Try coating the gasket with some Armoral or similar rubber conditioner. It may help. That's what I needed to do to get everything to snug up and align.

Interior cleaner is what I used. Also don't leave them in an odd shape too long. They will stretch.

LED Gauge Tutorial
 

I ended up using foaming hand soap and got the gasket back in. What a pain. Now my interior smells like Bath and Body Works Beach Day scent ;)

Great tutorial and exactly the way I did it. Here are mine:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1479787320.jpg

Just found this thread. Looking forward to doing this because I just got an '87 Targa and the gauge illumination at night really sucks. Thanks.

Just adding my $0.02 to this thread. The positive connection on the bulb is a little wire with a small connector pushed through a PCB board. If tension on the positive wire is released, it's possible for the wire to bend to the left or right in the connector which will cause it to contact the side wall (ground). You'll end up with a bad short that will cause problems.

Just make sure that the positive wire is properly seated in the holder and that the bulb is properly seated when installed. Worth a double check to avoid issues..

I posted this sometime before, but i see the subject coming up again.
So, this tool, available wherever paint is sold

https://www.thepaintstore.com/Hyde-Tools-Paint-Can-Bottle-Openers-2-Pack-p/46445.htm?1=1&CartID=0

will help pull out your gauges lickety split, no brooms required. It's also helpful in opening paint cans.

Rubbing some dish or hand soapy water on the rubber gauge surrounds will allow you to slide everything back together real slick without tears or bends, and soap won't hurt the rubber.

Cheers