Started to mod the cluster..

srtgtr34 · Post by **srtgtr34** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 10:11 pm

So, Since I have an extra cluster (well 2) I have been tinkering around with the one I fried a chip in. I have taken the whole cluster apart except for the gauges. I plan to use this one to experiment on and try some things.

The first thing I tried to do was get the green film off the odometer part of the gauge film, that worked out , eh bad. The lacquer thinner ate right through the plastic. SO.... note to others, use nail polish remover its safer and works just as good. I will be buying some cellophane most likely red and will be putting it on my r/t cluster when it arrives.

I have also taken apart the gauge surround piece. I took off the clear plastic shield and I intended to only paint the gauge rings. But masking them off was a disaster, so I painted the whole thing silver and cleared the rings. Tomorrow I will mask the rings off (its easier this way) and spray paint the rest flat black, likes its supposed to be.

I am thinking about doing some unique lighting to these gauges, but thats still in the planing process.

Here is the pics to where its at now:

Tam · Post by **Tam** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 10:39 pm

Looks pretty nice so far.

Schumi · Post by **Schumi** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:23 pm

wow, great job, hope to see a photo of your cluster already installed.

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:33 pm

Make it look like that - but of course without all the awesomeness. white numbers are the best.

srtgtr34 · Post by **srtgtr34** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:35 pm

Schumi wrote:wow, great job, hope to see a photo of your cluster already installed.

Thanks, well thats about 2 weeks off right now. Atleast of it being 100 percent done.

just saw that someone did this on srt forums...

there goes unique... lol.

So far the lighting is going to be comprised of 2 24cm led strips and 2 12 cm led strips all with 194 bulb bases, so they hook up the stock way. I would just have to mount them in there.

Schumi · Post by **Schumi** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:42 pm

Congratulations, I think a good job and that will give your Neon very special touch.

dodge_girl · Post by **dodge_girl** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:54 pm

looks good, post some pics once its done and in the car

v95 · Post by **v95** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 11:25 am

looks good so far no change the bulbs

SOKADAO954 · Post by **SOKADAO954** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 1:23 pm

JeffM wrote:
Make it look like that - but of course without all the awesomeness. white numbers are the best.

You sir are all over Audi now huh..

cluster looks good btw.

srtgtr34 · Post by **srtgtr34** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 4:24 pm

JeffM wrote:
Make it look like that - but of course without all the awesomeness. white numbers are the best.

Thats actually the look I was going for, with the silver surrounding the gauges.

The dam silver paint is taking forever to dry... f***ing rustoleom....

So I don't think I will be masking and painting tonight..

srtgtr34 · Post by **srtgtr34** » Thu Aug 27, 2009 4:58 pm

Update.

I'm still working on perfecting the paint on the gauge rings, I had to start over because I didn't like how it turned out the 1st time.

I also just recieved my r/t cluster.

I used some nail polish remover to remove the film over the turn signals ( so i can have my red ones again) and over the odometer.

I plan on buying some red film soon to put over the odometer. I soon found out that the film over the odometer doesn't determine the color, the actual screen does, but it still should be seen during the day so i hope.

I put my leds in it and hooked it up in the car. This cluster came from a tired r/t as the mileage states....

I have to remove the traction control and abs light, and I know it has the dim spots on it right now. Once i get a little bit more money coming in I'm buying led strips to light the gauges.

And there is something about the 00-02 gauge clusters with tach's that doesn't allow my switchbacks to fully function as they should. With my stock non/ tach cluster and 03+ cluster with tach they work perfectly .. this is puzzling.

srtgtr34 · Post by **srtgtr34** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 5:55 pm

All done with the painting part.

I got the odometer to be red and still visible during the day, although the camera shows the color as pink????

As soon as I get the leds, I'll finish her off.

Ntyvirus1 · Post by **Ntyvirus1** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 6:17 pm

howd u get the different color odometer?

dodge_girl · Post by **dodge_girl** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 8:39 pm

srtgtr34 · Post by **srtgtr34** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:27 pm

Ntyvirus1 wrote:howd u get the different color odometer?

First, I used nail polish remover to remove the tint on the odometer part of the gauge cluster. (this was the main reason why the blue and red ones couldn't been seen during the day.

Then I took apart the cluster and put two peices of cellophane over the odometer screen.

I wish I could find the one I bought from vamp to see if that looked any better but I can't seem to find that $7!! peice of plastic.....

Jenni · Post by **Jenni** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 2:34 pm

uuuh, the odometer looks not perfect. But the idea is nice!

dodge_girl · Post by **dodge_girl** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 3:05 pm

interesting idea, how does it look at night?

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 3:42 pm

Looks good.

I think it would look better if you painted the extra plastic (that holds the rings together) black. That way it doesn't stick out as much. Are you planning on blue lights with the red odometer?

srtgtr34 · Post by **srtgtr34** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 7:51 pm

I know.... its not done yet, I am thinking about spraying a little bit of night shade so the red cellophane isn't that noticeable.

The odometer looks awesome at night..

When I pictured the design in my head, it looked awesome.. Then I did my 1st attemp which is on the top of this page and realized how much of a P.I.A it was to mask the rings off. So I took apart another one to try again, this one came out ok, looks a bit tacky now that I installed it, If I spary some clear over it, it loses some shine which Is what I want to try.

I have one more gauge surround left that I havn't painted, I may retry to make just the rings silver. But, I want to try to paint the rings salsa red, to match everything else..

There are going to be 2/24cm leds strips and 2/12cm strips installed in the cluster to provide the light. (white) I already ordered them put the 24;s are on back order so they are holding my order.

blue lights, red odo, red turn signals..