i would show some installed pics of the cluster. also i added all L.E.D.`s

[DoubleL]

Very nice work!!