Gauge cluster refurbish?

[67_C-30]

Originally Posted by tomatocity

Wow! One of these tach's sold yesterday on eBay. Nice looking cluster.

Yes, I started to buy it, but I really wouldn'y have a use for another unless mine ever messed up. The one I got was taken out about 25 years ago, and put in a garage, so the orange redline part of it was very bright. The one on Ebay looked like it had a good bit of fading.

Another idea I have toying with is to adapt the vacuum gauge into a BOOST gauge for my turbo diesel. I would have to use another head behind a vacuum gauge face. I have a friend at sign shop that says he can make me small decal printed backwards to stick onto the lens to match the others. He said it would be as simple as printing several shades of green onto a piece of white vinyl and then cutting the letters out. He says anytime you print white vinyl a color, it has a tint of that color on the backside, which is what you would see with it stuck to inside of the lens. That is the reason it would have to be printed backwards. Here is a quicky Photoshop of what it would look like. I think it would look killer with any turbo or super charged 67 -72.

[4X4GMC1972]

I just finished mine. I didn't do anything to the gauge faces or needles out of fear of messing them up. Everything works! I would suggest using the oem lens though. The aftermarket one I had bought didn't look or fit right. Here is how it turned out. Just a few more $$$$ and my interior will be finished.

[tomatocity]

Very Nice indeed!

[byrd]

here is a pic of one that I just built for a guy who bought a tach/air cluster from earlier off ebay, and then wanted to have this autometer installed into a vacuum cluster whatcha think nice and clean if you asked me, I think it rocks ? The last pic is a cluster that will be up on ebay for sale stating tonight. Randy

[67_C-30]

What do you think a good vac gauge, and lens, w/o tach, like the top one on Byrd's pic? I have a couple of them, and I may turn one loose if the money is right. I also have a couple of 80 psi Oil Pressure gauges.

[byrd]

I'm not real sure, but I am interested in maybe building another one of these to put on ebay, that tach was a SOB and took quite a while to install like that, as i had no reference point first ime I had done it. I spoke with the guy earlier today and as e installed it today and was really happy with the way it turned out. If you are seroious about selling one or more of those pm me with some details and a $$ amount you would like to get for them. Randy

[byrd]

ttt for c-30

[byrd]

ttt for c-30

[fade94]

Originally Posted by 4X4GMC1972

I just finished mine. I didn't do anything to the gauge faces or needles out of fear of messing them up. Everything works! I would suggest using the oem lens though. The aftermarket one I had bought didn't look or fit right. Here is how it turned out. Just a few more $$$$ and my interior will be finished.

What wasn't right with the lens? Since I am looking at buying it from you, I need to know the issues it has. If I will be better off with an OEM one, I will try to go that route.

[tomatocity]

Originally Posted by 67_C-30

What do you think a good vac gauge, and lens, w/o tach, like the top one on Byrd's pic? I have a couple of them, and I may turn one loose if the money is right. I also have a couple of 80 psi Oil Pressure gauges.

Just sent you a pm though I read your post incorrectly. I am looking for a vacuum gauge to replace the Air Presssure gauge. I also might be interested in the 80 lbs gauge. Pm me with your prices. Thanks.

[tomatocity]

Originally Posted by 4X4GMC1972
I just finished mine. I didn't do anything to the gauge faces or needles out of fear of messing them up. Everything works! I would suggest using the oem lens though. The aftermarket one I had bought didn't look or fit right. Here is how it turned out. Just a few more $$$$ and my interior will be finished.

Originally Posted by fade94

What wasn't right with the lens? Since I am looking at buying it from you, I need to know the issues it has. If I will be better off with an OEM one, I will try to go that route.

Same here. I recently bought an aftermarket lens from Truck Shop though I have not looked at it. What are the differences; text size, text color, fit, ??? Thanks.

[4X4GMC1972]

The coloring of the numbers wasn't the right shade. The numerals and letters were smaller than the original but the oem one I put in is smaller too. I didn't have a fitment problem but the letters and numbers were farther off center than the oem one.
Fade94,
Here is the picture of the lens. I wouldn't want to sell you anything you wouldn't be happy with. I will tell you though, I am very picky.
Todd

[byrd]

is that a brothers lens? I like the blueish tint to the #'s and would be interested in the lens if fade94 passes on it, Randy

[4X4GMC1972]

Randy,
He picked it up today. I don't know who made it but I bought it from Classic Muscle.

[tomatocity]

I just looked at the lens from Truck Shop and yes the lettering is thinner but seems to be the same size. I do like the OEM better. Who sells the OEM lens?
Also I was looking at the gauge face on the gauges in the used cluster I bought and the Air Pressure gauge face seems to be white while the others are the Celeste or Seafoam (OEM) green. What color are the markings on the vinyl overlays? Does anyone make the overlays with the OEM green?

I am probably going to trade my Air Pressure gauge for a Vacuum gauge. I had one inquiry though accidently deleted the pm.

[byrd]

The marking on the ones I use from durange are white, and I don't know of anybody else producing an overlay, Randy

[tomatocity]

I guess there is a market for overlays with the green markings. Do we have anyone on the board that does this? Would you green vinyl and print the black? I dunno.

[67_C-30]

I don't think there is a readily avaialble green vinyl out there that is the right shade. You would probably have to them made on white vinyl with a very good full color printer, like my friend at the print shop said he could do if I go the Boost gauge.