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| | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 82 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 82 | Well, finally have gotten the turn signal wiring harness in The Beast (58 stepside) and decided that it was time to tackle a rebuild of the guages. Got the instrument cluster out of the dashboard, disassembled all, cleaned and repainted the face plate, and ordered new facing kits for all of the guages.
Tried to clean the black backing plate for the speedometer assembly and it will need some painting as well to bring it up to snuff. The old paint is simply flaking off.
The million dollar question is how to get the speedometer needle off so I can remove the backing plate and also pull apart the speedo for a good cleaning and lubrication. I don't want to do any damage, but I am afraid to put too much mechanical stress on the speedo assembly.
Anybody out there removed and replaced a speedometer needle on a 55-59 that may have a tip for me?
Second question: Does anyone know what color of green the interior of the instrument cluster case is and where to find it?
Richard
58 3104
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | to get the needle off, carefully hold the shaft w/ a good pair of longnose pliers and pull the needle right at the shaft w/ yer hand - will take some effort, but not enuff to damage anything if you hold the shaft firmly - if you don't pull right at the center the needle will fold up, very thin stuff, tho maybe you ordered a new needle too
the green is just a flat color kinda like the primer that's used on aircraft aluminum [zinc chromate? or is that yellow?]
Bill | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 82 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 82 | Bill,
You are the best. Everytime I run into a problem, you have the right info and pronto to boot. Will try the needle tomorrow.
I think you are right on the color. I have been in a number of aircraft assembly plants and that is the first thing I thought of. Its the same light green color that they use on the interior metal.
I will let you know how I fare with the needle. Hope to meet you one of these days, perhaps in the 2007 Relay?
Richard
58 3104
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | harhar - one of us will hafta do a buncha drivin! I'm on Vancouver Island, only slightly closer to FLA than Buddy in AK  glad to help, and if ya mess it up I can prolly even come up w/ a good speedo from the pile of about 15 gauge sets here yeah I was thinkin USAF planes, but darned if I can remember the right name of the stuff, too many years ago! Bill | | |
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