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1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

Gauge paint

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Old Jun 14, 2014 | 06:23 PM
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Gauge paint

To put it simply Red or Orange, what is the correct color for the needles on the 80-86 trucks?

It appears that Orange or Red will be correct but the Red is a little more vivid than the Orange is.
 
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Old Jun 14, 2014 | 08:43 PM
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They were a flourecent orange, so they would stand out better at night with the back lighting, as well as during the day with the bright sunshine.
 
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Old Jun 14, 2014 | 08:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Rogue_Wulff
They were a flourecent orange, so they would stand out better at night with the back lighting, as well as during the day with the bright sunshine.
Ok, I was wondering cause I found florescent red as well as florescent orange, but wasnt sure what would be appropriate for a early 80`s Ford truck.

Looks like I will be ordering the orange then. Just have to paint the needles and hope all the gauges work when I install it.

I also got some blue and green 194 LED bulbs coming in, Im thinking about going blue on the dash and use the green for the turn signal indicators and blue for the high beam indicator.
 
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Old Jun 14, 2014 | 08:52 PM
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It was a redish orange shade, but it's hard to find the exact perfect shade.
Though, I have seen some that are orange down low, and yellowish or white towards the top from sun fading.......
 
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Old Jun 14, 2014 | 09:00 PM
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This is the one I ordered.

Custom Fluorescent Orange Speedo Gauge Needle Paint | eBay

They have a photo of an Econoline van gauge painted with it.

This is the red I was looking at but I ended up with the orange I think that would be more correct than the red.

Fluorescent Red Speedo Gauge Needle Restoration Paint | eBay
 
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Old Jun 14, 2014 | 09:11 PM
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If you follow the link to their "color selector", it clearly says
Our HiPo Parts Fluorescent Red Gauge/Speedo Needle Restoration Paint is a custom blend of red/orange that is specifically designed to match the factory color used on nearly all Ford vehicles built in the 1980’s and earlier. This color is found on nearly all Ford vehicles including Mustang, Torino, Fairlane, Ranchero, Thunderbird, Truck & Bronco, Maverick, Pinto, etc..
Factory Correct Gauge Needle Color
 
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Old Jun 14, 2014 | 09:14 PM
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Didnt go to their website but now I got to email them and ask if they can switch my order from orange to red then.
 
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Old Jun 14, 2014 | 09:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Rusty_S
Didnt go to their website but now I got to email them and ask if they can switch my order from orange to red then.
Good deal.

Wish I had known they sold this stuff, or I would have pointed you towards that red from the beginning......
Going to be ordering some soon myself......
 
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Old Jun 14, 2014 | 09:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Rogue_Wulff
Good deal.

Wish I had known they sold this stuff, or I would have pointed you towards that red from the beginning......
Going to be ordering some soon myself......
They sell quite a bit of stuff. They sell a roller bearing fuel pump eccentric to replace the stamped steel one. I will probably go with that when I redo the 302 in my truck.
 
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Old Jun 14, 2014 | 09:33 PM
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I saw that. Pricey little dude.......
 
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Old Jun 14, 2014 | 09:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Rogue_Wulff
I saw that. Pricey little dude.......
lol better than the $650 they are asking for the Yates NASCAR timing belt drive kit.
 
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Old Jun 14, 2014 | 09:50 PM
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Hate to be that guy, but their website offers that same little jar of paint for $2.50.............
Fluorescent Speedo & Gauge Needle Restoration Paint - HiPo Parts Garage
 
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Old Jun 14, 2014 | 10:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Rogue_Wulff
Hate to be that guy, but their website offers that same little jar of paint for $2.50.............
Fluorescent Speedo & Gauge Needle Restoration Paint - HiPo Parts Garage
$2.50 for Red
$2.95 for Orange

s&h is $4.32, so to buy the red on ebay I am spending $0.13 more. Given that I canceled the order on ebay and sent HiPo a message that I am going to be purchasing from their website instead as the prices are more reasonable. I will be getting orange and red, if I like how the red comes out on my truck and my Mercury, I will mix 2/3 red with 1/3 orange to do my Chevrolet needles.

On ebay they are selling Orange at $7.45 a vial vs $2.95 on their site.
 
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Old Jun 15, 2014 | 01:04 AM
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I used the orange. This is how it turned out.



Ignore the tachometer needle looking different. Not sure why, but every picture I take with my camera it looks that way. They all look the same in person. They have a glow to them at night.
 
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Old Jun 15, 2014 | 10:13 AM
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Here is the orange fluorescent paint from HiPo Parts. It turned out really well
 
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