360 Dial Cluster Removal Update

Guys,

I'm done the first part of the tach gauge dial replacement. I removed the gauge cluster from the car and removed the dial plate for the tach gauge.

All of this in anticipation of delivery tomorrow from Craig Timm of the Stradale style tach dial in yellow.

As Craig described int he instructions, removal of the cluster and things to this point have been VERY simple. It took me maybe 45 minutes to remove the cluster and remove the original dial face....the whole time while I am removing it I am thinking of the fact that I am taking apart my $200,000 baby!!

Anyhow, quite simple so far and I will report back after Fedex delivers my package and I install it tomorrow!


Joe

 

Are you going to make the needle red?
I didn't and am regreting it and shall probably have to take the cluster out again so I can repaint the needle.


By the way make sure that when you replace the needle it reads zero as I found it easy to miss align it.


Russell

 

Russell, I cant believe your post. My buddy and I were contemplating the idea and decided to take the time and find the model paint in red...stripped down ALL of the needles and painted them red (somewhat of a *****), but it looks great! The clear needles would look weak I believe, especially against the yellow dial.

Joe

 

Post some pics when you get done. I am seriously considering this.

John

 

Dude,

Detail the removal process with photos and words, please!

You got a bunch of guys about to turn blue here.

 

Guys, here's the latest update and pics. Like I mentioned, taking out the instrument cluster was amazingly simple though at each turn of the screw driver or open end wrench, your heart is in your hands thinking "god am I an idiot or what???" And I've worked on cars in my previous life so it isn't a completely foreign experience.

Anyhow, the first 2 pics show the dash without the cluster. There are ALOT of wires back there! But luckily they are all harnessed in clusters and all easy plug ins/outs. The hardest part was removing the bolts that drop the steering column to the depth necessary to pull the cluster out. The 2nd 2 pics show the cluster in its parts on my pool table (makes for a terrific work bench since I've played pool on it maybe twice!)

The pic I will send next will show the needles which I painted red! The craziness is that I have learned alot in just doing this simple job. First, every Stradale I've looked at for comparison pictures has the red needles, not what all 360s have, which are white. The needles are triangular in shape, with the flat part of the triangle facing the dials. Only the bottom of those dials is painted white. The other 2 sides of the triangle are clear and act to reflect the whiteness of the needle. So, in painting them red, you need to DELICATELY scrape the white off the bottoms of each needle. As Craig mentions in his instructions, this is a "patience" part of the process because you really need to work slowly and ensure you get each piece of white off the needles; otherwise it looks splotchy. I actually had to redo one needle because of this.

The needles look 1000 times better in red versus the plain white.


Tomorrow, the Fedex truck will drop the tach face from Craig and I will complete the install and take new pictures then.

Any questions, just let me know....

Joe
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here is the needle pic and one other.


Another thing to note from the first pictures I sent....did anyone notice the Ferrari tools on my "workbench"???! Could find the best 8mm wrench to get under the steering column and just when I was about to give up, I decided to look in the unopened Ferrari tool kit....wouldn't you know it!!! An 8mm wrench perfect for getting under the dash!

Joe
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Nice going, Joe. You are out of hot water for now but hold the damn camera steady!

Detail the bolt removal process if possible.

What if Craig was bagging you and the FedEx truck does not show up tomorrow!!!

Just kidding!

 

Hopefully my hand is steadier when installing this sh*% tomorrow. And, if Craig's stuff doesn't show up tomorrow, I'm driving to Florida to find him

 

very nice job! Did you use any specific type of red paint for the needles?

Ray

 

Ray, I used the Testers red model paint. It is enamel so it will not chip or flake....it was funny picking up a small jar of the Testers because I remember using that stuff as a kid many moons ago and it still comes in the same little glass bottles!!
Joe

 

For damn sure you will not be driving there in your Ferrari if you have too!!!

What color Testors please so I can find a bottle?

BTW, are you doing all instruments, and what color dials did you chose?

 

Excellent Job , Joe - I really want to do that on mine as well but I really scare of damaging anything since I am not a handy man ; I wish someone from Toronto can offer help working together with me.

 

Hubert,

I am sure you can find someone there to do it for you.

After Joe does this I am going to do the same but I'll wait for Colby and others to see if I can get us a group price on the dials.

Software Drone, are you in on this?

 

Software Drone ? did you mean the ECU ? If so , not yet in Fcar but I had flashed my 996 C4 and it shows significant difference. Don't know 360 ?
If not the ECU then what is it ? Sorry for stupid question since I just join the Fcar family.

 

Software Drone is Mike Niday. He's local to us and was interested in the dial upgrade last Fall when we had a thread going on this.

As to your Porsche ECU flash, who did it? What did you experience as improvement, and at what price. I think your octane is 93+ in Canada, no?

I spoke with Spidey here last summer, and he had it done to his 911TT. he's using 100 octane and says it flies!

Apparently Porsche ECU timing is quite different from Ferrari.

 

Greg

I think Mario is on board with us, and if I remember Angelo was interested also. I will PM you with details, stand by.

 

Ok sounds good, and if Mike gets on board that would be five (5) sets plus anyone else.

 

G, you'll find Testers at any model shop and buy the one simply labeled Red. they have flourescent red, dark red, blah blah blah. but just buy red. buy a small brush set too and some paint tape because you have to tape the other two sides of the needle so that you only paint the flat underbody of the needle.

Joe

 

Joe, you have a lot of guts doing it yourself!! The needles look great! Can't wait to see the final product with the gauges installed!!

You definitely should not be blamed for the non-steady hand with the camera... I would taken a picture of the ceiling or something!!

Great job!

 

What am I getting myself into!!!

 

Buy the lunch, and your getting me into it.

 

Ok you're on!

Get the orders together and I'll get them from Craig and then we'll do it.

 

This is my stradale style less the F1 window

Russell
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Russell,

That looks very nice. Any reason why you did not do all the gauges?

Did you find painting the needle difficult?