Gauge Cluster Teardown and Rebuild - Beware, Pic Heavy!

[Green79Scottsdale]

Both clusters are still all tore down sitting in my basement. I got a couple of Silverstar bulbs in the 168 size to try. My thinking is to paint the backside of the the gauges and the housing with a reflective white or chrome. Using the Silverstar bulbs I am hoping it with be a nice white color and be bright enough that I have to turn them down. March was an extremely busy month for me, with birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and working 60+ hours that I didn't have the ambition or motivation to work on this project. I am hoping within the next month this will be close to being done.

 

[coocooman01]

my cluster i sell ebay

http://www.gmsquarebody.com/forum/album.php?albumid=500


Fixed your Link to your album Evan. HRPC

 

[Green79Scottsdale]

Hey, I was actually checking out your site the day coocooman01. Looks like you do good work. Can you turn the volume off on those?! In just looking at your pics, that would be WAYYY to bright for me personally. Any pictures of the process you can share?

 

[sonicbluezx3]

Here's my gauges.... I have the LEDs from superbrightleds.com and I painted the needles (including the shift indicator) red this weekend. I also blacked out all of the orange except for the "55" which I will probably leave alone. I used model car paint from Hobby Lobby and a really small brush.
With camera flash...

You must be registered for see images attach

With LED's...

You must be registered for see images attach

I replaced the temp gauge with a manual one from Sun Pro.

 

[The Dude]

Great thread, thank you for all the illustrated info. Very useful.

 

[coocooman01]

cluster

if you need a custom [email protected] thanks evan

 

[Green79Scottsdale]

Very minor update on this project. I got the tach hooked up to see if it works.... NOPE!! I bought it figuring that it didn't so I am not surprised. Still a little disappointing however. Now I am planning on getting one from LMC. Gotta save up some dough for it.

I also thought I would try my two Silverstar bulbs in my stock cluster to see if they made a difference. Nope again. Investigating LED's a little more now too.

 

[MrMarty51]

From blue to brown.

You must be registered for see images attach

A smaller size brush does good at knocking off the dust, as stated about how fragil it is when cleaning the letters, use caution, I did`nt use anything but the brush.

You must be registered for see images attach

I use a points file to shine the contact surfaces, both on the tabs and inside the clamping devices, makes much better contact.
The needle nose pliers are to bend the clamping devices back into form, so they grip the guage posts tighter, also I bend the contact tabs up a bit, not, much but just enough so I know they will make good connection.
I do the same on the bulb sockets.

The clipson the left have`nt been shined up and reshaped.

You must be registered for see images attach

Detergent and water to clean these.

You must be registered for see images attach

A brass or stainless steel brush to scrub off the contact posts.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[MrMarty51]

Assembled

You must be registered for see images attach

Not as bright as I thought they would be.
When night driving, I turn the dash lights as low as I can and still see the guages.
The less light a persons eyes gather the better the night vision gets.

You must be registered for see images attach

That much done, now, onto the rest of the pickumup.

 

[89Suburban]

Yay :clap:

 

[Green79Scottsdale]

Strong work Martin. Thanks for the contribution!

 

[MrMarty51]

Strong work Martin. Thanks for the contribution!

Just trying to give what was freely given to Me.
One thing I did forget.
I have a can of some "Electrical Corossion Preventive" that I smear a very light coat of onto the contact surface of the clips and sockets, a very thin coating.
This stuff is actually made for contacts and is not a silicone based grease, although silicone may or may not insulate and decrease the contact abilities, I use what was designed to do the job that is before Me.
This stuff is called : " Truck Lite " " NYK Corrosion Preventive Compound " and is produced by Truck Lite Co. Inc. and is a subsidiary of Quaker State.
Part number 97940.

 

[HotRodPC]

Yay :clap:

Dude !!! Sorry to hear that. I hear that **** hurts really bad when you piss !!! Get you some strong anti biotics.

 

[MrMarty51]

Dude !!! Sorry to hear that. I hear that **** hurts really bad when you piss !!! Get you some strong anti biotics.

Walk into a restroom, a bunch of guys using the cans, walk over to a urinal, take a firm hold on the piping and plumbing, proceed to scream, "****, IS IT SUPPOSE TO HURT THIS BAD WHEN EVER I PISS ???".

 

[HotRodPC]

Yeah, you hear of those stories where the Navy servicemen did exactly that. Grabbed the plumbing in the urinal on the ship and literally tore it from the walls gripping and pulling so hard from the pain while they pissed. I think that's where the term of ripping the plumbing off the wall came from.