Doppelgänger

iTrader: (12)

Yeah, so the 2001 gauges are this off white/cream color and i simply do not like how it contrasts with my silver car, black&blue 10AE interior and black dash. Then I remembered that I have a spare set of 99-00 black gauges. But the problem with the 99-00 gauges (along with 90-97) is that they have a greenish tint to them. I don't want green. So I searched around and found that people were able to get rid of the green by using alcohol and swabs....but there is a big risk of getting alcohol on the face of the gauge and that will ruin it. Hmmmm what to do?

Sandpaper. I sanded down the areas behind the numbers with some 220 grit paper. Bingo! Worked like a charm. But I still wanted to see blue lighting. Since i don't have any translucent blue paint, i used blue painters tape since it allows a good bit of light through. So on went two layers of blue tape. Then came the fun of swapping the faces.

Another cool part of what i did is that if i ever want to go back to red lighting, all i have to do is pull the tape off the back of the faces and put the red bulb covers back on.

before:


after:(using some picture from cardomain of a 99-00 gauge cluster)


and how mine looks at night now. (i know there is a bright spot...i had the brightness turned all the way up and turned up the exposure on the camera for full effect)

y8s

iTrader: (8)

are the backs of the 01 gauges sandable like that?

thesnowboarder

iTrader: (15)

Another method to get a more even blue would be new bulb covers. A buddy of mine did that on his wrx to get his from green to red, came out really nice.

Doppelgänger

iTrader: (12)

You know, I dunno if would be as good of an idea on the 01+ faces. The 99-00 have that black actual face, whereas the backs of the 01+ have black on them to keep light from coming through. It would be a tough call. The color on the front *might* be thick enough to block out light from behind. I guess there is only one way to really find out.

BTW... i have a spare set of 01+ gauges in case you find out that it does not work lol

cjernigan

iTrader: (13)

That looks nice, another summer project for me.

paul

iTrader: (21)

dude, lose the wood trim

y8s

iTrader: (8)

read the caption again--not his automojiggy

paul

iTrader: (21)

oops. i always miss the small text between pics.

RotorNutFD3S

iTrader: (33)

+1
I've been wanting to do the gauges for a while so they'd match my Cobalt gauges.

Fergus

Anyway to fit gauges from a 99+ to an older car ?

Doppelgänger

iTrader: (12)

no.... the ODO location is different.