Lockwood Dials

[Paul.P]

I have been in touch with Lockwood about the possibility of making us some coloured dials, including the 3 gauges. What they have proposed is that they can make a complete set, which includes all the dials ( 170mph speedo ), easy fit, for about £35 a set. I think this is a very good price, but need sufficient interest ( 20 people ) to go ahead, so all you people interested please post here.

[Monty]

I could be interested depending colour, I wouldn`t mind white if i could get blue coloured bulbs or may just go for lightblue dials

[Gazza]

Same as Monty

Interested in white with Blue bulbs if possible.

Gary

[Monty]

Same as Monty

Interested in white with Blue bulbs if possible.

Gary

Gazza, i think we`d have to sorce the bulbs

[Gazza]

Gazza, i think we'd have to sorce the bulbs

Job for you then, Monty

Just want to know if it's possible and how easy to fit.

Cheers Gazza

[Monty]

Paul,

I`ve got a spare turbo gauge and i can`t seem to seperate it to get to the dial can this be done?

In the photo below

the left bulb is from the turbo gauge and the bulb can be seperated from the holder. so push in bulb 12v 1.2w

the one on the right is from the main instrument cluster and is the twist type and has Blink 12v 1.2w wriiten on it.

here`s a couple of links for replacements.

http://www.gbdriver.co.uk/acatalog/led_bulbs.html

LED`s
http://www.solware.co.uk/customise-car-part-accessories/car-interior-dashboard-colour-lights.shtml

Push in type
http://www.solware.co.uk/customise-car-part-accessories/dashboard-bulbs.shtml

This looks a better web site for bulbs/LED`s
http://www.m-99.co.uk/Car_Neon_LED_Lighting/car_neon_led_lighting.html

[Paul.P]

Paul,

I've got a spare turbo gauge and i can't seem to seperate it to get to the dial can this be done?

I don't know Monty, this was going to be something i was gonna ask one of you guy's with spare dials, surely there must be a way, its got to be a lot easier to replace the dials than fit this diode thing at the back of the engine, apparantly thats a right pig to do !
Thought someone had got chrome rims for our dials, do they fit over the existing rims, or do they replace them ?

[Monty]

Well it`s not looking good, I manage to seperate the volt gauge, but I don`t think it`s designed to be pulled apart The back plastic parts has a lip which the front metal black ring/Bezel sits over and is crimped over the lip which must be designed to try and keep moisture out. Once i pulled the front of u have to pull the needle off and u have to be carefull not to bend the thin spindle that it sits on, then it`s just a case of 2 very small screws.


Putting it back together, i cracked the lip of the back part to get the Bezel over the lip so not ideal but can be done.

[Doug]

I have no experience here but from what I have seen and read, a handful of peeps have replaced the main gauges in the car without terrible trouble. The smaller ones are certainly not made for changing out so Monty's discovery makes sense. From all the gauge fogging problems these get it may be better to have it not sealed on purpose and then it should be less prone to condense inside ? ? ?

[Paul.P]

Monty, you won't have to touch the needles, these will be easy fit dials, but obviously the glass has got to come out. So are you saying that you got the rim & glass off ?

[Sy V]

The main cluster binnacle dial faces are easy to change.
The FBT (if you get the Phantoms like myself and Dave M) require a change of sender unit (at rear of engine immediately above the starter motor) for the Oil Pressure gauge. When done, all the FBT function fine, but the oil warning light is permanently illuminated. You need to fit the diode behind the main instrument binnacle.

I say, "ROB! you need to fit the diode..."

[Monty]

Monty, you won't have to touch the needles, these will be easy fit dials, but obviously the glass has got to come out. So are you saying that you got the rim & glass off ?

U will need to remove the needle to get the old dial card out
Yes i managed to get the Bezel off, but u will need to bend back the lip on the black metal Bezel then bend it back again. once assembled i don`t think u see that part of the gauge once there in place. Here`s a few pic`s.

[PAUL30]

i could be in.depends on the colours available.

[Paul.P]

Right then, it seems we have some interest, i will get back onto lockwood tomorow & see if there gonna offer all there usual colours. From what he told me its all the setting up, scanning etc, that costs the money, not the actual making of the dials themselves.

[Monty]

Paul,

Just an Idea, u could just get the Fun Boy 3 done and use there
Vauxhall Astra Mk3/Turbo already made instrument dials, i know it`s only goes to 160mph instead of the 170mph. My speedo is out anyways and this might make it more accurate.

http://www.superdials.com/ccp51/cgi-bin/cp-app.pl?usr=51F4728021&rnd=300389&rrc=N&affl=&cip=62.252.192.11&act=&aff=&pg=cat&ref=DIALS

Ok i cant` seem to link direct to the dial in question.
click on the MPH photo then
VAUXHALL
Astra
MK3
Petrol Turbo
Speedo starts at 10 mph

Also the colours Lockwood offer are on that link above.

[Paul.P]

Monty, i spoke about this to the guy at lockwood, & to be honest he was quite concerned that we were using dials out of spec. When he said they could do a full set for £35, i didn't think it was worth argueing the toss with him ?

[Sy V]

I've alluded to this in several threads now, but the combination of the 160MPH dials and the 16" S2 wheels makes my speedo more accurate (checked with satnav) than my 170MPH/15" standard set up.
Lockwood are in it to make money. The binnacle sets are ~£20.

[Monty]

I've alluded to this in several threads now, but the combination of the 160MPH dials and the 16" S2 wheels makes my speedo much more accurate (checked with satnav) than my 170MPH/15" standard set up.
Lockwood are in it to make money. The binnacle sets are ~£20.

£20 Sy? were from? On there site there £35.75

[Sy V]

Admittedly, I've had mine for .two years now but I got 'em new off eBay.

[Monty]

Admittedly, I've had mine for .two years now but I got 'em new off eBay.

That bloody ebay comes in handy lol but not on u`r wallet

Paul,
Another idea, what about having the numbers and dashes in blue so we don`t have to buy coloured bulbs? or even have the black background as the original and have blue numbers and dashes?