I have spent most of yesterday and today rebuilding the speedometer and gauge cluster for my '51. [BTW, I discovered the paint for the gauges is the same as the steering column and wheel paint.] Everything looks really good, but I am stuck on the very last step. Crimping the bezel to hold in the glass and gauge mounting plates is a little nerve-racking. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to crimp the bezel without crushing the front side? It feels like the repop bezels are a little heavier gauge than the originals. I finished reupholstering my seats earlier this week and found a set of parrot-jaw pliers lined with weatherstriping worked well to crimp on the little tubular clamps (not hog rings), but I don't think that will work for this operation. Greg
prolly not the right way to do it, but i just loosely fitted it together and then bolted it in the gauge. it worked, but it was a pain.
Many have simply glued the thicker re-pop bezel lightly into place then bolted the whole schmeer to the dash as Wolf did . You only need put three of four minor bends on the litp to hold it in place .
Problem solved! I realized the spots on the chrome bezel (retainer) that would be marred would not be visible in the final assembly. In fact, they are covered up by a gasket and are hidden by the dash. I think assembling the gauges without crimping this edge would be very difficult, since the inside glass gasket wants to spring them apart. That would be quite a juggling act. Greg
oh it was a juggling act i promise. Once i got it lined up and shoved in the dash i just tightened down the nuts and checked and i got it right like the 4 th or 5th time. but it did work. Im sure i will be fighting it again when i need to replace my temp gauge
Just use a pair of needle nose pliers and crimp in 3 or 4 places. It will never be seen, this is factory.
