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Those that have done the MacEwen gauges, help!

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Old 02-15-2001, 03:28 PM
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Those that have done the MacEwen gauges, help!

I am getting ready to do my install and I had some quick questions. What do you use to change the needle color. I went to the store and couldn't find the specific typr from the website. I bought a sharpie and a paint pen, will one of these work? Also, has anyone done any color other than red, how did it look? Last I am a little confused by the directions, it says on the 91-92 that you can move the needle, is this true for 89 too. Can I move say, the tach up too 3500 to help put on the overlay and still have the gauges acurate? Thank you for any help.
Old 02-15-2001, 04:09 PM
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Car: 85 IROC-Z / 88 GTA
Engine: 403 LSx (Pending) / 355 Tuned Port
Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
I tried it with a sharpie and was not at all impressed. I used red Testor's model paint and a fine detailing brush and it came out very good.

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Old 02-15-2001, 07:06 PM
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Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.23s
You wouldn't happen to have a scanner for your computer would you?



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Old 02-15-2001, 08:45 PM
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Thanks for the help, I got them in fine. Painting would have been a lot easier if I had realized I was going to have to pull the gauges to change the blubs anyway.

About the scanner, I don't have one, But you can make one with a paper clip. Look ing the tech articals, or post a message, I don't remeber how offhand.
Old 02-16-2001, 11:12 AM
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Car: 85 IROC-Z / 88 GTA
Engine: 403 LSx (Pending) / 355 Tuned Port
Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
With the key off, place a jumper (i.e. paperclip) into the two terminals on the upper row, all the way to the right. Turn the key to the "on" position (but don't crank the engine) and the SES light will flash. It will flash "1" then "2" to indicate a 12. I believe it will do that 3 times, then flash the error codes, followed by 3 more 12s, etc. Shut the key off and remove the paper clip.

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View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
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Old 02-16-2001, 03:27 PM
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You mean like mine????

What I did was take the needles off & sanded them down w/ the finest grit sand paper that you could find. Then I took a razor blade & stripped all the remaining crap off & painted the needles silver w/ a paint pen from an arts store. It was that easy. On my cluster the needles can be pulled to 3500 & beyond. So that shouldn't be a problem to turn the needles to get the overlays to fit in there.

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Old 02-16-2001, 03:28 PM
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Any more questions about the overlays?

[This message has been edited by Mike Harvey (edited February 16, 2001).]
Old 02-16-2001, 05:29 PM
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Car: 88 IROC
Engine: 5.7 RamJet
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Dana44 4.10
How do the needles come off?
I just got my overlays, and I want to take the needles off so I can change the bottom from orange to red.

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Old 02-16-2001, 06:33 PM
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I always heard if you pull the needles, then the gauge is no longer going to be acurate. When I painted my needles, i took a piece of paper, cut a slit in it, and slid it under the needle to protect the gauge. It worked great.
Old 02-16-2001, 07:22 PM
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Car: 1984 Camaro Z28
Engine: Blueprint 383
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Here's mine


This is '89 gauges in my '84Z28 cluster with the MacCewen and blue zenon bulbs.
I used the prisma color marker on my needles and it did a pretty good job.

Jay, I don't think you really want to take the needles off.

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84 Z28 305HO, 5spd, 220,000 miles, Edelbrock intake, Hedman headers, low restriction exh(w/cat), K&N air filter. Best 1/4 so far 14.649 at 94.77mph
Old 02-16-2001, 07:23 PM
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Car: 1984 Camaro Z28
Engine: Blueprint 383
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Just use this link.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewP...377&p=40165516

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Old 02-16-2001, 08:58 PM
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I pulled my needles off. The only thing I had to do for them is not were the needles set while the engine was running and then i put the needles back on, started the car again and made any minor adjustments. Mine work fine. They just pull right off.
Old 02-17-2001, 04:34 PM
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Car: 94 Z28
Engine: LT1 w/ headers, catback, CAI, tune
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 3.23s
I meant a scanner as in you could take the overlays before you installed them and scan them in high res and put them up on the net.

It's neither here nor there now that they're installed.

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86 IROC w/ a cammed 305 TPI.
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www.inter-scape.com/Ray

[This message has been edited by Ray87Z (edited February 17, 2001).]
Old 02-19-2001, 05:10 PM
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Jay
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Car: 88 IROC
Engine: 5.7 RamJet
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Dana44 4.10
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Craig84Z:


Jay, I don't think you really want to take the needles off.

</font>
You think incorrectly then I want to take them off. The Firebird needles are clear, and are painted orange on the underside. When the dash lights come on the light illuminates the clear of the needles and makes them "glow" orange. I want that same effect, but in red.

I tried just pulling them off, but they wouldn't budge.

Old 02-19-2001, 05:53 PM
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jay what year are yours?

Take a flat screwdriver, push the tip allllll the way in, leverage it Straight! out.

thats what i did,




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Old 02-24-2001, 11:24 PM
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Jay
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Car: 88 IROC
Engine: 5.7 RamJet
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Dana44 4.10
Mine's an 88, same set up as you posted.
I'll have to try the screw driver trick.
Old 02-25-2001, 12:05 AM
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Car: 85 Mercedes 500SEL
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Be careful pulling the speedo needle off, I managed to break the little brass rod (The needle was stuck on there good and took part of the rod with it) Luckily I had a spare. I re-calibrated mine with my Auto X-ray scanner, synchonizing the speed, rpm,temp,and volts with it's readings.

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