Painted cluster

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Jun 10, 2007 | 05:55 PM

WA1986F-250

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Painted cluster

I just finished cleaning up and repainting the gauge cluster from my diesel and reinstalled it into my gas truck. I was hoping to make it easier to see in the dark, hence the white background. I haven't found the 194G's around here locally, I may still put those in and remove the blue globes, but I think it looks pretty sharp now. I can't wait to find a tach cluster. I may paint the other one and put it up for sale. Any interest?

Jun 10, 2007 | 05:56 PM

WA1986F-250

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Once it gets dark out, I'll take some more pictures. That'll also help me decide if I want to pursue swapping in some green lights and removing those light robbing globes.

For those who don't know, I'm in the process of redoing the interior and I have progress pictures in my gallery. I'll keep updating. The rear seats will be getting redone soon.

Jun 10, 2007 | 06:31 PM

bob_351

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looks really good. How did you paint the black parts(numbers and symbols)?

Jun 10, 2007 | 06:44 PM

CaptGuz

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From: Cary/Rocky Mount NC

hey... i can't tell what ya painted. did ya paint the black stuff black again or did you just change the faces to white? either way it looks very clean, i'm impressed.

Jun 10, 2007 | 07:05 PM

Dustin1690

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From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan

Wow man that looks fantastic never thought of doing that to a that year of a truck it looks cool

Jun 11, 2007 | 11:04 AM

WA1986F-250

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Quote:

Originally Posted by bob_351

looks really good. How did you paint the black parts(numbers and symbols)?

I carefully painted the black parts with a tiny tipped brush.

Jun 11, 2007 | 11:17 AM

WA1986F-250

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Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptGuz

hey... i can't tell what ya painted. did ya paint the black stuff black again or did you just change the faces to white? either way it looks very clean, i'm impressed.

Thank you for the compliment. I tried to make it look like it could have come that way from the factory. The biggest compliment I get is when people think it is just inserts. Not many people realize how much effort goes into making this.

I took the old cluster and disassembled the entire thing, removing all the individual gauges. After cleaning them, I mask off the needles and internals and spray the background a slightly off-white so that it doesn't look too tacky. Then I go over and carefully paint the lettering and symbols black with a fine brush. I learned from pin striping that you have to have a steady hand to keep lines straight and even. I messed up a little what use to be the gear select, but I doubt anyone will notice. After I finished with the black, I finally painted the needles orange.

It increases visibility of the gauges at night, but it still could be brighter. Reminds me of indiglo gauges. I'm going to take the cluster back out and replace the new clear bulbs with green ones and take out the light robbing globes. It should be alot brighter after that.