• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Has anyone used Instrument Specialties to restore their dash?

Nobody here has a price on gauge cluster restoration? I have a 69 charger, I want the cluster restored on. I would like the faces painted, no stickers.
i was wondering the exact same thing.....
could some of you fellas quote what it cost you to get them done?
that would give us a ballpark figure....
 
i was wondering the exact same thing.....
could some of you fellas quote what it cost you to get them done?
that would give us a ballpark figure....
They give you a ball park on the phone....You simply call and tell them what you have. The vendors are not quiet about that.

I will give you an example of just my cluster from IS. Non rallye with tach. To restore, calibrate/rebuild gauges, Rebuild tach, convert amp to volt and a new lens is around a 1k.....

btw Redline quote I got over the phone was not far behind.....

I have a lot of other parts with them and the pricing is different with the volume of work you send. They will state otherwise for PR sakes but it is better overall.
 
I was told approx. $1200 to restore my 70 Charger cluster IF the switches were all good. I can only imagine what it would cost if they had to rebuild the switches. This is without restoring the tach which was new in 2003.
I decided to go with an aftermarket setup from Dakota Digital.

DD cluster.JPG DD  1.JPG Guages at night.JPG
 
I paid about $900 to restore my GTX gauges. They repainted everything and polished the plastic cover. They also checked and recalibrated all the gauges. Looks like brand new - although it looked pretty good when I sent it to them. It was a company in Minneapolis That specializes in doing that kind of work. Can't remember,the name. But if you really wanted/needed it I could find out.
 
I went from this:
2016-12-12 08.12.42.jpg

to this:
2017-03-02 16.46.07.jpg


I used Autoinstruments in VA this past winter. They re-painted and calibrated all of the gauges, added the quartz clock conversion, new solid state limiter, new turn signal lenses + gaskets, new brake system lens and gasket and polished the lenses.
About $850.

Installed with LEDs:
2017-03-04 15.00.50 (1).jpg
 
I paid about $900 to restore my GTX gauges. They repainted everything and polished the plastic cover. They also checked and recalibrated all the gauges. Looks like brand new - although it looked pretty good when I sent it to them. It was a company in Minneapolis That specializes in doing that kind of work. Can't remember,the name. But if you really wanted/needed it I could find out.
I'd be interested in knowing. Minneapolis is much closer to me than RI
 
Had them do the cluster in my GTS. They also converted my amp gauge to a voltmeter. They do top notch work.
 
Hello Everyone,
Just wondering if anyone here has used Instrument Specialties to restore their dash. Looks like that's who Graveyard Carz uses and it looks like they do great work. Just wondering what they charge? I know the price depends on what they have to do. I'm just trying to get an idea of what to expect.

Thanks for your input ~ Lenny B

PS - I have a 1968 Coronet dash in working order but showing its age I'd like to send to them.
I used them for my 69 bee dash looks great and they stand behind there work I would recommend them
 
They did the clock on my '66 Imperial recently. $133.00 for a quartz conversion, and it runs great. The face did not need restoration - that price is simply for the conversion.
 
Had them do the instrument cluster on my GTS. Did the ampmeter to voltmeter conversion.

They did a good job on it.
 
Last edited:
On my 67, Redline did the gauges and GCAR did the plastic and "chrome" restoration. Very pleased with it... Pic is 10 years after they were done.....

DSCF0141.JPG
 
Their website says 2-6 months turnaround if I read it right form a tire dash. No way can I wait that long. How about a competitor who can do a 3-4 week turnaround?
 
Hey Dennis, I used Instrument Specialties. They did a great job. I think you are going to find that most instrument restorers take 2-6 months. Might try Redline Gauges. Ive been told they have trouble following their schedule.
 
They quoted me $1,025 to restore the non rallye 150MPH cluster in my 1969 Coronet R/T. This includes restoring the case, acid clean and test of printed circuit, buff and polish lens, re-print alt, fuel and temp dials, reprint speedo dial, reprint odometer wheels, painting the pointers, service and test alternator gauge, re-calibrate fuel and temp, rebuild and calibration the speedo, converting limiter to solid state, replacing 2 broken bulb holders and 10 replacement bulbs.

The other thing they pointed out if that I have a reproduction tach installed in the cluster. They are going to provide me an original unit that will be restored for mechanical iginition $650 or $750 for the electronic ignition.

IMG_6843.jpg
 
They did my GTS cluster for $750
 
Instrument Specialties did the instrument cluster for my Charger. They did an outstanding job and it looks better than new. It was very expensive, I think well over $2,000 (quite a bit of work was done) but I also purchased new wood grain which I think was at least $500 or more. The only complaint I have is when they shipped it back to me, some moron shipped it in a single layer cardboard box that was actually a couple of boxes taped together with very little packing material. During shipment the bolt on the back of the Tach actually poked through the box and was bent. They took care of it, no charge to me, but I was shocked that they would ship something so delicate and so rare in such cheap flimsy packaging. Other than that, they do great work.
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top