How To Restore and Detail an Original Gauge Cluster

[MikeS.]

Thanks!
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[darkhorse970]

Very nice writeup!

[62 short step]

Nice!

[duallyjams]

Thanks

[198plus]

Thanks for sharing

[aggie91]

I always enjoy your work. For a young guy you have great skills and an eye for detail.

If you have a bezel that the lower center screw hole is cracked, what do you do to fix it?

I will be doing mine this year, but mine is only the idiot light version so I will have less work to do ..

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by aggie91

I always enjoy your work. For a young guy you have great skills and an eye for detail.

If you have a bezel that the lower center screw hole is cracked, what do you do to fix it?

I will be doing mine this year, but mine is only the idiot light version so I will have less work to do ..

I've never repaired one that was cracked, but it would probably be best to grind out the crack completely to keep it from spreading. Thick two part epoxy might work to fill the gap since there isn't much strain on that area. I don't think it can be welded since it's pot metal.

[MikeN]

I'd like to buy the gauge face deals from Jason Wilson at Green Back decals, linked on page 1 here, but there is a problem with his website. It's blocked from my work PC, and when I go there on my iPad it tries to force me to download an Adobe flash player. I'm simply not interested in playing any click bait games. Does anyone have a phone number or email for the guy?

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by MikeN

I'd like to buy the gauge face deals from Jason Wilson at Green Back decals, linked on page 1 here, but there is a problem with his website. It's blocked from my work PC, and when I go there on my iPad it tries to force me to download an Adobe flash player. I'm simply not interested in playing any click bait games. Does anyone have a phone number or email for the guy?

I'm pretty sure Adobe Flash and Apple/Safari are incompatible so that's why it won't pull up on your iPad. I had no problem viewing his website on my PC but it never has worked on my iPhone. The email listed on his website is parklane410@hotmail.com. If I remember correctly he sometimes works out of the US so he may be hard to reach at times. LMC sells his decals if you can't contact him directly.

[MikeN]

Originally Posted by theastronaut

I'm pretty sure Adobe Flash and Apple/Safari are incompatible so that's why it won't pull up on your iPad. I had no problem viewing his website on my PC but it never has worked on my iPhone. The email listed on his website is parklane410@hotmail.com. If I remember correctly he sometimes works out of the US so he may be hard to reach at times. LMC sells his decals if you can't contact him directly.

Thanks man!

[lonestar308]

Originally Posted by MikeN

I'd like to buy the gauge face deals from Jason Wilson at Green Back decals, linked on page 1 here, but there is a problem with his website. It's blocked from my work PC, and when I go there on my iPad it tries to force me to download an Adobe flash player. I'm simply not interested in playing any click bait games. Does anyone have a phone number or email for the guy?

I'm interesting in seeing Jason's work as well, but the link to his website as posted is a dead link....anyone have a good link to his website?

[MikeN]

For those of us without a blasting cabinet, is there any other good way to clean the housing and the bezel before re-painting?

[McCoyAZ]

Anyone ever source out a clock that would fit into a restored gauge cluster like these?

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by Woogeroo

theastronaut :

epic thread Sir.

Thank you very much for taking the time to do that, photograph it all and then upload an caption everything.

I for one know how time consuming all of that can be.

-W

Thanks Woog, I enjoyed doing it! I was already going through the cluster so it wasn't that much more work to put this together. I appreciate you adding it to the FAQ, and also all the work you've put into the FAQ.

[dallas71]

Awesome write up!
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[64shortbox]

Thank You for the write up.

[PoDuck]

This is pretty cool. I've been looking for this kind of info.

By the way, you don't have to get a new lens if you're just dealing with surface scratches on plexiglass. There are all sorts of products that will polish that stuff out of plastic. You don't even need the expensive headlight repair kits. A polishing wheel on a grinder and a plastic buffing and polishing compound would work better.

The only issue is when the plastic is cracked on a gauge cluster. There are ways to "repair" that, but none will be flawless, and when they don't make a repop lens for your gauge, it's a bear.

My lens actually has a crack in it, as well as scratches. I can replace it with clear plexiglass, but the numbers and things that are engraved into the plastic will be lost, and I've been exploring options on how to reproduce that.

I could design a stencil on the computer and reproduce those things with a flat painted look, but it won't look original.

I could find someone with a cnc machine, but that doesn't allow someone to do it in their own house unless they have one, and it would possibly end up more expensive than just finding an old gauge cluster in decent shape.

I'm not sure what could be done in such a situation, but it would be nice to figure something out.

[McCoyAZ]

[/QUOTE] I could design a stencil on the computer and reproduce those things with a flat painted look, but it won't look original.

I could find someone with a cnc machine, but that doesn't allow someone to do it in their own house unless they have one, and it would possibly end up more expensive than just finding an old gauge cluster in decent shape.

I'm not sure what could be done in such a situation, but it would be nice to figure something out.[/QUOTE]



Take it to a JEWELER that has an engraving system or a Laser Engraver.

[theastronaut]

The lettering on the original lens isn't engraved, it's just printed straight onto the plastic. The main reason for replacing the lens is to get rid of the faded letters and have the correct pale green coloring. Even if hazing and scratches can be sanded and buffed out, the color will still be faded. Jason at Greenback Decal can reprint the lens, and also modify the lettering. He is currently working on a 160 mph lens for the cluster I'm rebuilding.

[PoDuck]

Originally Posted by theastronaut

The lettering on the original lens isn't engraved, it's just printed straight onto the plastic...

I should have made it clear that I was talking about the 1962 lens. It is engraved. If not, I could have made a stencil and painted the new piece myself.

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by PoDuck

I should have made it clear that I was talking about the 1962 lens. It is engraved. If not, I could have made a stencil and painted the new piece myself.

I didn't know that about the early lenses, I've only had 64-66 clusters.

[theastronaut]

Pic of the color difference.

[benwah]

I have 2 62 dash clusters one with a tac, and one that can be modified to insert a tac. How rare is the factory tac in a 60-63 truck? I see the 64-66 on FEEBAY but never 60-63.

[DoubleL]

Originally Posted by benwah

I have 2 62 dash clusters one with a tac, and one that can be modified to insert a tac. How rare is the factory tac in a 60-63 truck? I see the 64-66 on FEEBAY but never 60-63.

I think those tachs are pretty rare although the 64-66 are pretty hard to find as well. I believe the '62 tach will need a sending unit.

[theastronaut]

Wiring harness details added.