Need Photo Help- Sun VAT-40 Tester

[kansei]

Hoping a few members can assist with a project I am working on. I am going to try and have screens (silkscreening/screenprinting) made to restore the lettering and all on my Sun VAT-40 tester after repainting the faceplate, and possibly redoing the gauge faces. My issues with this are several- first off, my unit obviously sat near a window or under harsh lighting for a very long time prior to me buying it, as the gauge faces are very faded and washed out. Secondly, looking at photos of other units for sale on eBay or by image searches, other units look faded as well, though not necessarily as bad as mine. And the final issue I have is it would seem that on some units, the gauge faces had different colors of print from one unit to another...

Here is what I need- could anyone that has a VAT-40 tester please post up some good, clean, front-on photos of your unit? I want to make sure I would have both the metal faceplate lettering done correctly, but also want to redo the gauge faces with the correct colors.


Thanks!
Neal.

 

[1oldtimer]

I'll get some pics this weekend.

 

[1oldtimer]

I couldn't find my new stickers and my 2 vats are kinda faded so I found some online.

Here's a place that has stickers for the face and gauges:
http://www.automotiveequipmentparts.com/Sun-Vat-40-Overlay-p/sun-7020-1407-1.htm

http://www.automotiveequipmentparts...746-0103.htm?gclid=CKCkwIiuhcQCFYVAaQody64AXQ

 

[kansei]

Thanks much for the links. The decals for the gauges will work great, but the black faceplate replacement isn't going to work for me. My VAT-40 is red and silver like the photo you posted, though mine looks a lot worse off. I want to keep the red faceplate as it matches my 1600 alternator test center. The photo you posted looks like it may be a restored one, since the field switch looks pretty old and weathered... do you happen to know if anyone is already offering reproduction or NOS parts for the red and silver fronts?


Neal.

 

[1oldtimer]

I just stumbled across that website when I was looking for a picture. You might email them and ask if they can do red, I have one black face and one red face and the sticker I have is for the black one.

 

[kansei]

Thanks. I will be contacting them this week for sure.

Unless someone else here chimes in with straight-on, clear and centered photos taken of their VAT-40, this project may be over before it begins. While speaking with the local screenprinting shop late last week, I believe the way they create the screens is much like how a vinyl graphics shop creates custom decals- the desired image is scanned, cleaned up in image editing software if needed, and then the screen is plotted out. The guy told me that unless the VAT-40 were to come apart and leave essentially a flat panel for the faceplate, it would make it very difficult for him to make a screen off of it, and the cost would understandably go up due to extra labor time in cleaning up the image. Being as he told me I would already be at $400 to $500 to get three screens made (for the white on the faceplate and the black graphics on the two brushed aluminum panels), I don't think my plan will be financially realistic.

I decided to dismantle the unit yesterday. If you have never done so to one of yours, the unit comes apart leaving a faceplate with not only folded-over edges, but case support stanchions and insulator standoffs spot welded to the faceplate, as well as a cord panel riveted to it. In order to allow him to scan the faceplate, I would have to remove the spot welds and bend the faceplate sides flat, as well as grind off the insulator standoff bolt heads. Since this is the only VAT-40 I own right now, I don't think I am willing to go that far, just for it to look like new. Fingers crossed the outfit you found has a red faceplate decal available, and just do not have it advertised on their site. We'll see...

I took a few photos of the loose faceplate and parked them here: http://www.kanseirotary.com/Sun-VAT40.html



Neal.

 

[1oldtimer]

Maybe take your face plate in and have stickers made for the lettering and repaint the face with good auto paint.

 

[kansei]

Minor update- after being on one business trip after another, after another, I stopped by the screen printing shop yesterday. He is in the process of making a screen to replicate everything in white on the faceplate. Once he is done creating the screen, I'll pick up the faceplate, strip it, repaint it, then get it back to him to screen print. Will post up before and after photos once it is all done. Could be two to three weeks, though, due to his current workload and my travel schedule.

More to follow...



Neal.