Gauge Cluster Teardown and Rebuild - Beware, Pic Heavy!

[Beercelo]

Yeah new thing on mine, I changed all my bulbs from 194 to 168 and I did have to kinda shove a few of them in there, now none of them light up except for when I activate and de-activate my alarm, and also now the fog lights in my front bumper go on when I hit the brakes.

 

[84GMCSierra]

That is where I stand now. Both of them tore apart ready to be put back together as one good cluster. Things I need to do before putting it back together….

-Hook up tach and see if it works.

-Paint housing. I was thinking of painting the housing white for better refraction of the bulbs. Those that have done this, did you use a glossy white, or satin/flat white?

-Paint metal trim piece. Going to sand and repaint the front black. The backside I am going to paint the same white as the housing, for the same reason.

-Undecided as to what to do with the gauge faces. I thought about deviating from stock, but not going white. I was thinking maybe a stainless face color? Or maybe green to try and match the rest of the interior? Stay stock?

-Paint needles all the same color. OCD, nuff said.

-Decide on bulbs. I know what your going to say…. LED. Maybe, still exploring options.

I used gloss white. Also did my taillight backing plates. Bought 2 new and they were black.

 

[bassworm]

That’s a great thread great job, this is one of our first projects, I’m thinking of doing all new wiring also

 

[hoagster]

Awesome write up @Green79Scottsdale and @twojoe have a question about the needles that screw off left or right hand thread. Also if anyone knows what color paint the needles take to restore them. I also want to add the 3m headlight restore kit makes the clear plastic gauge cluster look almost like new

 

[Gander]

Awesome write up @Green79Scottsdale and @twojoe have a question about the needles that screw off left or right hand thread. Also if anyone knows what color paint the needles take to restore them. I also want to add the 3m headlight restore kit makes the clear plastic gauge cluster look almost like new

I don't know about the rest but I used Testor's fluorescent orange and a very fine brush. Got both at Michael's Arts & Crafts.