Replace it
Look what Bubba did....
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 539
Likes: 3
From: Twin Cities Minnesota
Look what Bubba did....
My instrument panel was broken when I got the car. Removed it last weekend to see what I can do. Any way to repair this?
Looks like pot metal, has anyone repaired something like this?? GM sure didn't put much metal at the transition.
I did try some Napa brand "Steel Weld". Didn't work.
Sure hate to toss it. Thanks for your time.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 641
Likes: 2
From: Storm lake Iowa
Originally Posted by 76project
My instrument panel was broken when I got the car. Removed it last weekend to see what I can do. Any way to repair this?
Looks like pot metal, has anyone repaired something like this?? GM sure didn't put much metal at the transition.
I did try some Napa brand "Steel Weld". Didn't work.
Sure hate to toss it. Thanks for your time.
Take an old stainless steel table knife (or two) and cut two "splints" from the thin part of the blade, and JB weld the splints across the lateral aspects of the breaks. The metal is thin enough as to be almost invisible when painted and installed, and far stronger than the original pot metal.
"I have seen Bubba...and Bubba is me!"
-Roy
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,353
Likes: 787
From: Redondo Beach, California
Just go ahead and use it. It'll mount back up in place and no one will know it's broken. The bezel on my 1970 was broken just like yours. I didn't have a clue until it came time to remove it, then I discovered it ws broken.
I bought a repro bezel; i.e. front instrument panel made out of pot metal. It was good repro, except that the letters "VOLUME" and "TUNE" had poor definition. I've decided to use the stock original, even though it's "broke." It's appearance, because the lettering is better, will be the best. Once again, when you install the original, it's very difficult to tell it's broken.
I bought a repro bezel; i.e. front instrument panel made out of pot metal. It was good repro, except that the letters "VOLUME" and "TUNE" had poor definition. I've decided to use the stock original, even though it's "broke." It's appearance, because the lettering is better, will be the best. Once again, when you install the original, it's very difficult to tell it's broken.
Last edited by 68/70Vette; Jan 23, 2006 at 11:18 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 237
Likes: 0
From: San Jose area CA
Originally Posted by Grinchia
....and cut two "splints" from the thin part of the blade, and JB weld the splints across the lateral aspects of the breaks. -Roy
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
From: Wheaton Illinois
I snapped mine in half. It fell over after I took the radio out. I bought a replacement from Paragon and it fit perfectly and looked beter than my original.
There was a post yesterday in the general section called "how do I repair broken guage cluster bezel?" that gave some good tips for repairing the bezel. Good luck.
There was a post yesterday in the general section called "how do I repair broken guage cluster bezel?" that gave some good tips for repairing the bezel. Good luck.