CK5
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Frankenburb the 1978? 1984? Suburban

Not sure the best one, I've just used Wd-40 and white lithium, we use some stuff at work call open gear lube that would prob be ok too. I like the white lithium stuff for hinges and stuff because it sprays in easily and then kinda sets up to a grease. Just spray all the pivot points on the hinges once in a while so you don't get any extra resistance. You will notice a difference.
 
I've been mocking up my grille/brush guard build the last few days. Right now it's made out of pvc pipe and cardboard. I think the 3/4" pipe looks to be the correct size. The upright portion that bolts to the middle part is just an approximation of what the original looks like, in the end it won't matter too much how it looks. The "bends"on the corners are also sharper than an original, but I'm constrained by the material I'm using. Now that I've got the form in cardboard cut out I can transfer it to wood to continue the mock-up before transferring to metal.

(Sorry for the picture quality, the sun was right over the roof, I was using my other truck to do the mock-up)

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Since I can't concentrate on one thing at a time I took one of my over head consoles and cut out the section for my CB. Still need to make some adjustments, but I like how it turned out. The last picture is from driver's POV.
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I need to fine tune the mount some still. I'm going to make a filler for the open cavity left in front of the radio. I'll probably add switches for lights or other things on the filler panel.
 
The font changed in 1980. I would get a 1980+ cluster if you are going to use that tach.

Martin
 
Think they changed sometime after 80. Pretty sure my 80 has that blue on the inside. Maybe I should go look...
 
Anyone know what font they used in the earlier gauges? My sister has one of those fancy vinyl cutting machines. Maybe I could make a mask and just repaint them.
 
This is what my 80 looks like. If it helps..

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I've got several clusters lying around. Until you started asking questions, I never took the time to look. It's subtle but obvious when you lay them all out...
 
Still curious if anyone knows if that font is available anywhere. I've seen some companies online that refurbish gauges and say they put all new markings on them, so it must exist.

After I got off work yesterday morning I stopped by Harbor Freight since it was on the way and had just opened. I was wandering around the store when I found universal tow hooks. I thought they looked an awful lot like the ones you could get on the grille guard so I bought two. Came home and sure enough they fit perfect. Then I realized they made the grille guard look like crap so I stripped it and repainted it (Eastwood extreme chassis black). Looks much better!

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https://www.amazon.com/Jtech-2825-White-Lights-Bulb/dp/B00877SL2M

These are the ones I've used in multiple 90's fords and in my '78. Super cheap and last very well. I actually just had a spare set i ordered show in the mail last week. I like to have some in stock.

Oh and while you're on Amazon order yourself an NV4500 shifter, they're only $50:deal:
 
Try getting ahold of @mrk5 if memory serves he did a tach overlay for someone so their aftermarket tach had a factory font/look to it. He can probablly help you out. I can't remember who's build it was sadly.
 
I don't remember who it was either. I takes some good measurements. I need diameter of the face, length of the needle from axis to tip, and where the RPM marks are around the circumference.
 
I don't remember who it was either. I takes some good measurements. I need diameter of the face, length of the needle from axis to tip, and where the RPM marks are around the circumference.

I'll get you the info when I get the gauge. Glad to hear you can do it @mrk5 . Do you happen to know the font? I'm still curious to see if my sister's little vinyl cutting thing would work, I've got some gauges that the markings faded off I want to experiment on.
 
Microstyle or Microgramma are real close. The "1" isn't quite there but it's not hard to modify a single number.

microgramma_bold_extended_characters_89988.gif
 
I didn't read back that far but I see looking further back you are trying to avoid matching the 80s gauges. I don't know the 70s font; it doesn't look like anything I recognize. I'm also more familiar with letters than numbers.
 

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