Topic: gauge glass cleaning and gauge housing repair

[wannabridin]

hey guys, i tried the search function, but i have a quick question.

i just took apart my gauges and i plan on restoring them as best as i can.  one has a dent right next to the glass, but the glass isn't cracked or anything.  i would like to clean the glass as best as i can to make them look like new, as i am on a budget...  does anyone have any advice for bringing the glass back to life??  or would i just be better off finding a glass store to cut me some new ones?

thanks a bunch!!  i'll try and post some pics of mine so you can see what i'm working with...

also, for the gauge housing, what do you guys recommend to repair the dent.  it looks like something fell into the gauges a long time ago, and the metal isn't cracked.  it's the upper half of the housings.  again, thanks guys!!

[manjisann]

I can't comment on the glass as I haven't even tried that yet. As for the dent, if it's not too deep I'd just fill it with good body filler and sand to match. If you try pounding it out you may make it worse by making the whole thing outa round. Or if you are dead set on pounding it out, use a nail punch and lightly work it out. The one thing I learned in my limited experience with sheetmetal working, it doesn't take a lot of force to move the metal, and easy does it is king.

Brandon

[wannabridin]

ya, i know i should just take it easy on there, hammering light and steady until the shape is reached.  i don't think body filler would work, as it's a sharp dent and the filler would crack off i'm sure.  what do you guys think about a little heat?  it'll soften the metal up some, and after the repair is made, i can quench it to bring back some of the metal's strength.  i'll be repainting the inside and outside as well

[wannabridin]

ok guys.  here's the pictures of the gauge housing.  the first is from the top, the 2nd from the bottom and the 3rd is a picture of the glass.  i just can't seem to get it THAT clean.  it's clear, but just doesn't look like it should for a restoration like i'm doing!  especially since i'm getting some new overlays that are going to look SO good!!!  any repair advice is appreciated. 

also, what's a good inexpensive way to replace the rubber gasket around the glass?  i've seen someone use a piece of an inner tube?  thanks for the help again guys!!

[wannabridin]

well it's not letting me post multiple pics at a time...  so here we go again

[wannabridin]

and finally....

[wannabridin]

bump?

[firefighter]

Someone told me to just put the glass back on the rubber and glue as needed. I would like to find where I could get new gauge gaskets. There is the one around the glass and the one around the filler. They are old and a little stretched out. Plus what kind of glue should I use?

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