Gauge needle replacement?

[maddmatt]

I'm looking to change the colors of my gauge needles. Does anyone know where to purchase aftermarket needles for a 98 X? I was going to try and get the red ones from an X sport, but Ford doesn't sell just the needles, but the whole instrument cluster. Anyone ever tried painting the needles or other suggestions?

Thanks

 

[aldive]

I have never heard of replacement needles.

Did you give any thought to painting them?

 

[maddmatt]

Yeah, actually I did, but forgot to mention it in my post. No wait, I did mention painting Do you know what type of paint would work? (I'm not much of a 'painter'). I just hate the fact that my white gauges are on white needles. That, and the fact that I thought it would be cool to have some blue gauge needles

 

[aldive]

Are the needles plastic or metal?

I would go to a paint store and ask their opinion, and buy your paint from them too.

Good luck and please keep us posted on your project.

 

[phat98sport]

if you paint your needles your gauges will be off

 

[maddmatt]

adlive, they are plastic. I'll go see if I can't find some paint at my local hobby store or something.

btw, I've taken the needles off before, and it's not that big of a thing to get them back to where they should be, or are you talking about the weight of the needles being different than before with myself putting paint on them? I've thought about that, and I figure that I could just put a very light coat of paint on them. I dunno.. maybe it's not worth the trouble.....

 

[aldive]

After pondering your delima, I am not sure that the paint , actually the weight of it, will not cause you problems.

 

[RytM1]

Matt, I painted my needles when I installed my white faces. I went to a hobby/craft store,and bought a small bottle of orange Liquitex "glossies" high gloss acrylic enamel, and a very small paint brush (#0 or smaller). Then I thinned the paint with a little water, and applied a thin coat to the top edge of the needle only. It does not appear to have altered my speedo readings at all.
Day:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1254494&a=9276113&p=40177518
Night:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1254494&a=9276113&p=47393944

 

[maddmatt]

Thanks for replying RytM1, I'm going to give that a try this weekend. btw, do you have any pics of your gauges?

 

[Stephen]

Wow those look really good Jack, how it should have come from the factory.

 

[RytM1]

Thanks. Leave it up to Ford to be a step behind.