Gauge restoration

[chrismoore701]

Cleaning up my gauge cluster and want to paint all my needles. Was planning to use testors model paint. What color should I get? 1979 c10

Thanks

[ray_mcavoy]

Your gauges appear to be the early style with aluminum needles. I think GM changed to plastic needles sometime in late 79 or early 80 (along with the font change).

Anyway, the aluminum needles were originally a red/orange color, while the later plastic ones were more of a yellow/orange.

I used Krylon 3101 fluorescent orange on the needles in this cluster I did for Dad's 77. Comparing to an NOS gauge I had, the needle color looked very close (to me anyway).



To mask off the gauge faces for spray painting the needles, I cut a slit in a piece of masking paper and carefully slid it in under the needle. Then used a small piece of masking tape to cover the slit in the paper.

[chrismoore701]

I was hoping to brush the color. But I still can with the paint. Where did you get it

[ray_mcavoy]

If I remember correctly, I got the paint at WalMart.

You could probably spray some out into the cap (or a small cup) and paint it on with a small brush. I've found that this works better with some spray paints than it does with others. But I haven't tried it with this particular fluorescent orange to know if it makes a good brush-on paint or not.

[68Timber]

I don't recall the thread, but I got this here somewhere and wrote it down: Tamiya color acrylic paint. Supposedly their orange X-6 and red X-7 replicate the original factory colors well.

[chrismoore701]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

I don't recall the thread, but I got this here somewhere and wrote it down: Tamiya color acrylic paint. Supposedly their orange X-6 and red X-7 replicate the original factory colors well.

Gives me an excuse to go to the hobby shop. Any car guys second favorite place to go

[chrismoore701]

I went with the krylon paint and it does not work with a brush so I did the paper trick and it turned out great. Thanks Ray I planned to hook it up last night but I did not get any wire pins in my painless harness. Time to make a call today.

[gmachinz]

I've used Krylon flourenscent orange marking paint. I saturate a q-tip end with color then quickly brush a layer of paint across the gauge needle. Just do one pass at a time-if its not enough let it dry then do another. Don't attempt to "brush" the paint-itll only get crappy. That stuff dries fast so be aware.

[chrismoore701]

Ready to go in

[chrismoore701]

Full gauges

[N2TRUX]

WLooks much better. For reference, I used Testors fluorescent spray paint. Its a bright orange with a flat finish. It looked excellent on my 84 gauges.

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

WLooks much better. For reference, I used Testors fluorescent spray paint. Its a bright orange with a flat finish. It looked excellent on my 84 gauges.

Looks OEM from here. Did you brush it on with a Q-tip or mask/spray?

[Jeepwm69]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

WLooks much better. For reference, I used Testors fluorescent spray paint. Its a bright orange with a flat finish. It looked excellent on my 84 gauges.

Break off the fuel gauge needle?

I used the orange Krylon marking paint on my speedo and gas gauge. When I carefully tucked newspaper behind the needles, painted them, and then the damn needles stuck to the paper due to the wet paint and I broke BOTH of them off.

I was able to carefully glue the gas gauge needle back on. The speedo needle broke into 4-5 pieces so I whittled a toothpick down to size and glued it in place.

It turned out ok, but was a very long and frustrating process.

[chrismoore701]

Originally Posted by Jeepwm69

Break off the fuel gauge needle?

I used the orange Krylon marking paint on my speedo and gas gauge. When I carefully tucked newspaper behind the needles, painted them, and then the damn needles stuck to the paper due to the wet paint and I broke BOTH of them off.

I was able to carefully glue the gas gauge needle back on. The speedo needle broke into 4-5 pieces so I whittled a toothpick down to size and glued it in place.

It turned out ok, but was a very long and frustrating process.

Oh how I feel your pain. I had picked up two (2) more clusters over time so I had my pick to choose from. I rolled back the odometer, but broke two spedos in the process. Glad I had back ups

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

Looks OEM from here. Did you brush it on with a Q-tip or mask/spray?

I used manila folders cut in half, then cut slits in them to slide under the needles. Then sprayed a couple of light coats of the Testors . Despite snapping a needle off, I recommend this technique.

[chrismoore701]

Gauges are all done. Pinned the new connector. Plug in. No gauges work. Pulled the gauges out for a little look see. The tabs that the gauges clip into are loose. Pop the clips out. Clean with wire brush. Bend the tabs a little dielectric grease and boom. Back in business. Did the same for all my lights. Biggest piece of advice. Keep your eyes open at the show and pick up those crappy gauges for 5 bucks for nothing else but practice and some spare parts. I figured out how to role my odometer back but broke two others in the process. I had three clusters. I had a $5 price tag on one and actually used parts off of it. I polished my le we with mothers headlight restorer. Not as good as my corvette lenses but not that bad. Good luck guys

[motornut]

I'm going to redo mine,I slit/slid under printer paper,and was able to brush model paint,I cut the brissles down,on a small brush,dabbed and it flowed well,but it's too red.

[68Timber]

What's the best way to clean the gauge faces without getting too aggressive? I'd be afraid Windex would wipe letters/numbers off.

[motornut]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

What's the best way to clean the gauge faces without getting too aggressive? I'd be afraid Windex would wipe letters/numbers off.

I could only dust and damp qtips,numbers will mess up touching them