rebuilding my gauge cluster

Inside the cab...appearance, repair, upgrades

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hedz
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rebuilding my gauge cluster

Post by hedz »

well i'm fairly certain my green circuit board is dead. i just ordered some of those leds from mustangproject that another member posted. i got 3 greens and 2 whites. i also ordered some flourescent needle paint off ebay. trying to find a green metallic spray paint that i can spray my gauges with after i disect them. i like the dark metallic green color on the original metal door panels. if i can't find anything worth a hoot i might go to rozars which mixes auto paint and get them to make me a little bit for my air brushes. i wouldn't even use all of the paint so maybe i could use the leftover to airbrush my column or something. my truck is ford winter green so i'm trying to go with the green theme. i ordered another gauge cluster that came in the mail. i tried to remove a bolt off the back and it snapped off :cry: . i'm pulling out the heat gun and i bought a oiler can from the hardware store. they didn't have any with the flexible bottom so i bought this one with a trigger. wtf this thing isn't a oiler can, squirts almost as bad as a darn compressed can. i should have just ordered a old one off of ebay. anyways work got canceled from the weather so i'm disecting these gauge clusters and i'm going to make one out of two and have some spare parts. i'll post some pics up in a bit. i won't have the rest of my parts in till later.

it's not even that bad of weather outside. people are still going to work in montana...
hedz
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Re: rebuilding my gauge cluster

Post by hedz »

if any of you have seen a green spray paint that is close to the dark green paint that came on the metal 72 door panels and also looks like the metalic green on the dash pads please fill me in on the product
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sargentrs
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Re: rebuilding my gauge cluster

Post by sargentrs »

hedz wrote:if any of you have seen a green spray paint that is close to the dark green paint that came on the metal 72 door panels and also looks like the metalic green on the dash pads please fill me in on the product
Have you tried looking at model paint? Much larger color selection and perfect for airbrush work.
Randy
1970 F100 Sport Custom Limited LWB, 302cid, 3 on the tree. NO A/C, NO P/S, NO P/B. Currently in 1000 pcs while rebuilding. Project thread: http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=59995 Plan: 351w, C4, LSD, pwr front disc, p/s, a/c, bucket seats, new interior and paint.
1987 F-150 XLT Lariat, 5.0/C6 auto.
hedz
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Re: rebuilding my gauge cluster

Post by hedz »

sargentrs wrote:
hedz wrote:if any of you have seen a green spray paint that is close to the dark green paint that came on the metal 72 door panels and also looks like the metalic green on the dash pads please fill me in on the product
Have you tried looking at model paint? Much larger color selection and perfect for airbrush work.
the only place around here that i buy model paint from is called the model box and they just had a fire. won't be back in business anytime soon. i ponied up for some copper colored rustoleum.
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sargentrs
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Re: rebuilding my gauge cluster

Post by sargentrs »

Cool. Be sure and show us how it turns out. :thup:
Randy
1970 F100 Sport Custom Limited LWB, 302cid, 3 on the tree. NO A/C, NO P/S, NO P/B. Currently in 1000 pcs while rebuilding. Project thread: http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=59995 Plan: 351w, C4, LSD, pwr front disc, p/s, a/c, bucket seats, new interior and paint.
1987 F-150 XLT Lariat, 5.0/C6 auto.
hedz
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Re: rebuilding my gauge cluster

Post by hedz »

ok i'm done. here are some pics of the process. i'll try to take some pics soon at night with the leds on.

Image

Image
broke out the heat gun here to get some jammed bolts free from the other gauge cluster.

i had to build 1 out of 2 and other spare parts

Image

Image

added some gauge needle paint to all the gauges

Image

got side tracked and had to rebuild the attic stair twice!

Image

and reinstalled. doesn't look bad. doesn't look great imo. but it is far more visible and functional than it has been.
hedz
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Re: rebuilding my gauge cluster

Post by hedz »

the model box is out of business and rozars was too expensive for me right now. i wish there was a air brushing supply shop around here that carried metallic s for auto paint projects. they have one that carries t-shirt paint at alabama art and supply but that's worthless on this project
hedz
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Re: rebuilding my gauge cluster

Post by hedz »

Image
kato_pup_dog1977
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Re: rebuilding my gauge cluster

Post by kato_pup_dog1977 »

What exactly did you do to run led's? Resistors? I have a 67 so the cluster looks the same but isn't...I've wondered about running red led's.
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Re: rebuilding my gauge cluster

Post by Ranchero50 »

Looks OK, the lenses clean up with a good cleaner / polish / wax. I wonder why the light it so bright at the speedo vs. the outer gauges? Been a while since I had mine apart.
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hedz
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Re: rebuilding my gauge cluster

Post by hedz »

i just saw another member get leds from mustangproject.com so that's where i ordered mine.

i think it may have been the camera. everything looks lit up in person. i had a ton of trouble getting my cluster lights to work. had to sand down all the copper contacts on the green circuit board. my replacement circuit board that i got out of a used gauge cluster was super oxidized. had to clean the crud out of all my bulb holders too.

they are all lit up now. i think some of the other leds like the aqua that the other person used are much brighter than the green.
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