M2-1002 Cluster Fiddle

[roadsternut]

To clarify, I owned for a while #86 M2-1002, and now this car is part of the Mancini collection.

These clocks, when fitted, are really like stepping back 40 years, in more ways than one. The lighting is spectacularly poor, so I would encourage you, with it all in pieces, to upgrade the bulbs, and to pay careful consideration to the clock face material used.

The question was raised as to why the clocks were converted; they came from the UK. MPH is not required for the MOT but it is for Construction and Use. This conversion is typical of what an importer did back in 1999-2000. Mazda were charging £400+ for just a replacement speedo (including a £300 core charge). So the importer had to do what he did. These clocks would not have come out of a M2-1002; most likely, part of the stock of parts released in 1993-1994 by Mazda after the M2-1002 failed. Some trim parts were used by a Tokyo Eunos dealer, in the Tokyo Limited, but there were more than 200 sets (including spares) left over from the 1002 program. These were sold through the M2 shop. I personally didn't like the font used, and if I was in the same position, I would convert to the 1001-style font. Don't forget there is a speed limiter in these clocks, and its a different setup from the stock clocks.

[MikeA]

Thanks for that insight roadsternut. I wondered about how efficient the lighting was and had made a note to check it out before putting the cluster back and possibly look at some upgrade options.

I'm interested in following this clusters history as obviously it was in a car at some stage and if that car wasn't a 1002, someone must have done the same conversion as this.

I'd prefer keeping the cluster as original looking as possible and won't be changing the font.

Can you expand on your last sentence, "Don't forget there is a speed limiter in these clocks, and its a different setup from the stock clocks."?

[— fwdtamiya —]

There was a speed limiter integrated into the gauge cluster on Japanese MX5's, because the cluster is so different the speed limiter design is as well.

ex.

[roadsternut]

You will need to dive into the guts of the speedo, and remove the speed limiter

[MikeA]

There was a speed limiter integrated into the gauge cluster on Japanese MX5's, because the cluster is so different the speed limiter design is as well.

You will need to dive into the guts of the speedo, and remove the speed limiter

Thanks gents. Clearly I read too much into the earlier comment as I imagined something way more sinister than just that a speed limiter existed. I'll take a look and document it.

[MikeA]

Quick update. The facia has been sent off to a crowd that specialise in CNC work and screen printing onto various substrate including metal. They'll copy the original icons which are fortunately all still intact, and reproduce them on a screen print once the facia has been refinished.

I've posted sent the gauge faces to Adam (Revlimiter) and he should have them within a few days.

The M2 1002 dash loom mentioned earlier made a reappearance on YJ, and thanks to vote4pedro for alerting me. Buy Now was JPY25000 and the reserve was higher than I was prepared to pay for the value it would add for me.

The Tyco connectors and contacts I ordered have arrived, and Malibu Q very kindly sent me some bits from an Astina cluster that may help make up an interconnecting harness. Malibu Q, I'll be sure to buy you a cup of tea should we meet.






Here's a photocopy of the facia before I sent it off, and I'm tempted to get a few spare facias CNC'ed while I have the cluster in pieces.

[Rogue]

I'd be interested in at least one.

[MikeA]

I'd be interested in at least one.

I'll find out approximate pricing and/or if they'd part with the CNC file.