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Forane
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2011
Posts: 22
Location: Central, FL
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 Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2021 2:01 pm Post subject: Gauge Restoration Advice |
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Hey guys,
I have strayed off of the various Porsche forums to see if I can obtain some additional advice from you guys. I am in the process of switching out my incandescent bulbs in my early 1957 T1 Porsche 356A w to the colored LED version. While at it, the plastic/celluloid coverings indicating a green versus red light have gotten so old that they both have become sort of a orangish color. Any ideas where I can find or make replacements? It appears that the colored plastic is just taped in place. I queried different Porsche forums and no one knew of any source. What sources have those of you that have restored the gauges use? I also posted this in the oval forum.
Thank you guys for the advice and knowledge.
J
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KTPhil 
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Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 34022
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2021 3:04 pm Post subject: Re: Gauge Restoration Advice |
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The usual recommendation for the cels in the VW speedos is to use translucent colored notebook tabs from the stationary store, and scuff them so they are matte, not smooth, in order to scatter the light more like the originals. They would not protrude like your originals, but they will function.
North Hollywood Speedometer rebuilds many types of gauges, maybe they have a better solution?
https://www.nhspeedometer.com |
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otahuhu
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Joined: July 15, 2007
Posts: 561
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finster
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Joined: May 26, 2012
Posts: 7951
Location: north o' the border
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| Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2021 3:05 am Post subject: Re: Gauge Restoration Advice |
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would like to think that the sticky tape is not original porsche method!
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Forane
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2011
Posts: 22
Location: Central, FL
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| Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2021 6:43 pm Post subject: Re: Gauge Restoration Advice |
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Thanks guys. I appreciate the ideas. As for the sticky tape, I am pretty sure it is original. I have seen a few other early gauges with the same.
J |
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Zwitterkafer
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Joined: November 17, 2007
Posts: 879
Location: Lanark County, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2021 9:14 am Post subject: Re: Gauge Restoration Advice |
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I just finished rebuilding a set of 1958 Porsche 356 gauges. Had the same problem with faded or misshapen gels. But long before I tackled the resto, I had successfully scrounged swap meets for poor condition spare units with nice gels. On the ones I've dismantled, the gels were usually held in place with tape.
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zimblewinder
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Joined: January 22, 2004
Posts: 893
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2021 3:08 pm Post subject: Re: Gauge Restoration Advice |
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Id try using the round top of a pencil or like to press the bulb shape into softened (heated) transparent tabs. I have intentionally melted tabs onto laminating pockets in our school laminator and they're pliable for a short while. A hot air gun should do it
Good luck
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busdaddy
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Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51154
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2021 4:13 pm Post subject: Re: Gauge Restoration Advice |
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Those look easy to vacuform, a tiny table powered by a residential vacuum cleaner or even your mouth and a heat gun would pull those easily. Or try blowing forming them, it's not like you will ruin a big piece if you get it too hot or blow too hard.
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56Cabrio
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Joined: May 22, 2008
Posts: 1899
Location: San Fernando Valley, CA
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2021 4:40 pm Post subject: Re: Gauge Restoration Advice |
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| busdaddy wrote: |
| Those look easy to vacuform, a tiny table powered by a residential vacuum cleaner or even your mouth and a heat gun would pull those easily. Or try blowing forming them, it's not like you will ruin a big piece if you get it too hot or blow too hard. |
That's a good idea, use a heat gun, metal straw and suck in. 
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busdaddy
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Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51154
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2021 5:45 pm Post subject: Re: Gauge Restoration Advice |
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| 56Cabrio wrote: |
| busdaddy wrote: |
| Those look easy to vacuform, a tiny table powered by a residential vacuum cleaner or even your mouth and a heat gun would pull those easily. Or try blowing forming them, it's not like you will ruin a big piece if you get it too hot or blow too hard. |
That's a good idea, use a heat gun, metal straw and suck in. |
Pretty much   But drilling the appropriately sized hole in the top slice of a plywood or metal sandwich with the plastic in place of the meat and blowing gently though a smaller hole in the bottom slice would be much more civilised.
Heat the plastic a little and blow a little, it'll likely take a few tries to find the right combination of heat, pressure and cooling time under pressure. Google "blow molding canopy" to see how aircraft bubbles are made, same deal but on a really tiny scale for those lenses.
The vacuform over a mould may produce more consistent results for a novice, but there's more up front work in building the form than just free blowing it.
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Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
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finster
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2012
Posts: 7951
Location: north o' the border
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2021 3:12 am Post subject: Re: Gauge Restoration Advice |
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just as easy to push form them, have done this to make model aircraft parts
http://www.ffscale.co.uk/page4f.htm
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nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect... |
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Forane
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2011
Posts: 22
Location: Central, FL
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2021 7:39 am Post subject: Re: Gauge Restoration Advice |
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Great ideas. I may try the push form method first. After multiple gas siphoning mishaps the thought of a straw or tube and heat makes me a little nervous. I will post back the results. And FWIW I got much more help here than on the Porsche forums. I really do appreciate the advice and knowledge
J |
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