Dash restoration question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Low69CST · 06-08-2003, 11:53 PM

Is there a way to get the needles off the guages? I've heard about people painting them day glow orange. I tried to remove them, but they didn't seem to want to budge. Just thought I'd check before I broke something.

**68 Stepside** · 06-08-2003, 11:56 PM

There's probably an easy way....I tried taking my speedo needle off once, it was white from all the sun....I broke the stud sticking out of the speedo guts clean off...it sucked....

Moral of the story: Don't try to force the needles off.

Longhorn Man · 06-08-2003, 11:59 PM

I just cut a slit in a sheet of thick paper and slide it under the needle then shoot it with spray paint.

*Piston* · 06-09-2003, 12:02 AM

yea what ^ he said. works great and you dont screw up a good set of gauges lol. I've broken a few and I've had a few come off. painting around them is much safer.

BUXMAN66 · 06-09-2003, 12:05 AM

i used a toothpick to paint mine(still attached).

Alex Hayley · 06-09-2003, 12:30 AM

I found that the paper trick was a little bit difficult(I am a bit clumsy or so I am always told). I ended up using tin foil. Slip a piece of foil under the needle, bend it over the edge(s) of the gauge and it magically holds it position. Cover the rest of the gauge with foil. Worked great for me.

Low69CST · 06-09-2003, 12:44 AM

Yeah, my dad paints cars, we talked about slippin paper under it and spraying it. The tach is a little more trickier cuz it has that black ring around it. Plus some of the needles have small metal rivit things holding them on. I'll have to figure out some way to paint the needle and keep that part clean. Thanks for the advice though.

bpmcgee · 06-09-2003, 03:21 AM

I just painted mine yesterday. I used testors model paint in a bottle, and a small chisel point paintbrush.

Brian

Billy G · 06-09-2003, 05:53 AM

What about using a 'drenched' Q-tip? Ive used that on body paint touchups. Just sort of 'roll' the Q-tip

Good Luck!

**seacrow** · 06-09-2003, 06:04 AM

I used legal pad paper, slit and placed around the needles. Then Odds n Ends hobby paint from Wal Mart. It works like a charm.

BigBlack68 · 06-09-2003, 07:48 AM

i just pulled mine off,got lucky they came off real easy

jewels. · 06-09-2003, 10:34 AM

i heard somewhere ( a long time ago ) that if you paint the needles on the dash, the extra weight added to the needles from the paint will throw off the readings

is this true?

jewels.

Mixup · 06-09-2003, 10:38 AM

I've heard of using a fork to get under it and pry it off. Never tried it though.

Longhorn Man · 06-09-2003, 03:24 PM

I have painted needles plenty of times and even multiple coats on a single guage...never had any weight issues...at least, not needle weight anyways.

jewels. · 06-09-2003, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by longhornmail
never had any weight issues...at least, not needle weight anyways.

*snicker*

blazerslave · 06-09-2003, 09:32 PM

I used 4 pieces of thin cardboard which were larger than the gauge itself. I arrayed each piece of the cardboard so it covered the entire gauge except for the needle.

I sprayed a base coat of engine orange (duplicolor?) and when that got tacky, I brushed on flourecent orange which I bought from a local hobby store.

Looks like new!

Steven Sellers · 06-09-2003, 10:47 PM

If you know anyone that works in a calibration shop get tham to get you a pointer puller. I havent tried yet on mine but if they do indeed come off, and Im going ot try, the correct tool is a must

casey · 06-10-2003, 02:35 AM

When you think about it why take them off, there already sitting on a nice pedistel slide the paper underneath, I think if you took two peices of paper both with a slit and side them in from either side you got it covered, that's my next project, any recommondations on a orange spray can, I've read on here before that some of you guys got a perfect match, with a spray can, just can't remember what kind it was.

06-08-2003, 11:53 PM	#1
Low69CST Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA Posts: 2,163	Dash restoration question Is there a way to get the needles off the guages? I've heard about people painting them day glow orange. I tried to remove them, but they didn't seem to want to budge. Just thought I'd check before I broke something. __________________ '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

06-08-2003, 11:56 PM	#2
68 Stepside huh? Join Date: May 2000 Location: Washington, Illinois Posts: 5,692	There's probably an easy way....I tried taking my speedo needle off once, it was white from all the sun....I broke the stud sticking out of the speedo guts clean off...it sucked.... Moral of the story: Don't try to force the needles off. __________________ Someday when I'm lonely, Wishing you weren't so far away, Then I will remember Things we said today. RIP El Jay

06-09-2003, 12:05 AM	#5
BUXMAN66 go bucks! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: MIAMISBURG OHIO USA Posts: 803	i used a toothpick to paint mine(still attached). __________________ '68 swb 1/2t 350/350th '86 lngbd 3/4 TON parts getter '49 gmc 1/2 t 5 window 350/350th '96 gmc sonoma sle ext-cab. hey it's a 4cyl. 5 spd and good on gas y'know?

06-09-2003, 12:44 AM	#7
Low69CST Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA Posts: 2,163	Yeah, my dad paints cars, we talked about slippin paper under it and spraying it. The tach is a little more trickier cuz it has that black ring around it. Plus some of the needles have small metal rivit things holding them on. I'll have to figure out some way to paint the needle and keep that part clean. Thanks for the advice though. __________________ '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

06-09-2003, 05:53 AM	#9
Billy G Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dayton, Tx (in Old River) Posts: 286	What about using a 'drenched' Q-tip? Ive used that on body paint touchups. Just sort of 'roll' the Q-tip Good Luck! __________________ My FAMOUS LAST WORDS...."Ima Gonna!!" - 1970 GMC 1500 swb/step 250 I-6 3 spd - "The GEM" - 1976 Chev Scotsdale swb/step 350/350 - "The JEWEL" - 1982 Chev C-10 swb/step 250 I-6 3 spd - - 2001 Chev Silverado LT -

06-08-2003, 11:59 PM	#3
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	I just cut a slit in a sheet of thick paper and slide it under the needle then shoot it with spray paint.

06-09-2003, 12:02 AM	#4
Piston Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Olathe, KS Posts: 2,301	yea what ^ he said. works great and you dont screw up a good set of gauges lol. I've broken a few and I've had a few come off. painting around them is much safer.

06-09-2003, 12:30 AM	#6
Alex Hayley Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: NC Posts: 987	I found that the paper trick was a little bit difficult(I am a bit clumsy or so I am always told). I ended up using tin foil. Slip a piece of foil under the needle, bend it over the edge(s) of the gauge and it magically holds it position. Cover the rest of the gauge with foil. Worked great for me.

06-09-2003, 03:21 AM	#8
bpmcgee Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 2,181	I just painted mine yesterday. I used testors model paint in a bottle, and a small chisel point paintbrush. Brian

06-09-2003, 06:04 AM	#10
seacrow Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Bradenton, Florida Posts: 366	I used legal pad paper, slit and placed around the needles. Then Odds n Ends hobby paint from Wal Mart. It works like a charm. __________________ 71 GMC Custom. 350, 4bbl., auto. Restored in memory of my grandfather. 2008 Ford F-250 Super Duty CC King Ranch, moonroof, heated captains chairs, 6.4 PowerStroke. 2007 Suzuki Hayabusa, all black 1985 Mustang GT T-top, 5 spd. 54K orig miles.

06-09-2003, 07:48 AM	#11
BigBlack68 Negative Camber Join Date: May 2003 Location: Clearwater,Fla Posts: 117	i just pulled mine off,got lucky they came off real easy

06-09-2003, 10:34 AM	#12
jewels. Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Munster, IN Posts: 1,100	i heard somewhere ( a long time ago ) that if you paint the needles on the dash, the extra weight added to the needles from the paint will throw off the readings is this true? jewels. __________________ 68 C10 Red Step 350 my first child & main focus 58 3200 Apache LWB Step the upcoming project

06-09-2003, 10:38 AM	#13
Mixup Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 358	I've heard of using a fork to get under it and pry it off. Never tried it though. __________________ 1980 Chevy Shortbed Pickup 1969 Z28 engine Turbo 350

06-09-2003, 03:24 PM	#14
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	I have painted needles plenty of times and even multiple coats on a single guage...never had any weight issues...at least, not needle weight anyways.

06-09-2003, 09:32 PM	#16
blazerslave Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Valencia, CA Posts: 96	I used 4 pieces of thin cardboard which were larger than the gauge itself. I arrayed each piece of the cardboard so it covered the entire gauge except for the needle. I sprayed a base coat of engine orange (duplicolor?) and when that got tacky, I brushed on flourecent orange which I bought from a local hobby store. Looks like new!



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06-09-2003, 10:47 PM	#17
Steven Sellers Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 692	If you know anyone that works in a calibration shop get tham to get you a pointer puller. I havent tried yet on mine but if they do indeed come off, and Im going ot try, the correct tool is a must __________________ 2008 Buick Enclave(wifes new non wrecked) 1996 Jeep Cherokee 2002 2500HD 6.0L (traded) 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee(wifes/wrecked) 1977 DJ5 postal jeep(mmm lots of fun) 1988 Toyota 2wd p/u(DD, blewup 199,000) 1991 Toyota 2ed p/u (sry just cant break these things) 1997 XR70 Honda 1991 Z50(FOR SALE) 1972 Z50 Honda 1970 SWB 350/knucklebuster "The adventure begins and I am confident that there will be no end".

06-10-2003, 02:35 AM	#18
casey Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kelowna B.C. Canada Posts: 2,048	When you think about it why take them off, there already sitting on a nice pedistel slide the paper underneath, I think if you took two peices of paper both with a slit and side them in from either side you got it covered, that's my next project, any recommondations on a orange spray can, I've read on here before that some of you guys got a perfect match, with a spray can, just can't remember what kind it was.

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