Instrument Cluster Restoration - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**425HP409** · 12-20-2011, 12:35 PM

I was told once the Testor's color of orange paint available at hobbyshops that we can use to repaint our instrument's needles, but I forgot what it was.
Anyone know???

tubbedII · 12-20-2011, 01:05 PM

I used a neon red for mine...It wasn't a testors, but it was in the same section. I like it.

Before:

After:

dfwright · 12-20-2011, 01:09 PM

From TCB-1's guage rebuild thread -- Started Another Gauge Restoration - Speedwarning - Ongoing

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!

dfwright · 12-20-2011, 01:14 PM

Bruce88 used Tamiya Orange TS-31 on his build

It’s Just A Pickup

eightbanger · 12-20-2011, 01:15 PM

Good ol Doug...miss him on here.

Yooper truck · 12-20-2011, 08:49 PM

When you paint the needles, do you remove them from the cluster or do you paint them in place? If removing, how fragile are they and how difficult is it to put it back on?

*72lb4x4* · 12-20-2011, 09:34 PM

You can get paint pens from the hobby shop that make it easier not to make a mess.

Coley · 12-20-2011, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfwright

From TCB-1's guage rebuild thread -- Started Another Gauge Restoration - Speedwarning - Ongoing

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!

Ditto on this. I follow this up tho' with a gloss clear coat to make the needles shine a bit more.
My two bits.
Coley

Coley · 12-20-2011, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yooper truck

When you paint the needles, do you remove them from the cluster or do you paint them in place? If removing, how fragile are they and how difficult is it to put it back on?

I leave them on. I simply take a piece of newspaper (or any paper big enough to cover the gauge completely) and cut a long slit in it with a razor knife...starting from any side and ending in the centre of the paper.
Then I simply pull the slit up all the way to the needle centreline, then use a piece of painters tape to cover the slit path....no taping to the gauge face itself.
It works great, its pretty quick and no overspray.
Coley

**chewychevy67** · 12-20-2011, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coley

I leave them on. I simply take a piece of newspaper (or any paper big enough to cover the gauge completely) and cut a long slit in it with a razor knife...starting from any side and ending in the centre of the paper.
Then I simply pull the slit up all the way to the needle centreline, then use a piece of painters tape to cover the slit path....no taping to the gauge face itself.
It works great, its pretty quick and no overspray.
Coley

X2 and works great

kcsa75 · 12-20-2011, 10:23 PM

I used Testors Fluorescent Red.

Only thing is from time to time, I see the speedometer needle out of the corner of my eye while I'm driving and think I have an idiot light on!

12-20-2011, 12:35 PM	#1
425HP409 425hp409 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Prosper Texas Posts: 841	Instrument Cluster Restoration I was told once the Testor's color of orange paint available at hobbyshops that we can use to repaint our instrument's needles, but I forgot what it was. Anyone know??? __________________ Charles 68 SWB, Dad bought new, now 396 & factory ac 64 Impala SS, 409 425HP, 4 speed AC 64 Bel Air Wagon, 400 Small Block 57 Bel Air all original 283 w/Factory Air 77 GMC Sprint, 454/425HP 67 Olds 442, all original 90 ZR1 Corvette

12-20-2011, 01:05 PM	#2
tubbedII needs more $$$ Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,936	Re: Instrument Cluster Restoration I used a neon red for mine...It wasn't a testors, but it was in the same section. I like it. Before: After: __________________ 1970 2wd Blazer

12-20-2011, 01:09 PM	#3
dfwright Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 1,376	Re: Instrument Cluster Restoration From TCB-1's guage rebuild thread -- Started Another Gauge Restoration - Speedwarning - Ongoing 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! __________________ 1972 C10 LWB, 350/350 Deconstruction began 5/2009, mostly completed restoration, 5/2017 Last edited by dfwright; 12-20-2011 at 01:16 PM.

12-20-2011, 01:14 PM	#4
dfwright Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 1,376	Re: Instrument Cluster Restoration Bruce88 used Tamiya Orange TS-31 on his build It’s Just A Pickup __________________ 1972 C10 LWB, 350/350 Deconstruction began 5/2009, mostly completed restoration, 5/2017

12-20-2011, 01:15 PM	#5
eightbanger 454 MAKES IT ROAR Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Essex, U.K Posts: 2,701	Re: Instrument Cluster Restoration Good ol Doug...miss him on here. __________________ Nigel. An American living in a British body. 1971 Chevy Cheyenne 10 454 "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." - George Orwell "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty" - Thomas Jefferson No more pain. 03.12.60 -- 12.28.10 http://www.youtube.com/Eightbanger

12-20-2011, 08:49 PM	#6
Yooper truck Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Rudyard, Michigan Posts: 125	Re: Instrument Cluster Restoration When you paint the needles, do you remove them from the cluster or do you paint them in place? If removing, how fragile are they and how difficult is it to put it back on?

12-20-2011, 09:34 PM	#7
72lb4x4 Account Suspended Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: DFW Posts: 1,427	Re: Instrument Cluster Restoration You can get paint pens from the hobby shop that make it easier not to make a mess.

12-20-2011, 10:23 PM	#11
kcsa75 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Kansas City Posts: 3,590	Re: Instrument Cluster Restoration I used Testors Fluorescent Red. Only thing is from time to time, I see the speedometer needle out of the corner of my eye while I'm driving and think I have an idiot light on! Attached Images __________________ Willie Swamp Angel Truckers '72 C10 Highlander *People who blindly follow a GPS end up on television programs on The Weather Channel. Some survive, some don't.*



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