The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors refacing guages

Ok so I am going to reface the gauges on my 49 3100. Can anyone lend me some tips (do's and dont's) or advice. Thanks

if you are using decals get the surface slightly wet before placing the decal. This will allow you to move the decals into the perfect position before it is "set". Most of all take your time!

using the decals work pretty good and a lot less expensive than having someone screen print them. I used the decals on my 37 pickup and after 5 years they still look great. Most all the truck parts catalogs have them listed. Most are on line!

Just don't do something stupid like I did. I
tried to repaint the entire face, includeing the
lettered words describeing each gauge. Came to
find out that none of the kits contain lettering
to replace the old ones. Ended up sending it to
Bowtie Bits. Came out nice though. Cecil.....

The instructions mention painting the gauge surface before installing the decal. Has anyone else done this?

What color did you use? Where did you get your paint.

well I didn't find an exact match so I am going to try something. The color of my speedo gauge is kinda of olive drab the leans toward Brown. So I got some camo paint and if you are on your toes you have already figured out the colors that I bought, olive drab and Brown. I am going to try tomorrow to mix the two and see how it goes.

The decals do work good. A little water to ease setting them and then letting them set 24+ hours to dry. Just use a little plastic squegee to get out most of the water once you have them in place. I repainted the inside "bezels" and faces of the gauges. I went searching and found a spray paint that is REALLY close to the original.
It's "American Accents" by Rust-oleum. The color is "London Gray" No.# 7948. It's a satin. Don't let the color of the cap throw you....I was very pleased with the color. I think I got it at "OSH".

Russntustin what is "OSH"? Thanks for the tip I will look to see if anyone locally has the "american accents" line.

Orchard Supply Hardware, now owned by Sears.

Like a Home depot,Lowes, etc. Anyone who carrys Rust-oleum should have their "American Accents" line of spray paint.

Well I didn't get time to try out my experiment with spray paint mixing. So I will probably get some of the rustoleum just in case.

Thanks for the info!

This is a decal job, including a new speedo needle. Numbers on odometer wheels were changed also......................No, I did not change the mileage reading. I don't alter things like that.
Guage faces were rusty (truck had no door glass for several years) and Sun-faded. Speedo needle was warped and dragged on the glass.
Kit was cheap, obtained from The Filling Station in OR.; But I'm sure other vendors carry the same thing.

[img]http://www.directcon.net/gmc248/truck4.jpg[/img]

Here's my Before: [img]http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/bc/4062087...rument+panel+before.jpg?BCXxYGBBbNxP4KlV[/img]

And After: [img]http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/bc/4062087...trument+Panel+After.jpg?BCXxYGBBydFYedi0[/img]

This was my first guage rebuild and since then, I replaced the speedometer with a NOS unit with zero miles (odometer was already broken anyhow) and replaced the glass with a new one from Jim Carter's with nice & clear lettering.

GMC248 What year is your Truck? I ask because the color scheme on my gauges is different. Dark background with white letter/numbers.

It was a '51 (I sold it 18 months ago).

GMC color scheme...........Chevy used the one you describe.
Some also have an "amber" or almost "orange" guage needles....................1951 was a "changeover" year............only one with turn-down door handles AND vent wing windows in the doors .

Yeah, I miss it.......................

AD/ND is a cool series. I may get another someday. If I don't get a Task Force first!!!!! :p

well I got the London Gray and it is too light. Bummer! Not sure what I am going to do now. I will have to think about it.

Well after a little thought and a trip to one more store. I decided to go with the brown camo paint that I bought. The only thing I did was to mask off the center portion of the gauge cluster (gasolinge, battery, fuel and oil}. I didn't go nuts on this refacing. I left the needles with a little staining on them, some of the center areas of the spedo and gauge cluster have stains. I mean I could have but the budget just wasn't there for the now bezels and time was another issue.

I did however find a useful alternate to the original glass to bezel gasket. The original was a ruberish foam. Well since I was reassembling this Sunday night none of my normal hardware places were open. So off to Lowe's I go. No o rings big enough so I was walking thru the store and there it was. The stuff that you use to hold screens in the frames. I don't even remember what you call it. But I got 25 ft for less then $4! It is just a touch too big .190 size. But my utility knife took care of that. You can get smaller dimensions too.

All in all I am very happy with how the Gauges look. Oh the instruction say to drill out the rivets on the individual gauges(replacement screws are included) but I didn't. I just sprayed water (as recomended) on both the gauge and new sticker and then lined them up. Worked great.

I don't have any pics yet.

My painted gauges...

(London Gray)

I ordered the decals from LMC for my 1950 3100. They group the years for the guages from 1950-1953 as I have noticed a couple other venders do. The seedometer guage decal goes up to 90 but the original only went to 80. If I sent it back and reordered the 47-49 group would I get the correct decals? Anyone else come across this problem?

[img]http://thumb1.webshots.net/t/55/55/6/8/89/2889608890051990781NntKPk_th.jpg[/img]
My gauges.

AD, Beautiful job, especially like the paint on the dash. What paint did you use for that???
Thanks
Jim
oltruck CA

Just a suggestion....when applying decals, add a few drops of regular dish soap to your squirt bottle. It helps to cut the surface tension of the water and makes for an easier install with less tendency to trap air bubbles. Doesn't sound like a big deal but it does make a difference. Hope this helps.

JiMerit, According to Dupont's 1953 Chevrolet Truck Color Bullentin, that interior color is "Sheen Gray Metallic".