My speedo cluster redo

[Toms73NovaSS]

I obtained a speedo cluster with a dash bezel I purchased. It had been exposed to dampness so there was surface rust in spots. I got to thinking that since I really could not use it as it was maybe I might consider converting it over to a silver and black layout like the two autometer gagues that I have are.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/tjkoprevich/dash.jpg

So I set out to disassemble all of the gague cluster and blast all of the metal parts including where the speed is printed. I then painted it all with white where it was not going to be seen so that it reflected the light well.

I then ordered some vinyl stickers for my gagues. When I got the stickers I matched the color as closely as possible with spray paint (actually had to spray one color and dust with another to get it close).

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/tjkoprevich/speedo2.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/tjkoprevich/speedo3.jpg

Put everything back together and I think it turned out nice. It matches my autometer gagues well.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/tjkoprevich/speedo.jpg

Here is my attempt at a lousy photoshop.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/tjkoprevich/dashcopy.jpg

[shawner]

wow that looks excellent!!!!. where did you get the stickers?
things like this really set one car apart from the typical
nice job :)

[Shane65]

I'm impressed. Nicely done. That's something most people wouldn't attempt. I to would be interested where the stickers came from.

[DANNO]

Put everything back together and I think it turned out nice.
I agree with you! Looks great.


Dan (admiringly) :)

[Toms73NovaSS]

I'm impressed. Nicely done. That's something most people wouldn't attempt. I to would be interested where the stickers came from.

The reason that I had no quams about trying it is that it was an extra cluster that I would not use in it current condition. So I said what the heck.. Actually had fun finding out how a speedo really works and reseting the milage on the odometer to match the one in the car now.

I got them thru www.whitegauges.net. I just selected the gray background instead of the white.

[Toms73NovaSS]

Ok finally had a chance to put the new cluster in here is a pic lights off:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/tjkoprevich/dash1.jpg

Lights on (no flash)

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/tjkoprevich/dash2.jpg

[Hemi Nova]

Very nice, me like.:)

[novas4life]

Yea! That looks really good!

[Maxturbo]

That is pretty dang nice!

[strtlegal]

i saw somebody do that a few yars ago in a car craft nova...looks good..i have an extra center cluster that i was going to attempt to do that two but never did

did you sand blast the speedo display also, or did you just paint over the original black??

[strtlegal]

you know somebody on ebay sells those vinyl stickers white and silver i believe..glad to see they matched the color of your autometers

[Toms73NovaSS]

i saw somebody do that a few years ago in a car craft nova...looks good..i have an extra center cluster that i was going to attempt to do that two but never did

did you sand blast the speedo display also, or did you just paint over the original black??

Yes, I blasted the speedo display because the extra one that I had was lightly rusted. In fact everything got a quick blast before prime and paint.

[basketcase]

I like it a lot.

[SuperNova69]

That looks awesome! How much would you charge to do mine? :D

Matt

[Drum]

Great job, looks really good with the lights on.

[the FLYER]

WOW i'm Impressed !!! Very Nice Job !!!! :cool: :cool: :cool:

[NIGHTSHADE]

I concur with the forum, LOOKS EXCELLENT!!

[the FLYER]

I concur with the forum, LOOKS EXCELLENT!!
brownoser.... :rolleyes:

[NIGHTSHADE]

brownoser.... :rolleyes:

Better look again (at the avatar), I don't have a nose!

[loneagle]

Very nice job and thanks for sharing! :)

I just ordered a kit for my Nova. I was trying figure a way to make my gauges brighter.

John

[Jason628]

Greetings,

Very nice! Good job!

Jason

[loneagle]

Tom
Did you paint the back of the part that holds the printed circuit?

John

[1bad66]

WOW Tom very nice work !

[strtlegal]

just ordered mine..i have the spare cluster ripped apart so we will see how it turns out

gives me something to do while the car is being painted

[Toms73NovaSS]

Tom
Did you paint the back of the part that holds the printed circuit?

John


John,
If you are talking about the white main back housing above, Yes I painted it.
It was originally bare metal, I blasted it to remove rust and painted it.
My original 73 cluster was already painted from the factory, this one out of a 72 was not painted, untill now.

[Toms73NovaSS]

just ordered mine..i have the spare cluster ripped apart so we will see how it turns out

gives me something to do while the car is being painted

cool post some pics when done!

[JR]

You just might need to go into that business as a sideline. Looks great:)

[loneagle]

Did you guys get your decal kits yet? I ordered on the 5th and it still hasn't arrived yet.

[loneagle]

Well, my decal kit arived today!:)

Tom, How did you remove the speedo neddle?

I will post some pics when I'm done!

John

[richnova76]

would the gauge kit for the 75 work on my 76?

thx
Richard

[Toms73NovaSS]

Well, my decal kit arived today!:)

Tom, How did you remove the speedo neddle?

I will post some pics when I'm done!

John

John,

I opted not to remove the speedo needle. What I did was carefully snip the bottom hole where the speedo goes thru to make a slot and slide out the whole unit. I didn't want to take a chance and mess up the unit. However, for the gas gage I used a fork and bent two teeth close together and place the teeth under the collar of the needle and pried it off.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/tjkoprevich/sped.jpg

[loneagle]

Thanks for sharing that, Tom!:)

Your'e right about the silver paint. I can't find any thing that even comes close to matching. Merry Christmas!

John

[1qwikss]

that looks really good! i like it with those autometers.

[Toms73NovaSS]

Finally got the last part of my dash redo. I got a silver heater control from the same place I got my speedo stuff.

I also got a clear plastic (that does not have the words etched in them) from loneagle.

He has more so if your interested PM him!

Here is how it turned out.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/tjkoprevich/e1d5bdaa.jpg

[3DTim]

That looks great. Put a set of sliver camaro gauges withe that and man that would make a nice set up.

[sagacious]

nice setup i heres mine i did pretty much the same thing, but i opted not to paint around the silver inlays. i replaced all the lights with 4 point LEDS and added a string of blue leds that wrap around the front and are concealed.

http://www.fileden.com/files/8030/DSC00713.JPG Free file hosting from File Den! (http://www.fileden.com) http://www.fileden.com/files/8030/DSC00714.JPG [url=http://www.fileden.com]Free file hosting from File Den![/url


oh yea and you mentioned painting the inside of the cluster white to reflect light better. i used reflective aluminum tape to line everything inside. works very well, ill have to post a night shot sometime.

[sthole]

real cool, or should is say silver. great job!