best way to clean an instrument cluster

[Bryan_Tenn]

I just got the cluster out of my '72 longbed shop truck project. It looks good as far as the internals, needles are still orange, black on the guages isn't faded, printed circuit looks great.

when I disassemble it, what is the best way to clean the plastic cluster housing? The clearcoat came off the woodgrain easily, but the woodgrain sticker itself is STUCK on both sided. I would like to strip it down to the bare plastic & start from scratch, maybe paint it black & argent & I'm doing away with the woodgrain.

I've never liked woodgrain in an interior on anything except my old 70 Mach I, it looks great on them.

I know you guys have done this so what do you suggest? I would love to put a F600 bezel in it, but I am electrically challenged looks like a lot of electrical nightmare.

There's a guy who lives close to me who has a 73-79 graveyard all of trucks he bought new & parked when he bought a new one. I got the inner fenders, rad support, & disc brake setup off of one. He has 3 big trucks all with nice clusters but he doesn't want to sale them. They've been sitting for 20+ yrs but he says they'll still start so he doesn't want them messed with

Another guy a mile from me has a F600 cab been sitting in his yard for years. His yard looks like a junkyard but strictly in the import business, no export!!! I guess that's why his yard looks the way it does. I'm in the mower repair/sales business & he has TONS of small engine stuff just sitting but trying to get something from him is like pulling teeth out of a jaguar on meth so I don't even want to think about asking him about the cluster.

[duaneo]

Reproduction bezels are available, but they're not cheap. You can replace the lens for ~$20 which seems worth it to me.

If you're looking for something different, I'd say sand it smooth, and spray it with a plastic enamel in the color of your choice. If you're good with tape, spray it a couple of times, and be sure to post pictures.

Good luck!

Cheers,
Duane

[Bryan_Tenn]

what would be good to soak it in to get that woodgrain sticker to turn loose?

The bezel itself is in great shape & the lens is too. I just want rid of the woodgrain & it needs painted

[duaneo]

I dunno. I guess I'd try water first. Then maybe acetone? Goof-off?

Cheers,
Duane

[Bryan_Tenn]

ok, i was just afraid to use something that might eat the plastic some. Acetone can be pretty rough on certain things, especially on 40+ year old plastic. But it should be ok & bring just the paint off

[69Ford]

Don't use anything on the gauges the numbers and letters will come off especially Windex. Take a guess on how I know this.

[fordman]

I washed mine. Then took fine steel wool and scuffed it all up. I then repainted it cheome silver. I havent repainted the black parts yet.