DIY: Modify Instrument Cluster LCD Display Window Color

[memphisstylee]

Here is the DIY several members requested over in this (http://mustangforums.com/forum/s197-...d-lcd-ftw.html) thread so here it is. As of right now, I don’t have access to an unmodified cluster so I had to borrow some pictures from AmericanMuscles DIY on a SIMCO gauge overlay install in order to write this DIY. But if someone is close to me or is willing to send me your cluster so that I can write a DIY with step by step pics then I will mod yours for free as long as you pay shipping. I live in the Northeastern Arkansas/Memphis, TN area by the way. That being said onto the DIY! To start off let me say this is a very easy mod that anyone with basic skills and minimum tools can complete but I TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY if you mess up your cluster so DO AT YOUR OWN RISK. Just to clarify things, you are modding the green window on the overlay and not the LCD itself. I will explain how to mod the stock gauge cluster overlay first and then how to do any SIMCO brand overlays. Items Needed: 3M 1000grit Wet/dry sandpaper Water and bowl - for wetsanding Random Orbital Buffer – preferably a small one like the 6” pictured Meguiars ScratchX 2.0 – any polishing compound will work but this is what I had laying around 7mm Socket driver Gauge Needle pliers – Not necessary as I used 2 flat blade screwdrivers instead and it worked just fine Lighting Gels – These can be bought at nearly any costume shop or music store that carries lighting equipment. Buy a sheet of whatever color you want your display to be. I.E. Blue, Red, Yellow, Pink, etc. Razor Blade – Not needed for stock overlays but needed for SIMCO brand overlays. Once you’ve gathered all of the stuff needed you can begin Lower the steering wheel all the way down and then grab the dash trim at the 9 o’clock position of the rpm side and 3 o’clock position on the mph gauge and pull. The clips will disengage and then once it’s loose just pull it out and up. Using the 7mm socket driver remove the 4 screws shown below Lean the cluster forward and disconnect it by depressing the tab and rotating the gray arm clockwise and everything will eject. Take the cluster out of the car and take it your workbench or where ever you'll be working on it. To remove the Bezel lens just release the 3 holding tabs at the bottom of the cluster and the 2 holding tabs at the top of the cluster (see figure 4 & 5). Then pull the Bezel Lens from the cluster by lifting straight up off of the unit. At this point it is up to whether or not you want to completely remove the overlay or do what I did. I only removed the MPH needle and gently folded the overlay back just enough to where I could work on it. Now even though it would’ve made this mod easier to do with the overlay completely off, I didn’t have the proper needle removal tools and I didn’t want to risk damaging the smaller needles in the middle. But for those that would like to take it completely off you can follow the steps shown here: STOCK GAUGE OVERLAY: Before I started removing the needle I placed sticky notes under the needle so that I wouldn’t scratch the overlay. Then using the flat bladed screwdrivers I placed them under the needle with one on each side. I took my time working the needle up and it came off with little to no problem even though it was on there pretty tight. After the needle has been removed, gently lift the overlay up starting from the lower right hand corner. After it has been folded back, I placed a piece of paper over the white plastic of the cluster and the LCD so that nothing would get on it in the next couple steps. The first time around doing this I used Acetone to take the green off and it ended up fogging the window a little bit so I wet sanded it down a good bit to make it even and then polished it with the ScratchX and the buffer. Needless to say, I realized just wet sanding it from the beginning is the way to go here. So take your 1000 grit sandpaper (I cut mine into small squares) and dip it in the water and begin to wet sand the backside of the LCD window. You’ll start to notice the water is turning green – this is what you want to happen. Every now and then wipe away all the water and green. Once all of the green is gone, the window will appear ‘frosted’. Next, take your ScratchX and put some on the side you wet sanded clean and get to buffing! It took me about 2 min of buffing to get it all clear but when I was done it was as clear as glass. Use a clean rag with some water on it to remove any of the polishing compound that remains. SIMCO GAUGE OVERLAYS: My Saleen gauge overlay was made by SIMCO so I can only assume all SIMCO brand overlays will be the same as far as this mod goes. I tried wetsanding the green off of the window to only find that the entire window is solid green and not coated green like the stock overlays. So I took my razor, from the front of the overlay, and placed it along the edge of the window and used a screwdriver handle to hammer the razor blade through the overlay. For the corners I had to free hand it to get the curve and then used a rounded jeweler’s file to the make the corners perfectly round. To finish it off I used a black sharpie on the edge that was cut so you wouldn’t see the white plastic. FOR BOTH STOCK AND SIMCO OVERLAYS: Take the lighting gel you chose and cut a 4” x 2” section. Then simply put it on the backside of the overlay and the existing glue should hold it in place fine. Lay the overlay back down and make sure there isn’t anything like water, ScratchX, etc behind the window and you’re good to go! At first, I had a bit of difficulty getting the mph needle to line up right up but came up with an easy solution. I took the cluster, before reinstalling the needle or Bezel, and put it in the car and hooked it up on the back then turned my key to the on position so the cluster would power up. At this point the mph needle post will be at 0 mph. Take your needle and push it on its post to where it’s at 0 mph. Cycle the cluster by removing your key and wait 5 seconds for the gauges to go to their rest position and then put the key to the on position again to make sure it’s still at 0. Remove the needle and repeat if necessary but you get it on your first try if you’re patient and careful. After everything is copasetic it’s time to reinstall everything. After you have snapped the bezel back into place it’s time to put the cluster back in your car. Plug everything up, reinstall the four 7mm screws, and replace the dash trim. Now sit back and enjoy your work! Hers a pic of mine done in red! If anyone has a better way of doing something then let me know and ill add or edit it into the post. And like I said at the beginning, if I can get a hold of an unmodified cluster I will edit everything with step by step pictures.

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[Barricade643]

I have one I can send you w/a overlay....how do we calibrate it fromn stock
to 200mph?

[JCON]

Barricade, is that your cruiser or is that a fun car to keep kids off the street and on the track?

[Barricade643]

Neither... PM ur way.

[Predator07]

I'm assuming that this is being done on a cluster without the my color feature. This is a little off topic, but does anyone else have the cluster without the info center and only 2 needles in the middle on a GT? Is this a common thing? And is it possible to change it? Since no one makes anything for this cluster. Thanks! Sorry to steal thread.

[silverscmustang]

ya mine doesnt have the info center and only has the oil temp and fuel gauge in the middle

[JCON]

I think its the difference between premium and baseline Mustangs. The premium have that information LCD and 4 gauges, the base has an odometer and two gauges.

[silverscmustang]

ya im pretty sure thats it

[Ken04]

Originally Posted by JCON

I think its the difference between premium and baseline Mustangs. The premium have that information LCD and 4 gauges, the base has an odometer and two gauges.

the mycolor dash was a separate option. Both our cars, a V6 pony and a GT are premium. 1 has mycolor and IUP and the other doesn't. There are companies that will sell you a mycolor dash insert. They're about $270, you buy the mycolor and they calibrate it to the ame mileage, then you send your old dash back for a $300 credit. Most cars have the wiring for the mycolor, but even if they don't it's not too hard to add the plug. Then you also get the info center with the mycolor. Miles to empty, avg fuel mileage, low fuel warning etc.

[PHX8839]

My 05 GT Premium dose not have the info center and only the two center gauges. I actually like it better.