Started Another Gauge Restoration - Speedwarning - Ongoing

[tcb-1]

yep, I'm going to sell this one. I still need to test and tune it......

[oldgold70c10]

Wow that looks great! If you go to Radio Shack, they sell an assortment of rubber grommets that can be used to replace the rotted, crumbling ones where the speedometer mounts.

[cedorris]

How to you repaint the face of the gauges?
Do you ever do restores for other people? If the price is right I may ship you mine

[72BlckButy]

cedorris, I should let tcb-1 speak up on this, but I actually asked him the same question. He actually located clean original gauges for the dash and didn't have to repaint the faces. It would be nearly impossible to repaint the original gauge face without losing the factory markings and without those, good luck.

[cedorris]

Originally Posted by 72BlckButy

cedorris, I should let tcb-1 speak up on this, but I actually asked him the same question. He actually located clean original gauges for the dash and didn't have to repaint the faces. It would be nearly impossible to repaint the original gauge face without losing the factory markings and without those, good luck.

That's what I was thinking. Either that or he had some kind of unheard of skills.

Does anyone know of a vendor that does instrument cluster restorations?

[mclairmo]

You can't repaint them. You would need to use a decal or some other applique.

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Very nice work....

[msgross]

darn, can't see pics at work..

ttt for my iphone link

[COACHMEASON]

Nice...

[Mt Man Chad]

Nice write up.....
Looks better than new!

[msgross]

looks nice... you can also restore most lenses with some Brasso metal polish and a soft cloth. Only do the outside (that's the one with scratches anyways) and usually it will look as good as new.

did you brush the needles or mask and spray them?

[tcb-1]

Mike,
I have found that brushing the needles could leave brush strokes if not careful. so I take a few sheets of copy paper and with a hole punch, punch a hole in the center of the paper. then I cut a slit to the hole in the paper. take these and carefully slide under the needle until all is exposed is the needle itself. then pick up some Duplicolor "Orange Glow" at Wal Mart.

fog with light coats because you do not want to build the paint up too much.

I have compared this paint color to an original NOS gauge and it's dead on.

good luck!!

[tcb-1]

oh and I forgot, this gauge cluster will be residing in Richard's (70cstlonghorn) beautifully restored rig!

[msgross]

thanks for the info..

I think I used a Jade Krylon paint on one that I did... I was still looking for the proper orange though

[tcb-1]

the Krylon Jade is a very close color match. matter of fact, I've done a few tins with that color and was very pleased. you'll have to post a pic once you complete it!

[msgross]

do you think it would be easier to adapt the SW into a tach tin? or the other way around?

[tcb-1]

Mike, it would be much easier converting a speed warning tin to accept a tach. the ground pin for the s.w. is difficult to duplicate and you wind up spending more time tracking a pin down than if you just cut the tin for a tach.


if my tach cluster comes out soon, I can make you a cut template.

are you going tach and s.w., or going the full boat with a vac gauge as well??

[msgross]

I've got a tach/vac with 68 choke delete and manual throttle already... all i'm missing is a SW so it should be the cream of the crop...

I just bought a SW 68 dash that's being shipped on Monday...

[mo]

Hi Doug. Could you pm me when you get a chance. I have a couple of questions and I know you are THE MAN! with the answers.
thanks

[jaros44sr]

Shame these pics got deleted, would like to see whats going on

[HotRod C/10]

great info!

Originally Posted by tcb-1

had some extra time this weekend to start another gauge resto project. this cluster was in decent shape, but needed a facelift. you may remember, I had a speed warning speedo that needed a bit of rebuilding. got it back together and is better than new. getting this one ready to sale once complete. very happy with the progress to this point. got a new bezel and a new lens in the box ready to go. this cluster originally came with a 67-68 bezel, but I'm going with a non-choke 69-72 unit; even though '69 would have been the last year for the s.w.

to this point:

media blasted all 5 tins. ammeter/temp tin, oil pressure(vacuum/air) tin, rear tin, fuel gauge tin, and inner tin. most of the time, these tins will have rust SOMEWHERE!

tins paint: Valspar spray cans from Lowes for the tins.
-leaf green in satin for the reflective inner tins
-flat white for the inner ammeter/temp/oil pressure tin
-satin black for the inner tin face
-and a little trick here, the rear outer tin is usually a gray or a natural metal color. after media blast, apply 3 even coats of Valspar flat clear. it looks exactly like the factory finish.

gauge paint: Plastikote "orange glow" (in small spray can from Wal Mart)duplicates the needle color almost exactly. a great way to liven up those sunfaded gauges!

anyway, I'll update this thread when I get more accomplished. just thought you all would like to have some info on paints and processes of restoring these great old gauges....... and restoring a cluster is not that difficult!! buy a cheap set of standard gauges for $20 and see what you can do!!! nothing like looking through that steering wheel to fresh gauges.

a pic of the front of the rear tin with gauges and light tubes in place:


a pic of the rear of the rear tin. note the hole for the speedwarning control cable and the grounding stud:


to be continued.......