2G Re-installing gauge needles

[RidleyNoah]

I'm going to be removing my gauge faces in order to sand the backs. I want to make sure I get the needles back on so the gauges will be accurate.

Temperature- I know what the operating temperature is. I should be able to bring the car up to temp and while it's running, reinstall the needle at the same point (is that correct?).

Fuel- Fill tank, run car for a few minutes and install needle at full mark (is that correct? )

Tach- I know what it idles at. With car running, install needle at that rpm (is that correct?)

Speedometer- Thats the one I'm not sure about. Any recommendations?

Boost- No boost gauge (it's a GS)

 

[miliman13]

Look ; this is my experience..... Whichever gauge you touch, will the gauge that stops working....... 2X cluster worth of experience has taught me this!

But one of the more known members hear has made threads showing how they did it with success, just heads up !

 

[Justin Lauscher]

I've done it flawlessly on my 1g and installed blue LEDs, all my gauges still work no problem. My speedo is off 1 mph . Just have a friend ride with you with a GPS speedo on their phone and put your cluster back in without the protective plastic and place the needle at the corresponding speed. Or ecmlink if you have it.

 

[spyderdrifter]

After messing up my first cluster when attempting this, I ended up just removing each gauge assembly from the cluster, and sanded the backs without removing the needles or the faces. Here's the result. No dark spots, just crisp red shining through everywhere, and no hassle of inaccurate gauges.

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[RidleyNoah]

I already have the speedo needle off in order to reset the odometer. I think I'll take Justins advice. I have GPS on my cycling computer. I'll take that with me. My speedo is already off by a few mph due to tire size change, if I get it close I'll be happy with that.

 

[tunedbysaturnsl]

This is what I did.
Fuel-Fill up, plop needle on where it usually is when full.
Speedo-I have a boost controller with a speed read out that I know is correct. So I used that in conjunction with cruise control down a side street at a low speed.
Tach-Boost controller (again) has a read out for this that I went by when warmed up. I used this and compared with Link.
Engine temp-I let the car sit over night and put it on the cold side.
If I wanted to, I could get fancy and pull out my resistor box and go by actual factory settings. But so far, it's be perfect imho. Been like this for five years.

 

[YERFDOG]

After messing up my first cluster when attempting this, I ended up just removing each gauge assembly from the cluster, and sanded the backs without removing the needles or the faces. Here's the result. No dark spots, just crisp red shining through everywhere, and no hassle of inaccurate gauges.

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I definitely like this option a lot better than touching the needles. Do all the different sections just screw on? Any chance you took some pictures of the process? I was planning to do blue LEDs with my stock white face gauge cluster. I put red in without any sanding ect..and wasn't happy with the "hot spots".
Also, I remember reading in another thread you are moving to California? Where abouts? I'm in the Bay Area

 

[spyderdrifter]

I definitely like this option a lot better than touching the needles. Do all the different sections just screw on? Any chance you took some pictures of the process? I was planning to do blue LEDs with my stock white face gauge cluster. I put red in without any sanding ect..and wasn't happy with the "hot spots".
Also, I remember reading in another thread you are moving to California? Where abouts? I'm in the Bay Area

Yes, each gauge set has 3-4 screws that hold them in the plastic housing. Be careful when taking out the boost/oil pressure gauge. I had one fall apart on me when I unscrewed it. Oil pressure gauge never worked after that. I had hot spots with my red LEDs before sanding too. But with blue, definitely sand the backs or it'll never shine through. Will be moving to Sacramento area. PM me on that if you want

 

[RidleyNoah]

Got my faces sanded and everything re-installed. I took pictures of each gauge prior to removing needles (got car up to temp first). For the speedo and drove around and found out in second gear at 3000 rpm I was going 27 mph. For re-install I fired up car and made sure it was up to operating temp and just re-installed needles using my pictures as reference. For the speedo, instead of driving around at 3000 rpm and trying to re-install the needle while moving. I shut off the car and installed it to where it was resting on the stop. I started the car and noticed that it moved up to about 10 mph without moving. I shut car off again and removed and re-installed it to where it was just below the stop and then carefully lifted it over and it rested on the stop. Started the car and drove up to 3000 rpm in second gear, was right on 27 mph. I then pulled out my gps and I was 2 mph slower than what the gps showed. Exactly what my gauge error was when I installed my 17" wheels and tires.

The only one I'm not 100% sure on is the fuel gauge. I'll wait till it shows and half tank and then fill it and see if it takes 8 gallons and make any adjustment from there.

Here are before sanding and after sanding. The first pic is before.

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