Ripley

iTrader: (1)

So I bought some new gauge faces for my 7 and I've done nothing but search the internet and these forums for information on how to replace them. I have only found some on fd3s.net and what info I found wasn't that great. I'm sure some of you have done this so any help would be cool. I'm not saying this is gonna be a walk in the park, but all of the info i found has done nothing but make me paranoid on installing the new faces. last thing I want to do is jack up my calibration or something along those lines. So if anyone knows where i can find a good write up on replacement or someone who has done it themselves could help me out i'd really appreciate it. Im not worried about getting the cluster out or apart for that matter. I think what worries me the most is messing something up with the needles. so there it is... thank you.

Ceylon

iTrader: (3)

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/write-up-hyperite-gauge-mod-white-backlighting-473379/

Ripley

iTrader: (1)

Thank you for the link. Any idea why I am supposed to turn the needles all the way clock-wise? I just want to learn as much about this as possible because I really don't want to ruin my gauges.

speedjunkie

iTrader: (3)

Not sure if you found the info you were looking for, but the reason to mark them at full clock to the right is so that you can put them back on in the proper place and your gauges will read correctly. The needle post will move counter-clockwise a little more when you take the needle off because when the needle is on it rests against the little stopper post with pressure on it. Know what I'm talking about?

I had this problem when I took my gauges off a few years ago to do the white light mod. I was so excited to start the project I didn't even think about making sure the gauges would read correctly afterward so I just took the needles off. When I did that I noticed the needles went CCW a little more and instantly knew I was screwed.

To be honest with you, I'm not sure how turning them all the way to the right helps either, but it seems to work for those guys.

Someone else gave me another idea for this. Run your car for 5 minutes or so, and take note of where each gauge is. Take note of where the fuel is reading too. When you're finished with the job and ready to put the needles back on, run the car for 5 minutes or however long again, just make sure it's exactly the same amount of time as the first time. Put the needles for oil and water on at that time, put the fuel needle back on where it was before (make sure you get this right because mine has been wrong since then and it's caused me to run out of fuel a few times lol). For the tach and speedo I had to use my turbo timer which gives me that info, and I just drove down the road at a certain speed and put the needles back on to match.

Come to think of it, it's probably safer to do it the other way haha.

BTW, my fiance is from Ogalala/Lewellen and we go back every now and then. I've been hoping to bring the FD sometime, maybe if we're around Scottsbluff I'll hit you up.

Ripley

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for your reply Speedjunkie. Unfortunately I got very frustrated doing this probably ruined my cluster and gave up lol. So I just bought a 2002 cluster from Bryan (Purerx7) and I love it! If you do come anywhere near Scottsbluff that would be cool. Fell free to call me if your coming through for sure. I'll PM you my phone number.

speedjunkie

iTrader: (3)

Cool, will do! Glad you, uh, got it all sorted out LOL.

KKMpunkrock2011

iTrader: (5)

couple nebraska guys here, don't see them west of Lincoln very often.

speedjunkie

iTrader: (3)

^I'll hit you up too if I make it through Lincoln haha. We went to a Huskers game last October, she's turned me into a Huskers fan since we've been together LOL.

KKMpunkrock2011

iTrader: (5)

come down for the scca pro solo and solo nationals, it's a good time.

speedjunkie

iTrader: (3)

If you're talking to me, and if it's before mid Sept, I can't make it lol.

KKMpunkrock2011

iTrader: (5)

yeah, it's the first week in september