1940 Pickup Cluster

kirkf

kirkf

Senior Member
Does anyone know what the closest off the shelf color is for the main backplate of the cluster? As you can see from this picture, mine is in pretty rough shape.

I bought the gauge kit from Bob Drake which gives new gauge back plates, but that doesn't cover the main faceplate

I'm assuming its supposed to be some shade of off-white or cream, with black or brown stripes.


Anyone here rebuild theirs? If so I would appreciate any tips you have.


Kirk
 

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Thanks for the info.

This one is definitely in tough shape. It makes a good project to play with while its cold and miserable outside.


Kirk
 
The brown accents on the face plate should be the same color as the back plates. A lot of stuff like that can be silk screened if you can find someone that does that. The corrosion on that thin metal could be problematic.
 
I wonder how Ford did this originally? Did they spray the cream first and then use a stencil to spray the brown stripe on top (or possibly the other way around)

I've got two of these clusters, both are in poor shape. The picture is actually of the better one. Im still looking to see what could be done to replace the numbers on the odometer.

Kirk
 
Anybody know how to repair the odometer numbers? I was thinking maybe Letraset (if that stuff still exists?)

Kirk
 
I forgot to post a picture of the end results for my cluster.

This is it.
The brown gauge faces are reproductions from Drake.
For the cream faceplate I went to a paint shop and had them match the original paint found on the inside of the speedometer.
For the five brown stripes I used a laser printable water slide decal to exactly match the size and colour.
I also used a water slide decal to fix up a few of the numbers on the speedo. I tried buying the reproduction ones but they were incorrect and couldn't be used. (Too big for odometer) I used a Rothman Plain font for the odometer numbers.

Kirk
 

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Excellent job. You might check some of the shops like Bob's Speedometer to see if they have decals for the odometer
 
bead blast plate, repair as necessary-body filler, prime- rust-oleum rusty metal prime #7769830, paint rust-oleum almond #7770830... these are spray can paints.... use brown pin stripe tape for the stripes... you will be happy take your time....tobby
 
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