refurbishing a 65 gauge cluster

[Nick F.]

I've started working on a 65 gauge cluster that I bought and it was sitting on a shelf for over 25 years, very dusty. I started taking it apart carefully because it included the original wiring harness. One very quick question for now, the metal back piece with the letter stamping & the frame for the gauges has small patches of rust all over it. What's the best method to remove the rust, chemically or bead blasting, and does it get repainted afterwards? Is it merely aluminum color? The color of the opposite side is a very light green, can they be re-sprayed? If so, any code for the paint color?

[Stephen L.]

Re: refurbishing a 65 gauge cluster

If you lightly bead blast it you may not alter the external surface color too badly. I painted mine with a light aqua krylon. Note the date and tag info if they still exist, before you start.

[Russ S.]

Re: refurbishing a 65 gauge cluster

You can not blast the chrome edges and lettering. If you do they will turn dull.

[Stephen L.]

Re: refurbishing a 65 gauge cluster

Russ, I believe Nick was talking about the rear gauge housing, not the front facia. He indicated that the piece was light green on the opposite side.

I totally agree that the facia (face) should not be bead blasted. It is made of potmetal with a flash chrome on it and then black paint over that.

[Dick W.]

Re: refurbishing a 65 gauge cluster

I have used '55 Chevy Seamist? Seafoam? green, flattened to egg shell to paint that piece.

[Russ S.]

Re: refurbishing a 65 gauge cluster

Russ, I believe Nick was talking about the rear gauge housing, not the front facia. He indicated that the piece was light green on the opposite side.

I totally agree that the facia (face) should not be bead blasted. It is made of potmetal with a flash chrome on it and then black paint over that.

Steve, After re-reading his post you are right. Thanks for the correction.RS

[Nick F.]

Re: refurbishing a 65 gauge cluster

On the metal glass holder inside the main cluster, the inside is painted (coated?) with a dark green color and then shades of light green at various parts of each smaller gauge (water, oil, fuel, amp). Anyone know which paint or how it was applied? I'm assuming it was sprayed at one point with aqua or light green, then a mask was applied to paint the darker green for reflective purposes. I'm only making an assumption and seeing if I'm going in the right direction to repaint that piece.
Guys, I appreciate the responses, that's what's so great about this discussion board, live & learn.

[Stephen L.]

Re: refurbishing a 65 gauge cluster

The photos show the paint scheme I used on my 67, trying to duplicate the original colors.

[Nick F.]

Re: refurbishing a 65 gauge cluster

The photos show the paint scheme I used on my 67, trying to duplicate the original colors.

Stephen, do you remember what type of paint and any code number or name for it? Parts look great, very professional looking.
Thanks for the pictures.

Also, how did you paint the front of the dash cluster and get the chrome looking so good?

[Stephen L.]

Re: refurbishing a 65 gauge cluster

Nick, To paint the front (black) I masked some of the easy stuff, sprayed the entire front with black satin krylon, let it dry, and then cleaned off the lettering etc with 0000 steel wool. Paint came off easily when only a few hours old.

I don't recall the paint used; probably a "forest green" and a "light aqua". I just went to Walmart or a hardware store and selected a color close to the original

[Russ S.]

Re: refurbishing a 65 gauge cluster

Nick, The way I refinished my cluster face was to spray the entire front without any masking. Let it dry approx.10-12 minutes or until flashed well then use a paper towel with a small amount of laquer thinner on it and carefully wipe the areas that are finished in chrome and the lettering. This worked really well and you don't take the chance of removing chrome especially on the lettering.