Spread out some of my ArtWorks Dewa parts on the table last night....
... and after the kids, and wife went to sleep I started to go to work (around Midnight)
Prying open the OEM Gauge Cluster
To separate the gauge cover panel from the assembly, push in the black plastic tabs on top and the bottom of the housing using a flat blade screw driver.
Next step is to separate the clear acrylic cover from the base. The clear cover is glued to the base and must be cut away using an inexpensive acrylic cutter (available at home improvement centers). Using gentle pressure, score the acrylic cover several times until the scoring line is quite deep. Gently twist the cover from the base to separate. The resulting cut should be smooth and clean. If there are minor cracks or irregularities, do not worry since the dash pod will hide them once reinstalled.
Prying open the OEM Gauge Cluster by Randy George, on Flickr
Peeling Back the cover to remove the hardtop heater indicator light, I will put it back on once im finished.
Peeling Back the cover to remove the hardtop heater light, I will put it back on once im finished. by Randy George, on Flickr
Be careful when pulling this back, you just need a little room so that you can move the wires over a tad and then remove the light. Not all Miatas had this upgrade, mostly just the power option models in the USA. Most people mistake it for a gas light, but if you run your gas that low youll find out the hard way its not,
Careful !! by Randy George, on Flickr
Detaching the cluster face from the Speedometer
Detaching the cluster face from the Speedometer by Randy George, on Flickr
Removing the OEM Gauge Needles
Removing the OEM Gauge Needles by Randy George, on Flickr
Removing the Warning Light Covers
You'll be taking these off when using the Art Works Dewa Cluster Cover
Removing the Warning Light Covers by Randy George, on Flickr
OEM Warning Light Template
OEM Warning Light Template by Randy George, on Flickr
Remove partitions around indicators.
When your Needle position is vertical (6-o'clock)
When the needle start position is vertical like my version, you should remove the small plastic partitions around the indicators at the bottom of the tachometer (headlights, hold sign for AT, air-bag). It you do not, the bottom of the tachometer will not be lighted. Use a small nipper to clip and remove the partition material. If your new gauge needle start position is at the stock location, you do not need to remove any of the partition material.
Remove partitions around indicators. by Randy George, on Flickr
Replacing the bulbs
Changing the bulbs out for the Gauge Faces swap
Replacing the bulbs by Randy George, on Flickr
OEM Green Bulb Covers
Stock lights are removed, now to change the covers out
OEM Green Bulb Covers by Randy George, on Flickr
AWD Bulb Covers
Replace all four green light bulb covers with the orange ones provided. Remove the bulbs from the back of the instrument assembly by twisting them and pulling out
AWD Bulb Covers by Randy George, on Flickr
Art Works Dewa Orange Bulb Covers
Removed the OEM Green Bulb Covers and Replaced with the orange covers.
Side Note: Later I ended up swapping these out for some RED Colored LED Lights as these are not very bright at night
Art Works Dewa Orange Bulb Covers by Randy George, on Flickr
ArtWorks Dewa Premium G-Series Metal Overlay
Here is the Art Works Dewa metal overlay that sits on top of the 1013 ArtWorks Dewa Gauge Faces.
ArtWorks Dewa 1013 Overlay by Randy George, on Flickr
Art Works Dewa Faces and Overlays
Coming together now! Here is the Art Works Dewa Faces with the Overlays installed
Art Works Dewa Faces and Overlays by Randy George, on Flickr
Art Works Dewa Cluster Cover
Mounted the ArtWorks Dewa Cluster Cover to the OEM Mazda Miata Cluster, next step is to add the Art Works Dewa Rings.
Although the double sided tape should be strong enough to hold the AWD panel cover, the use of additional screws (included in the package) is recommended. You will have to drill pilot holes before attaching the screws. Once the panel cover is installed, remove any OEM rings before installing AWD rings.
Art Works Dewa Cluster by Randy George, on Flickr
Those ArtWorks Dewa THICK rings though......
AWD rings with lens NA by Randy George, on Flickr
Gluing the Rings in place
Here I used a CLEAR Polyether Sealant / Adhesive by Chemlink - called "Clear", there is ZERO VOC, and ZERO Isocyanates so no worries about fumes attacking the metal, plastic, or lenses. Best part is no odor and cleans up perfectly with rubbing alcohol. Some guys use silicone which is fine too, however this polyether will grab faster, cures faster, bonds to anything, and has a much higher and longer lasting bond strength than silicone does.
Untitled by Randy George, on Flickr
You only need a few dabs of this material as it is a very sticky (messy) paste that grabs really well.
Untitled by Randy George, on Flickr
ArtWorks Dewa THICK Gauge Rings
Props to @Vote4Pedro for trading these with me for these AWD Thick Rings. Here I am just using a wire hanger that I cut and used to poke the nozzle of the glue seal and push a little adhesive out. Again very little is needed, this adhesive sealant is amazingly strong.
ArtWorks Dewa Gauge Rings by Randy George, on Flickr
The first 2 rings are now in place and you can see the dramatic effect those diamond tooled ArtWorks Dewa rings make, they are really just stunning in person, pictures can never do these justice, seeing is believing.
Added the Diamond Tooled ArtWorks Dewa Rings by Randy George, on Flickr
One thing about the ArtWorks Dewa Gauge panels I was not liking was that white bulb dead center that Dewa used for some of the High Beam indicator, so I had ordered some Purple and this Blue indicator bulb from KG Works https://www.kgworks.co.jp/ and swapped that bulb out on this panel and a few others I have. All the rest is ArtWorks Dewa's parts though.
Untitled by Randy George, on Flickr
awd gauge cover by Randy George, on Flickr
OEM Needles and ArtWorks Dewa Needle Caps
The ArtWorks Caps fit very snug over the OEM needles however I would still recommend a small dab of adhesive, remember never use solvent based adhesives or super glues because they constantly "out gas" the solvents and isocyanates and will stain and ruin your gauges and fog up everything with the fumes!
OEM Needles and ArtWorks Dewa Needle Caps by Randy George, on Flickr
And mounted, the effect this simple upgrade makes is just incredible, especially at night when you are driving top down. The street pole lights with race around the needle caps an guage rings as you drive past them, its just outstanding to see in person.
ArtWorks Dewa Needle Caps by Randy George, on Flickr
...... and then by about 3.5 hours later, I finally finished the job, here is a stock NA cluster vs my new ArtWorks Dewa setup, what do you think?
much thanks goes to our sponsors and friends on the forum!
Bill @ http://www.MiataRoadster.com (Bill) for the ArtWorks Dewa Gauge faces
Joe @ http://www.Rspeed.net (Joe) for the ArtWorks Dewa Needle Caps, and G-Series Metal overlays
Rod @ http://www.TetsuyaGarage.com (Rod) for the ArtWorks Dewa Cluster Cover overlay
and our forum member Vote4Pedro (Joel) for the ArtWorks Dewa Thick Gauge rings
I will edit this post to make it a proper write up on all the work involved to customize your cluster later, I took plenty of photos
Re-install the instrument assembly in the car without the clear plastic gauge cover and reconnect the connectors and speedometer cable. Run the engine with no accessories, lights, or air conditioner until normal operating temperature is reached.
While engine is running, gently set the needles at the same positions as indicated in your photograph or diagram. Note that the tachometer and speedometer needles are different. See below for typical locations of the needles. Do not firmly set the needles at this time.
Reinstall the instrument assembly and set needles. by Randy George, on Flickr
Filler Up!
Easiest way to set the gas gauge needle to to go fill up the gas tank, then you can set it to the "full" position
Filler Up! by Randy George, on Flickr
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Imontalto
