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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Instrumentation => Topic started by: kfoz on August 29, 2015, 06:59:17 am

Title: GAUGE NEEDLES
Post by: kfoz on August 29, 2015, 06:59:17 am

Does anyone out there have NOS needles only for our trucks??

I have a very original '76 C15 Sierra.

Thanks all.

Title: Re: GAUGE NEEDLES
Post by: Irish_Alley on August 29, 2015, 09:44:32 am

are yours missing or just need to be repainted?

Title: Re: GAUGE NEEDLES
Post by: kfoz on August 30, 2015, 08:49:48 am

They are present but I would like NOS if possible. Painting never looks like factory new.

Title: Re: GAUGE NEEDLES
Post by: BBM3 on August 30, 2015, 09:14:37 am

I painted mine and they look new.
The brush was junk so I used a good modeling brush.

http://www.whitegauges.net/products/Fluorescent-Orange-Instrument-Cluster-Needle-Paint-Bottle-with-Brush.html (http://www.whitegauges.net/products/Fluorescent-Orange-Instrument-Cluster-Needle-Paint-Bottle-with-Brush.html)

Title: Re: GAUGE NEEDLES
Post by: LTZ C20 on August 30, 2015, 01:02:54 pm

I spray painted mine with some chevy orange engine enamel. They look brand new. You would never know they were spray painted just by looking at them.

Title: Re: GAUGE NEEDLES
Post by: kfoz on August 30, 2015, 03:09:50 pm

I think spray paint would be the answer.

NOW, , ,  how exactly are they removed?

AND is there any better NEW plastic lens out there more so than others?

Thanks all ! ! !

Title: Re: GAUGE NEEDLES
Post by: 76LongBox on August 31, 2015, 01:21:10 pm

I bought some fluorescent orange spray paint at a local auto parts store and painted mine.  I took each individual gauge out of the cluster, cut a slit in a piece of paper, slid it around the stem behind the needle, overlapped and taped it, and sprayed it.  Seemed to work very well. 

Title: Re: GAUGE NEEDLES
Post by: Irish_Alley on August 31, 2015, 01:47:52 pm

they do just pop off but but you have to make a way so you put them back on the same way

Title: Re: GAUGE NEEDLES
Post by: 76LongBox on August 31, 2015, 02:45:08 pm

Easy to bend the needles too, if you decide to try to take them off...that's why I opted for a piece of paper with a slit in it.  :)

Title: Re: GAUGE NEEDLES
Post by: Don5 on August 31, 2015, 03:14:38 pm

I painted my needles with the needle paint and brush. My advice is to look through fingernail polish until you find the right color. That is what that paint and bottle looked like to me. Mine came out pretty good.

Title: Re: GAUGE NEEDLES
Post by: Irish_Alley on August 31, 2015, 04:08:44 pm

Quote from: 76LongBox on August 31, 2015, 02:45:08 pm

Easy to bend the needles too, if you decide to try to take them off...that's why I opted for a piece of paper with a slit in it.  :)

didnt understand what u meant at first but good ideal

Title: Re: GAUGE NEEDLES
Post by: kfoz on September 01, 2015, 08:43:45 pm

Thanks all!  Most appreciated.

Title: Re: GAUGE NEEDLES
Post by: Captkaos on September 03, 2015, 07:00:04 pm

If they are original, I would mask and paint.  The likelyhood of breaking is high.

Title: Re: GAUGE NEEDLES
Post by: kfoz on September 03, 2015, 07:01:32 pm

Thanks Capt.  I want to spray them.  Any suggestion on paint that's close??

Title: Re: GAUGE NEEDLES
Post by: philo_beddoe on September 03, 2015, 08:58:17 pm

The guages i have seen from the more popular aftermarket websites are factory looking., except the fuel guage.  I dont know why they cant get that one right.  The older 70's style one has the E, 1/2, F.  The aftermarkets are just a circle filled partially in.  But the clock. Speedo and the others are factory looking.   I have the bouncing fuel guage needle, which was a very lengthy post a couple months ago.  I have not found that factory style guage since.

Title: Re: GAUGE NEEDLES
Post by: philo_beddoe on September 03, 2015, 09:00:13 pm

Oh, and i need to spray my fadded needles too. I like the paper with the slit idea.  Thanks

Title: GAUGE NEEDLES
Post by: philo_beddoe on September 03, 2015, 09:02:50 pm

Oh, and i DID break my pointer needle for the shifter, p,r,n,d.l1,l2. Had to epoxy it back.  Was fortunate on that one.  Phew!

Title: Re: GAUGE NEEDLES
Post by: LTZ C20 on September 04, 2015, 12:28:26 am

Quote from: philobeddoe on September 03, 2015, 09:02:50 pm

Oh, and i DID break my pointer needle for the shifter, p,r,n,d.l1,l2. Had to epoxy it back.  Was fortunate on that one.  Phew!

These trucks should have came brand new from the factory with 4 extra of those stupid things in the glove box.... just saying.