Classic Instruments & Gauges

Can I Refurbish My Classic Car Gauge Myself?

Depending on your skills and expertise, maybe. The main steps in refurbishing a classic gauge are:

• Disassembly, taking great care not to damage or destroy any components, as they are nearly impossible to replace
• Cleaning and restoring gauge faces, needles (a/k/a pointers), and various bezels
• Restoration can include anything from simply buffing away some plastic lens scratches to re-chroming a piece of metal or repairing rust and then repainting
• Each type of instrument/gauge is a little different, so you'll need to do some research before attempting repairs. Older speedometers may have a gear that needs repacked or even replaced, for example, whereas an older temperature gauge may use something called a Bourdon tube that's surprisingly complex.
• Of course, you'll need tools, patience, and skill with a soldering iron

For the right enthusiast, gauge refurbishment might be fun. But for most people, time is better spent working on a part of the vehicle that isn't as complex or challenging to work on an old gauge. Not to mention, professional restoration just isn't that costly.

Can You Buy Classic Car Gauges As Part of An Entire Cluster?

Typically, there's no way to buy all original gauges restored and refurbished as a set. They are often sold individually, and in many cases, restored gauges are not offered simply because modern replacements are more effective and far less expensive. There are also brand new screen-based gauges that - while expensive - have lots of cool extras (only they don't look original at all).

Here at ISS, we can rebuild and/or replace any number of older gauges. So, if you're looking for someone to fix up an entire cluster, be sure to contact us. We may be able to work on the entire unit for you.

What Is An Instrument Gauge Wiring Harness?

An instrument gauge wiring harness is a lot like it sounds. It’s a collection of wires that connect the gauges to the electrical system of your vehicle. On older vehicles, the wire harness isn't the same as you'd find on a newer vehicle, where everything is color-coded and can be plugged or clipped together. Many older wire harnesses will have corrosion issues, inline fuses, soldered connections, replacement wiring that's not sized properly (someone did a quick repair at some point), and very often grounding issues.

If you're looking to fix/replace an older wiring harness, you may be able to buy an entire kit (which is quite a bit of work to install) or you can test/repair the harness you have. With a good testing process, repairs are usually the way to go. But if you're not familiar with how older vehicle electrical systems work, or if you overlook some aspect of the testing process, it could be a frustrating project.

NOTE: You can learn more about faulty wiring harnesses in this article on the ISS Automotive blog. It's not necessarily for classic vehicles, but there's some good info in there.

Why Is My Gauge Not Working?

There can be several reasons why a gauge stops working...corrosion, ground issues, overheated wiring (common on older vehicles that have newer alternators/ignition systems), a mechanical or electrical failure in the gauge itself, a blown fuse, dirt/debris (older gauges and gauge clusters aren't exactly airtight), etc. It's hard to know without testing.