ROSHX7

I had an idea of either painting the black surround of the instrument gauge SILVER. Or even putting carbon fiber sticker over it entirely. I just need to know if the black part or panel separates from the instrument dial (ie. tach dial, speedo dial) itself or NOT, since I've never taken apart my instrument cluster before. If someone already done such a thing, can you please POST a pick of it?...!

tesla042

Not sure i completely understand your question..but i'll try.

Once you get the cluster out, you'll see what I mean...

There's a "back part" that houses the actual guages themselves. This detaches from the "front part", which is the clear plastic. Attached to the clear plastic is the black plastic that surrounds the guages. I believe this is what you want to paint. I haven't found any way to seperate the two, so you really can't get "in" to paint it very easily. All you have to work through is the holes you see the guages thru.

All the guages completely detatch from the back part. If you get confused, i have the bolt pattern here:
http://haxx0r.net/car/rx7/cluster/
You can sorta see what the very back of it looks like.

-Tesla

tesla042

found a couple more pics.. here it is detached:



and..you take off the front part, and you have this:



I know, I know, the oil pressure+volts and water temp+gas guages are backwards! Freaked me the hell out when my water temp guage shot up when i revved it!

ROSHX7

Well, the picture ABOVE shows that the black surrounding part (inside the clear plastic lense), completely separates from the rest of the cluster. Its this black surround that I wish to paint. I don't wanna touch my instrument gauges itself, I don't wanna put on white face gauges or anything (well, not for now anyways) cause I don't like the fact it dims out the lightining MORE at night. So hopefully NOW, people know what I'm talking about...so if anyone done this, painted the black surround a different color, can you please post up your pic?! Thanks
Also could you confirm that the PLASTIC LENSE separates from the black surround, cause it will be a bitch if it doesn't to paint the black surround part!

E6KT2

I could not get mine to seperate. I bust the mess out of that clear piece trying to seperate the two. I have heard it can be done, but I couldn't do it. Also, I was impatient because I replaced the cluster with an AL Autometer Pro Comp setup that I did mysef'!