VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 41 speedometer/clock gauge face restoration update

Over the last year or so I have posted a question several times asking if anyone knows how to restore 41 speedometer and clock faces to recreate the original, tinted, gold/bronze color in the center that fades over time. I have received lots of suggestions on where to inquire (tech experts, restoration folks, decals from COT40s, etc.) but none have panned out as yet. That said, the guy helping with my 41 restoration recently experimented by air brushing a thinned-down color mixture that he created by trial and error. We first tried it on aluminum; then on an old mangled face that I had lying around. I am happy to report that he came pretty close to matching an NOS clock I have that has the original color.

So...we now know "how" to do it. What we need now is the proper paint specifications. Hopefully, this post might shed some light on that question, because the cost of automotive paint is too high to do a lot of experimentation. We took a color chart to an auto paint store and were charged $40 for a half-pint mixture that did not even come close. Not going to go down that road again.

Thanks to all who have responded before on this issue.

You might try a hobby shop as they will have tiny containers of enamel paint. They do a lot of airbrushing on model planes etc so I doubt they use the automotive suppliers for paint.

Hello Don.

I'm restoring a 1940 Chevrolet Master Deluxe Sport Sedan to original condition. Although it's quite different than your 41, there are similarities. I contact Mike Buller at least once a week to visit him and ask a few questions about things. He has many great posts on the common problems we encounter on these vintage Chevrolets. This is a great site to help you in a successful restoration.

I rebuilt my speedometer/odometer by going to the www.stovebolt.com site. Under Tech Tips, I found many great sources of information. Although it's for trucks, a lot of the parts and assemblies are the same or at least close to the same.

I understand your main problem is with paint. Can't help you there, but as far as technical/mechanical problems, the stovebolt site, this site, tech tips on www.fillingstation.com, and of course the service manual on the 1941 should also help.

I recently sent my fuel gauge off (core) for another 1940 gauge. I sent it to www.bowtiebits.com. Excellent work and very fair price. New gauge works like a charm. When you install a new gas gauge, make extra sure the back of the fuel gauge (area between 2 poles is a copper plate) contacts bare metal! It must ground to the metal or it won't work. Ask me how I know this. I painted my instrument cluster and paint doesn't conduct electricity!! My gauge was acting completely weird-read empty and then when I raised the fuel tank float on sending unit, it would read even lower. Ground problem. Removed paint and works like a charm.

This first site listed below may help you with your paint problem.

https://www.clocksandgauges.com/speedometer-repair.html

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/gauges/speedometer/index.html

http://www.bowtiebits.com/index.cfm

Good luck!

Curt

Thanks, Curt. I should put you and Mike in my will. You guy s have been incredibly helpful.

Good luck with your 40. That was also a very good looking car.