Loundarp

i just buy a protege custer and i don't know how to call that but is the dark gray plastic that are around the cluster, well i want to paint it but i can't remove the clear plastic that protect the guage.

any help???

High Body

hey man.... whats up...
i did this mod myself... the best thing to use is a dremmel tool... with a plastic cutting disk.... what you do is just go around the edge of the clear plastic.... i used it on setting one(out of 5 speed settings) and jus cut it away from the black part...
then i sanded the black plastic, and primed it 2times, then white coated 5 times and clear coat if you want...
i then used some clear drying adhisiive, hot glue might work,, im not shure if it will melt it probibly not,,, then stuck it in... and im done...
there could be an easier way, but that was pritty damn easy...
GOOD LUCK
i have pics of my final product on my web page at the bottom...

Loundarp

thanks for this info, and your fast hehe. look like i will need to use my dremel hehe, how do you call the glue you used?

i can see the page #2, do you can give me the url ??

High Body

it should work now.... i worked with it... my email is High_body@yahoo.com

High Body

sorry the glue that i used was called,7800 All Purpose Adhesive, made by Aleenes, its nothing special, its just like rubber cement, but you cant see where you cut or glued because it is covered up, but thats what i did.. any other questions??? its not a hard process at all

Identity_X

Silicone could be used as well to seal it......

Tweeaks

How did you remove the plastic peice around the gauges? Does it just come out or are there screws or clips holding it in? I've seen somebody elses done too it looks like brushed aluminum....not sure whose thogh, it's in an avatar.

High Body

well... if you turn over the cluster there is 2 screws and a little clip, to take off the clear plastic and the black part around the guages... (its all one peace) the glued them together with super glue. DONT EVEN try to separate them... its not happening. the clear plastic will snap... SOLUTION.. take a dremmel tool, a plastic cutting disk(mine was small, i think its stone, i could be wrong) but it worked perfect, just carefully cut away the clear plastic from the dark plastic. you do have a little bit of room for error, but i would try hard not to cut too low. because you can easiely cut into the black.
after you cut the top and bottom, it should pop right off(the sides arnt glued) then next what you can do is take a crew driver or exacto knife(something with a strong flat edge) and just chip away the flake and melted plastic, because it is moving really fast and melts the edges a little when its cutting..
but nothing that even looks bad, clean up all the little flakes, paint what you wana paint, and glue it together(the glue doesent need to be super strong because it will stay in place from the sides and the edges, plus the dash holdes it in place. so your golden buddy.. REALLY AN EASY MOD... and looks sharp as hell because you can paint it any color you want... good luck and have fun

Loundarp

i got the clear plastic out, i will buy plastikote paint today. i will try to post a finish product. thanks for the help guys

Identity_X

what color are you painting it ???

Loundarp

i'm going silver for the cluster with the big black part that cover the rest will be red.

Identity_X

post some pics when you're all done!

Loundarp

no problem

Loundarp

here some pic of the future cluster for my EGT



and this is the paint and the cleaner i used, the guy a the store said i didnt need primer and clear.


Cant whait to put that in my car!! i will post more pic when the cluster will be in the car.

mazdaspeedwest

you can expect it to look like this when your done. I did mine a few years ago.