Moving along on Gertie...I think my next project is to get my instrument cluster spiffied up. The cream paint around the gauges is flaking, the needles are faded, and the numbers on the odometer are flaking off.

While I could probably just spring for new gauges from Carpenter's, I would prefer to have mine done.

Who is the recommended restorer? I remember sending the speedo off back in the late 80's because it quit working, and I believe I sent it to Bob's Speedometer. Did good work, speedo still operates fine, just getting faded and has the aforementioned flaking odo.

 

Someone makes decals for your instruments to cover faded numbers and such. Look on eBay.

 

D&M restorations out of Greenville SC is an option I've heard about. I have no direct knowledge of the services they offer or the quality of their work, however. I bought a used gauge cluster on e-bay for $90. All of the gauges were advertised to be working, but so far they haven't for me. I wish I had sent my original gauges off to be restored.

Jim

 

Thanks Abe and Jim. I have seen the decals, and both Mac's and Carpenter's carries them. Thought about doing the work myself, but as I posted in another thread, time is a very short commodity for me. So short, that when I was having starter issues over a year ago, I took the old starter out, dismantled it, and have yet found the time to finish it up. Was just easier to replace the starter with a new one earlier this month.

Besides the time constraints, there is the quality angle. I figure a long-time restorer will do a better job than me. Too, I am having temp. gauge problems, and I am not too sure it isn't the gauge. Have replaced both the sending unit and switch on the heads, and the gauge only slightly moves from the hot position. The other gauges work fine. If I send it off to someone who has been doing gauges for a long time, they likely will have an NOS unit in stock if the temp. unit does need replaced, or a working used unit.