Hey all, few questions about Camaro gauges:

1. Can the needles be removed? I have an 84 Camaro with the all round gauges.

2. Has anyone painted theirs before? I'd like to do mine in a bright orange tranlucent paint and a white gauge face.

3. How do I remove the Gauges? Can I just take off the top dash and unbolt them and pull up? Or is there anything I need to know before taking them out?

Thanks for the help!

 

1. Yes, but but since they're over 20 years old, the plastic may break. Also, recalibration might be a PITA.

2. Try a search. It's been done.

3. Check the following link for some info:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/faq-...-fix-pics.html

JamesC

 

thanks for the good info.......

 

Yes, definitely, thanks!

 

I've found all the needles easy to remove except for the speedo. Pry very gently on the sleeve that goes over the pin that the needle rotates around and they should slip off. The pin for the speedo is very thin. I have never gotten the needle off a thirdgen speedo without breaking that pin. Ruined 3 speedo's so far.

 

DO NOT PRY ON THE NEEDLE !!!!

Try this !!

Speedo needles are pretty easy to take off. If your going to remove the needle than start the job the right way - with the speedometer REMOVED from the cluster. Once the speedo is in your hand; then worry about the needle.

First - look at the bottom of the speedo and make a mark ( reference point) on the circular piece of metal (inside the speedo ) to indicate where about's the needle in located on the speedo face.



Second - Use electrical tape to tape the circular metal to the frame of the speedometer. start by using the line as a mark and press firmly on the circular metal, then move the needle against the "set" pin on the face and then press the tape to the speedo body. Place tape on both sides ( preference ) Electrical tape is good because it's flexible, leaves no residue, and sticks good.



Next, hold the circular metal firmly with one hand and turn the speedo needle away from the set pin on the face with the other hand.



Then turn the needle back and forth while pulling up and it will come right off. * Turn the beadle from the Black part - NOT the end of the needle !



Make your mods, reassemble by lining up the needle with the set pin,. Hold the circular metal with one hand while pushing and turning the needle till it's properly seated.



Remove tape.



Do yourself a favor and check the speedo accuracy before completely re-installing the cluster. It may be off a little even after the careful steps taken to keep it properly adjusted.


P.S. don't try sticking a different face on the gauge !! That will NOT work !!! The ONLY time this will work is when the SAME exact type of face is used. ( Example - an 85 MPH gauge face replaced with an 86 MPH gauge face WITH an tripodometer. ) You can't stick a 115 MPH face on an 85 MPH Speedo !

 

Hey John in RI, where were ya when I needed ya.

You could have saved me some money on Ebay shipping these damn things up from the US. Never did get around to fixing the buzzing noise in my speedo. Nice post. Great pics. I wish there were more posts on here like that. You took the time to share the knowledge. Thanks.

 

I can recall the first time I messed around with one of these things....... I ruined a few speedo's over the years by trying to repair busted trip odometers.

With the help of the guys on this site I was learn enough where I can now re-set the odometer & repair the trip ometer to any Camaro 82-90 speedo. I have also re-set the odometer on a firebird cluster back to ZERO. ( that took a long time - I used a drill ! )

This knowlege had been helpfull to me as the original mileage is shown in the odometer of my car - even though the speedometer is not the same. ( Upgraded from 85 to 115. ) The tripometer was also not present in the original set-up but functions proerly now.

The short of it is: it took about 15 minutes to write out the post, take and upload the pics, and put the cluster back together. That little bit of time may save countless people from busting off thier speedo needes when trying to repair or modify thiers !!

novatuc Sorry the post wan't soon enough for you !!! Maybe next time !!

 

Interesting info.

JamesC

 

You don't have to remove the neeles to paint them. I did mine with no problems.

 

did you just tape off the gauges and spray them? does the back side of the needle show?

 

Used a small brush and model airplane paint. Don't make a simple project into one about removing the gage cluster or the needles. Use the KISS principle. It took me less then one hour to paint the needles & install the ovelays. Hardest part was removing the 8 or 10 toxx screws from instrurment panel.

 

See attachments for pictures !!!!

Top Down will now equal Left-to-right !

 

Here's the last 3 !

 

Those of you who provided pictures of painted needles while on the speedometer, did you just paint over the needle, or did you actually paint the underside.

 

I just painted the top of the needle that shows. Why waste the effort on the underside?? Dumb.