Due to some unforeseen circumstances, my gauge cluster has been caught up in the mailing network since 2 Nov (was on it's way to Michael Gagne in Canada) and I'm moving ahead with plans to never see it again. I looked into buying a replacement, but at $1500 on eBay I'd like to bypass that option because I think that money would be better suited elsewhere...insert Haltech IC-7. I toyed with the idea before in an effort to get rid of my aftermarket gauges, but honestly couldn't justify the cost. Now that my gauge cluster is on nowhere in the known universe according to the fine folks over at USPS, I can knock out 2 bird with one stone and get this car back on the road before spring.

I've watched numerous video's and read several post and it seems that everyone tends to install them in a variety of ways. My favorite however is the Drake Lore cluster face with a direct fitment for the IC-7; just seems like a cleaner install than butchering up a stock gauge cluster face and I'm not a fan enough of carbon fiber to justify buying the blank CF face and cutting it. The main issue is Drake hasn't updated the stock on that guy in quite some time and I'm not aware of anyone else producing a face for the IC-7.

Anyone aware of someone producing gauge cluster faces for IC-7's or looking to part ways with a used one? What other options do I have? I'm holding out just the smallest bit of hope that my gauge cluster shows up one day, but I'm not optimistic. I'm not looking to make a permanent move to the IC-7 until I see how I like it first so cutting up my cluster fast is not an option. Thanks!

 

on a side note, if you can wait a little more it will probably show up. the last 2 years i have had a lot of similar issues with delays of 4 and more months. my custom made downpipe that left cyprus to reach me to the US so i can ship it to Cali and get it inconel shielded (and then back to cyprus) was lost in the mail for 3 months.
I had ordered a part from australia, it took 4-5 months to arrive

so back to your original question. who produces a good IC7 panel.. i have seen the Drakes in person as i had considered it ( my plan was to go with the ic7 also) but the fitment is poor.

Dspec or whatever his name is (on facebook) seems that he made (or he was going to make) them with supposedly perfect fitment
(Edit, here he is https://www.facebook.com/groups/9731...00007555507395)

i came across this today (in case your car is rhd

(https://www.facebook.com/MSport3D)
I am not aware if they also make LHD. Fitment seems to be way better than the Drakes but a couple of spots could be improved

 

This actually makes me feel a lil better. I can most certainly hold out for a couple more months if thats the case. I just don't want the summer to roll around and my car is still sitting in the garage, ya know? Too many missed driving season to justify missing another for something I believe should've arrived months ago, but with the current circumstances with COVID and whatnot I guess I will be a okay.

Well I'm glad you said something. $650 seems to be a good bit of moeny for something that I wouldn't have been happy with. Thanks for the tip! My car is LHD so I'll reach out today and see if he can reproduce something like this. Thanks again!

 

Manny - did you get insurance on the shipment for replacement value? Might not be as much practical help if the cluster is NLA from Mazda, but it could still help fund your IC7 replacement if that's the case. Anyway, a few years back I had a similar but smaller scale shipping issue shipping stuff to/from Canada. Sent the leather shift **** from my FC to a forum guy in Toronto for a leather restoration job. My worn **** made it to him no problem, and I even saw the pictures of the awesome restoration job before he shipped it back to me. But somewhere in Michigan after clearing customs and being in the USPS custody, it vanished from existence, never to be seen again. Anywho, we filed the insurance claim with Canada Post, and several more months later, I finally got a check to pay for a brand new FC leather **** via Ray Crowe.

 

If you can wait a couple months, it might show up. I had a steering wheel went missing going to Toronto last year, it took more than 3 months but made it to the buyer in the end.

 

Here’s my homemade setup IC7 on page 4.
Incase you can’t find a Drakes and you wanna make your own.

https://www.rx7club.com/build-thread...1140779/page4/


Steve

 

Unfortunately I did not. I insured it for minimal value to help with the customs process.

Hopefully this is the case. Thanks man!!

Thanks Steve, I actually came across your build thread during my google search and it worst comes to worst, this will be the route I take. Car looks great BTW!!

 

That was also the case for me, I lower the value to help buyer with taxes, but that also lower the insurance value by more than 50% and was a risky trade off.

 

I have a bunch of OEM clusters refurbished by Micheal in April last year. I will PM you.

 

Have you reached out to Drake? The dude is basically makes everything on his site with a 3D printer, when he is not working his regular job. I have ordered stuff from him in the past. It takes about a month to ship from when you place your order. Its good stuff, just takes a while, due to the nature of the beast. I am sure with enough patience and money he could make you one.

 

I had a recaro seat coming from Cyprus (Carpe Diem) in 2016. It took three months and thravelled back to Cyprus twice.

Problem was the declared amount.

Canada Customs might be holding yours up for the same reason. They had held my itrem for six weks before I could locate it and push it along.

I had another item shipped from Cyprus on the same day, and it arrived in an unbelieveable four days.

 

Hey Manny - PM me the tracking number and I’ll see what I can do. I still have connections with the various ISCs (international service centers) for the postal service and maybe can get the parcel moving again.

Tim