You also have other options:
* Cut a big hole in your dash for a modern $200+ instrumentation panel and buy individual modern gauges to fit the holes. This is the least favorable solution with the Stovebolt members.
* Buy a new reproduction 1949-53 Chevy truck gauge with white needle and try to swap the gauge faces. Can be difficult.
* Buy a new low cost mechanical water temperature gauge and use the parts to fix your broken gauge. This can be very difficult to do.
Personally I would worry more about fixing/restoring the more important parts of your truck first then deal with the gauges later.
You can go to a local parts store and buy lower cost gauges and use them as a temporary solution.
I reused my temporary gauges on a homemade engine stand.
