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Gauge Restoration

Cuda360-4

Cuda360-4

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Can anyone recommend a gauge restoration company? The only thing I found online was lists of companies that do restoration, but I did not see anything on forums on whether they were any good. My friend used a well known company and said he had a terrible time with them. I don't want to send my cluster to someone and wonder if and when I will get it back. I have a rally cluster from a 1970 'Cuda. The speedometer needle is snaped off and the stub that is left bounces up and down. The clock also stopped working. But it's just kinda ugly from age. I already replaced the "simulated wood grain."

61472270799__B4D362EC-2824-4F44-A597-F05C13D11ED0.JPG
 
Cuda360-4 said:
Can anyone recommend a gauge restoration company? The only thing I found online was lists of companies that do restoration, but I did not see anything on forums on whether they were any good. My friend used a well known company and said he had a terrible time with them. I don't want to send my cluster to someone and wonder if and when I will get it back. I have a rally cluster from a 1970 'Cuda. The speedometer needle is snaped off and the stub that is left bounces up and down. The clock also stopped working. But it's just kinda ugly from age. I already replaced the "simulated wood grain."

View attachment 133883
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.instrument-specialties.com
Upgrades and quartz conversions
 
pschlosser said:
it will cost big $$$$, four-figures easy, if doing the majority of gauges.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I thought about getting the Dakota gauges, but since I have originals I want to use them. I have been working on this car for more than 40 years and I always fix the worst thing as it asymptotically approaches perfection. Luckily, I’m no longer 30 (ok. Maybe that part is not great) and worried about a budget. That is why I worked and continue to do so, but also I still smart from not buying that 340 block I could have got for $100 back then. It was too much money. 💰 Today I just want the car to be right, so I get what I want - and is not like the Dakota gauges are cheap. It’s one of the last things that aren’t perfect on the car. Till I think of something else….
 
Another option is to redo it yourself. There's DIY kits for the tach and clock. There's also glue on needles for the speedo, which the resto places would probably use anyway.
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The 4 pod gauges can be easily tested and bought if need be. Speaking of which, OER sells tachs and speedometers if DIY isn't your thing.

Either route should/would be cheaper than that $2500.00 price tag.
 
EW1BH27 said:
Another option is to redo it yourself. There's DIY kits for the tach and clock. There's also glue on needles for the speedo, which the resto places would probably use anyway.
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The 4 pod gauges can be easily tested and bought if need be. Speaking of which, OER sells tachs and speedometers if DIY isn't your thing.

Either route should/would be cheaper than that $2500.00 price tag.
Click to expand...
Thank you. The tach is good. I had it refurbished back in the 90s. My problem is neither the clock or the speedometer work. Another of my hobbies is antique furniture, including clocks. While I have only repaired 19th century mechanical clocks, I may be able to figure out this clock, but I don’t know about the speedometer. I bought a reproduction for $400 and it looks great, but it broke after about a month: same needle jumping up and down issue. But, I have the needle from it. That is what is in the picture. Notice the needle is a slightly different color.

But, I changed the cluster myself back in the 80s after my mechanic said it couldn’t be done. Maybe I am better off trying it myself. It might be fun. Maybe just send out the original speedometer to get fixed.
 
Cuda360-4 said:
Thank you. The tach is good. I had it refurbished back in the 90s. My problem is neither the clock or the speedometer work. Another of my hobbies is antique furniture, including clocks. While I have only repaired 19th century mechanical clocks, I may be able to figure out this clock, but I don’t know about the speedometer. I bought a reproduction for $400 and it looks great, but it broke after about a month: same needle jumping up and down issue. But, I have the needle from it. That is what is in the picture. Notice the needle is a slightly different color.

But, I changed the cluster myself back in the 80s after my mechanic said it couldn’t be done. Maybe I am better off trying it myself. It might be fun. Maybe just send out the original speedometer to get fixed.
Click to expand...
Have you checked the speedo cable? Maybe the inner shaft is just sticking and needs cleaning/lubrication.
 
moparlee beat me to it. If you don’t do something with that speedo cable the needle will continue to jump around and break again. Clean and lube your original or get a new one and lube that.

I’ve converted 3 clocks with the R3035 kit. That movement doesn’t “tick”, rather the second hand is a continuous sweep. The instructions that come with it are crap. If you go that route PM me, I have a detailed installation PDF for the R3035 kit.

You can repaint all the needles to look the same. Mr. Heaterbox up here in Canada recommended Model Master Flourescent Red FS28915. It’s not exact, a bit brighter, but at least they’d all look the same.
 
Last edited:
moparlee said:
Have you checked the speedo cable? Maybe the inner shaft is just sticking and needs cleaning/lubrication.
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Yes, that was the first thing I did when it was jumping around. First I lubricated it, then I replaced it and had the same problem. But thank you for bringing it up. Who knows, it may be twisted or something. It's definitely worth a try.
 
EW1BH27 said:
moparlee beat me to it. If you don’t do something with that speedo cable the needle will continue to jump around and break again. Clean and lube your original or get a new one and lube that.

I’ve converted 3 clocks with the R3035 kit. That movement doesn’t “tick”, rather the second hand is a continuous sweep. The instructions that come with it are crap. If you go that route PM me, I have a detailed installation PDF for the R3035 kit.

You can repaint all the needles to look the same. Mr. Heaterbox up here in Canada recommended Model Master Flourescent Red FS28915. It’s not exact, a bit brighter, but at least they’d all look the same.
Click to expand...
That sounds great. I will do that.
 
i agree, Instrument Specialties is the best. You can also buy the parts and do your own repairs if you want to save some money and time. Thy also have resources on their website to help you diagnose, repair, and calibrate! Great people to deal with.
 
I didn’t have good experience with Instrument Specialties. No problem with their price, just the results and communication.
 
It's probably been close to 10 years since I had my Rallye cluster restored. If I recall, the company that did mine was based out of Arizona. I bought the cluster at Carlisle and the company had a booth there so I left it with them. They did a decent job but I'm not sure if they are even in business anymore. Does anyone remember a company that restored gauges out of Arizona?
 
SteveLTCuda said:
Instrument Specialities Inc Rhode Island. Not your low cost vendor, but they do outstanding work.
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Rons340 said:
i agree, Instrument Specialties is the best. You can also buy the parts and do your own repairs if you want to save some money and time. Thy also have resources on their website to help you diagnose, repair, and calibrate! Great people to deal with.
Click to expand...
If you read the whole thread, you'll see that the OP has already ruled them out due to issues his friend had with them.
 
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