Recalibrating needle after changing instrument cluster dials

[sliq]

Hi forumites,

I have an nb8b instrument cluster which I would like to have its dials (i.e. the tachometer and speedometer) replaced with 6 O'clock jdm ones.

I note that the needles are pointing at the 6 O'clock position on the JDM ones at idle, whereas the existing ones are at about 7 o'clock.

How do I go about recalibrating the needle after I have replaced the dials?

I've seen on the awd website, instructions to perform this for an NA.

Is it the same method for NB's?

[Garry]

I haven't read their instructions but I just took note of where all the needles were before I started then put them back in the same place after I changed the faces. The fuel gauge is fairly easy because it's position wont change while your doing the job unless you get a leak in your fuel tank. You just need to leave the ignition on for a few minutes to give the gauge enough time to move up to the right place before you re-attach the needle. I noted the position of the temperature gauge at normal operating temperature and set the needle on the new gauge face to the same position. I set the tacho to the same position at idle when the engine was fully warmed up as it was on the old gauge face. When I did it I didn't have a GPS so I set the speedo via the tacho. ie before I started I noted that X rpm in Y gear = Z kmh. It took a couple of laps around the block to get it right, but surprisingly I was pretty close with my first guess. With a GPS unit you could set it much more accurately. A tip is to leave the clear lense off for a few days and not to push the needles on fully until you are sure they are in the right place, they can be a bit hard to get off if they've been seated properly and leaving the lense off makes it easier to fine tune everything.

[sliq]

cheers for that garry