Aftermarket gauges in center cluster

[Uniuno]

I've worn out the search button trying to find an example of how people are getting the 52mm gauges in the center stack. I found quite a few completed examples, so I know it can be done. There are three pieces in there, the white body housing, the black bezel, and the clear cover. I spent a few hours last night carving out the black bezel to get the gauges to drop in from the front. I got them in the bezel no problem, and carved out the back of the white body and it fits together just fine.

Here's the problem: When I go to put the clear cover on it hits the bezels of the actual gauges and won't sit flush on the black bezel like it used to.

How are you guys getting the cover to go over the aftermarket gauges?

[Vantage]

What gauges? I did my AEM's a few years ago and don't recall the clear plastic being an issue? I'm assuming your new gauges are flush with where the stock gauges originally sat?

[Uniuno]

They are VDO gauges. They have a pretty small lip on them, I'm afraid to sink them down any further lest they might just fall through.





This one you can see the gap that is quite large.

[Vantage]

What about taking the gauge bezel ring/clear cover off? There's no way the cluster cover will fit flushly over top of those it doesn't look like regardless of how much material you take out. Wish I would've taken pictures of mine before I installed them.

[Uniuno]

I think the gauge bezel is the only thing there to hold them in. I'll explore that option when I get home from work though.

I was planning on writing up a "how-to" once I figured it out. I've taken a decent amount of pictures so far.

[box]

Here's mine, 52mm VDO also



It was a while ago when I did mine, but I'd say you've got to carve more out and get the gauges down lower in the plastic housing. I recall them being a very tight fit, so you might have to really jam them in there tight.

[Nationalmilkman]

I have a spare set of center gauges if you screw up. But it looks good and I love the fact your putting them behind the lens.

[Uniuno]

With the help of Alan, we found the solution:

I ended up cutting into the lense itself. I used a sharpie to make it dark on the back side so that it doesn't look goofy. This was a spare test lense.



For realz:



Wired and ready for install




Finished:

[Alex3000gt]

Dannnnng!

[Z16A]

Looks good.