The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors '49 chevy gauge background color ?

Trying to save a buck I bought a cheap aftermarket volt gauge at a swapmeet, popped it apart and have the guts mounted to the background (?) of what WAS the amp gauge . BUT , I already have a new repro fuel gauge and speedometer - I need to repaint the background part to make it match the fuel gauge . What color - or where can I get it - its sort of a olive drab with a little brown tint to it . Also , I just noticed (after driving it like this for 4-5 years now) that the Speedometer background doesn't match the fuel gauge either - it's Grey !

To get all the gauge face colors to match you might want to resurface them with new decals, even the new gauges.
http://www.americanclassic.com/images/SP175.jpg

If your referring to the bezel color I used a krylon rattle can paint. Not an exact match but I painted the entire bezel
http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/ProductDetails.aspx?SKU=17220

Here's Woodys tip on gauge restoration,   He offers dry transfers. 
http://www.pbase.com/czechman/instruments
Good luck

I can't do the decal route because the only decal that I'v seen anyone has is for a amp meter , I switched the guts out and now its a volt meter . I can do the white lettering with dry transfer lettering from a hobby shop - just cant find a match for the background color .

Pretty interesting 
Will the volt meter your using have the same needle sweep?

Will the needle match?

Will it fit in the original housing? Or are you going to have to modify it?

I've thought about doing the same thing. 

If your successful post some pics and instructions. 

I would just probably still use the amp decal and just note the needle position or have someone scan the decal and change the lettering. But this project is down the road for me

I don't know a color match for Gage  face, maybe someone will chime in on that
Good luck  and keep us posted on your project

Yea the sweep of the needle is the same as is the shape of the needle . My fuel gauge is orange but I can change that to white pretty easily . I drilled out the mini rivits on the original amp gauge to remove the background piece . The round background on the aftermarket volt gauge had mini screws and I just had to enlongate the original backer to let it mount together . I Still have to adjust the holes on back of the '49 gauge "pan" so the new studs will line up ok . Can't do much more until I get the color right though .

Bears38,I have all of the gauges,and the speedometer,they are used but still in good shape.If you are interested,I will get some pictures for you. The speedometer is missing the needle. My email is Wdavis14@woh.rr.com,Thanks.

PM,sent

I went to a hobbyshop and found a color match for the background color - Khaki Drab . the brand I got is Tamiya and its acrylic , I even brushed it on (didn't feel like messing with my old airbrush) Smoothed out nicely . The hobbyshop also had some white numbers in their Dry Transfer section , will pick them up next time I get there .