53panel: Welcome to the bolt. Hope you enjoy your stay here and decide to be a regular vistor and contribute when you can.
I just went through the guage thing and have my own "opinions". #1)I had already put my reface kit on my speedometer #2)the mileage figures would roll. #3)I had a new speedo needle with it when I took it to the restoration shop. #4) I had also bead blasted the housing and and painted accordingly. Picked it up at the restoration shop and the bill was $140.
Now,be absolutely sure you check ALL the vendors before ordering. I could have bought a rebuilt one from one place for $195 plus a good "core". Another place wanted $95 for a new assembly and you put it in your housing. I wish I had went for the new assemble plus $11 Shipping.
As an example: I recently purchased a set or motor mounts from a place for $85 which was normally $95. After getting them I found that the one I bought them from was purchasing them from another vendor and marking them up $10. So with the discount they were still only the same price I could have bought them from the original vendor....am I making sense here?
BE INFORMED!! Now, as Tiny said, if its originality you want get the original redone.
(can you stand one more example?)
Recently bought a NEW after market Tiawan temp guage for the 52 for $45 plus $11 for shipping. That sure beat the next best price of $74 and exchange. There is not much to some of these guages tiawan or chinese or whatever....however the needle mounted a little different but you cannot tell it once you put the face on.....AND you know what a restoration guy wants to fix a temp guage with the copper tube/ether. $185, so you can see why I spent total of $56.
Check around and decide what YOU want and what you can afford. I don't have deeeep pockets.
