The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Need a source for Instrument cluster decals (AD)

Does anyone know of a source for these four decals circled in red?
PICTURE

Check with LMC. page 30 You might give tehm a call and see if those decals are included.

LMC's set looks just like the 47-51 Chevy Truck gauge set sold by other vendors.

Maybe someone who has restored their own 47-53 gauges will comment on how they restored those words?

None of those vinyl stickers have those markings. The problem is that the bezel is not the same color and if you used something like that the edge would show anyway. In order to do this right you's have to screen print it.

While were on the subject does anyone know of an off-the-shelf color for that bezel?

It would probably be cheaper to just purchase another gauge cluster housing on E-bay, or somewhere else that is in good condition rather than trying to restore yours. I paid about $25 for one that included all the gauges including a working temperature gauge.

I used a paint I found at my local auto parts store.

KRYLON camouflage ultra flat brown #4292

Its not an exact match but worked well for me.

Woody, I will have to see what I used but it was pretty dang close after it was all back together. These have faded over the years so a direct hit would be hard..... The little pink looking center plate is a toss up....luckily mine was OK.

On the lettering you circled. Do you know someone who has a vinyl cutting computerized gizmo?? I have a friend at church who's wife has one and can cut decal vinyl stuff pretty good. I didn't need the lettering but if I did I was going to give here the piece and see if she could duplicate it.... which I think would be easy as its block lettering.
D&M Restorations over in Greenville, has done work for me many times but never the screen printing. They can do it but I'm sure its not cheap!

If I can help let me know.

Stay tuned to this thread because I think I may have something that will do the job.

I'm tuned in. I have my rabbit ears toward N.C.

Hi Woody. I buy the clusters at swap meets when they are cheap. I will check my box to see if I have a good face. Do you need black? Would that help or are you into something special?

Dennis, The problem has been resolved and I'll post an update within a week. Thanks for the offer of help. I really appreciate it.

No problem. I have a bunch of the clusters. I pick them up for less that $5 at swap meets. Unfortunately, all the good parts would only make one good pair.

I like swap meets

....Woody, I still have my rabbit ears tuned in to N.C.

EDIT: I'm going to guess you made a stencil??... and will rent/lease it out.

You putting a colored face in that truck? Nice

No blaspheming please.

You goofball. I meant on the gauge cluster. LOL

Just to clear the air in case there is any (ahem) misunderstanding.

You asked if I was going to put a colored face in the truck. I knew you meant a color like blue or red or chartreuse, etc. on the instrument bezel. My response about blaspheming was meant to let you know that any color other than original was blasphemy.

Everyone clear on this now?

Sorry to all if there is any misunderstanding. it was all meant in fun.

HERE'S what I did. Feedback is welcome.

Absolutely great looking. Factory quality

already placed my order for two sets

two questions
Do you have to spray any clear over the transfer?

Also have you (or any other stovebolter out there) found a match for the pink , clay color in the center?

Thanks for setting up this transfer

Clear it's optional and serves no purpose other than aesthetic. There are no known incompatibilities with clears but Archer does sell primarily to the hobby market so just to be safe, test any clear.

I know of no off-the-shelf color that matches the center.

Woody,
All I can say is AWESOME. Pm Sent.


Edit: Woody, you know how Manufacturers like to use what they have, or have used in the past so as I was thinking about the center color I think it looks a lot like the body color, and inside, on a 58 Chevy car. You remember that pink looking color?
Maybe its the same?
Its just food for thought. Luckily mine was pretty good.

Woody,

I just ordered two sets myself. That is awesome! I know there was a guy a long time back who was looking at setting up to screen print gauge faces rather than to use the decals but i guess nothing ever came of it.

Only people on this forum know about these so please give me some feedback. Tell me what you like, what you don't like and feel free to offer suggestions. If these are well received I'll consider doing them for the individual instruments and speedometers for both GMC and Chevy.

Woody,

I ordered a pair last night. And won't be using them as soon as they arrive as I have a while before I get to restoring my gauges. But...anything has to be easier than trying to get those water transfer decals installed! I've applied plenty of them and they are a challenge.

Woody,

Those are beautiful. Would you consider making letters for another application (CHEVROLET for 1954/55 truck dash)?

If they are applied to an exposed area they would need to be coated with clear to protect them from any abrasion.

Can you post a photo of what you mean?

Woody,

The painted letters are recessed into the dash .

Dry transfers wouldn't work well for that... it would be next to impossible to position them.

I have placed and order for two sets last night, thanks for the tip.Great pictures, and the finish looks like the original.
Just what I need to complete a refurb on my 1948 Coe.
Is this how the factory would have done it or were they stencilled?
Thanks again

Kelvin

They were SCREEN PRINTED, which is a process which applies a coat of paint through a fine mesh screen. Dry transfers are a coat of paint with a pressure sensitive adhesive which yields the closest possible duplication of that process without the expense.

kelvin, I believe the originals were screen printed on but not 100% positive.

Screen printing was used to print instrument panels well into the 70s when I was in Detroit building prototype automobile parts for Ford and Chrysler. Formed instrument panels, and individual instruments like in our trucks are printed prior to forming.

I don't know how it's done today.

Woody
Is Archer looking into developing transfers for any other parts?
ie. Speedometer face.
I realize the stickers are readily available, just wondering if paint and transfer would replicate original appearance better.
Thanks

Yes, I would like to offer transfers for both the Chevy and GMC instruments and speedometers but I don't want to use the existing vinyl stickers as templates because of copyright laws and the inevitable errors most aftermarket graphics contain.

The right way to do this is to work from originals that are still good enough to see the lettering somewhat clearly, so I would have to procure/borrow the instruments to copy from.

The speedometers are simple but the individual instruments would have to be disassembled so the face can be cleaned and painted. Re-assembly would be somewhat simple with screws but the problem here is purists would want to re-assemble with rivets so I'd have to include both rivets and screws which seems extremely nit-picky because you can't see the fasteners once the instruments are installed, only the speedometer but it's originally assembled with screws anyway.

Now all I have to do is find time and samples to work from.

PS... Also considering offering them in different colors so guys could customize their instruments.

Hi Woody

I ordered two sets of decals on 13/06, and recieved them in the U.K. this morning. The service was excellent and I would just like to say Thanks for a great product. This will make a very hard job simple, and will make any gauge refurb, that much better!
Once again Thanks

Kelvin

I would love these same transfers but in the GMC maroon colour. Otherwise it would be the same I believe.

I'll add, upon checking, that my original GMC face says AMPERES, instead of battery...hm.

Any chance of producing this?

78chev,

I just bought a box of junk gauges, clusters and speedometers. If a GMC isn't in that lot I'll get back to you and see what we can work out.

Like I said, I want to do them all but it takes time.

Sounds good, thanks for the reply! Let us know of your progress.

They look great in the pictures by the way.