Gauge Cluster Lens

[Fordman]

Anybody replaced the Gauge Cluster Lense on a 79-86 Mustang? The lense is just only like $20, but it looks like its riveted on and I have trouble getting rivets to hold correctly. It also looks like there is very little of an area to attach the rivets. Is it hard to get the new lense attached to the housing? The whole is also available for like $50, but I don't really need the whole thing.

[Pat_in_L.A.]

Those aren't rivets...

Those are just plastic stubs that were heated up and squashed to fit. You can take a small drill bit and remove the expanded area until the bezel comes off. Just install the new one and reheat/expand the remaining plastic stub.

[Fordman]

When you say "expanded area", do you mean the flange looking part that laps out over the lens to hold it on? I need to cut/drill that off? Also, how do I reheat it?

Thanks

[Erics SVO]

Yep, just "grind" the flange looking area off. Heck, I'd prolly just find a way to use small screws to re-attach it. If you want to re-heat the nubs, use a soldering iron.

-Eric

[Eyelawdoc]

Alternatively, once the old lens is off, a dab of 5 minute epoxy at each of the nubs will reattach the new lens just fine.

[Fordman]

OK, I have the lens, but I cannot get the trip reset knob off of the old lens. How in the world does it come off?

[Fordman]

Nobody knows?