(Click to enlarge)
| The following is for informational use only, author(s)
are not responsible for damage or any other expense caused by the use of
this information. In all cases of jacking up the car, or using tools, BE
CAREFUL and DO IT PROPERLY. Parking brake, wheel chocks, and jack stands
are NOT OPTIONAL, they are NECESSARY. Always disconnect the negative
battery lead where electronics or welding are involved, and make sure the
lead is touching nothing but air. Be safe, and have fun. See the
Safety Tips
page for more info. This is a purely visual mod, but it looks a lot nicer, separates each gauge into its own section. First, remove the two 7mm bolts above the gauges that hold in the trim piece. Then, there is a plastic piece on the back of the turn signal handle that snaps off with some wiggling and pulling. This makes removing the trim a bit easier. Now there are 4 clips at the bottom of the trim, just pull out the top first and then un-pop these bottom clips. Now, this part takes some patience, but bend both sides of the trim piece toward you a bit, while turning it to the right and pulling toward you. You want to rotate it toward the passenger seat in order to get it out. Just be patient and work at it. Now there are 4 more 7mm bolts holding the bezel and cluster in. Remove these 4 (a ratchet was best for the trim piece, but here a driver would be better). Now, the cluster is loose, but just un-clip the bezel from the cluster by pushing on the tops of the clips with your fingers (look at the new bezel to see where the clips are). The bezel should come right out now, leave the gauge cluster in place. Transfer the foam strip around the steering column to the new bezel. There is a small tab on the center of the rear top of the new bezel, snap this off cleanly. Insert the trip/oil reset button into the hole in the new bezel, and slide it into place. If any of your gauges went to zero and are in the way, just turn the car to on, they'll move out of the way. Make sure the trip button is in the hole, and snap in the clips. Put the 4 7mm bolts back in snugly. Now, another tricky part, putting the trim piece back in. The part you have to be really careful with is the clips on the back, they can scratch the plastic on the bezel really easily. I thought I was being extra careful but put a tiny scratch on the bottom of the plastic (DOH). It isn't bad, but I'm kicking myself nonetheless. I'd say a piece of cardboard or a couple layers of masking tape are in order when you put it back in. Basically just reverse the process of taking it off, watch out for the exposed wires of the turn signal. Snap it in place, replace the 2 7mm bolts, and snap the turn signal cover back on, again, wiggle and push carefully, it pops back in. I got mine from a GM dealer, but they are hard to come by. Word is, the part can be gotten for about $20 plus shipping, from Specimo at 1-800-545-7910. The part number is 16230640. This is the same as the GM part number, so if you get an AC Delco box, you've got the same thing. From what I hear it is perfectly good quality. If that scratch bugs me enough I may be ordering one. Now on to the 200mph gauge face and Z06 airbrushing! |