Installing Late Style Instrument Grommets on a '69
 

Amongst the other things that I've done while redoing my 911, I ditched the old early style hardware which holds the gauges in from the trunk side of the dash, and replaced it with newer style rubber rings where the gauges push-on from the passenger compartment. I know that I've seen threads on it in the past, but I'm not finding them.

What's the secret to installing the gauges? I've been using copious amounts of talcum powder and tried two approaches with little success.

1) Partially install the rubber grommet into the hole in the dash, and then push the gauge into the grommet.

2) (Even less successful) partially install the grommet onto the gauge and then try to push both through the hole.

Curiously, my clock has had one of these rings all along, and I've removed it and installed it in the past. I must have packed my decoder ring up somewhere with all of the other old parts that I took off of the car, because I'm not getting it now. Any suggestions?

I don't think you can. Dimensions of the hole in the dash are larger on a 70 and forward.

Oh. Now I need to go find my old HW. Ugh!

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...so....

Has anyone ever tried shaving the late model grommets down by +/-2 mm (about the thickness of the ridges on the grommets)?

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They won't stay! The later holes have a deeper recess to facilitate the width of the grommet and hold the gauge in.

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Anyone have an extra set of hardware for mounting pre-1970 gauges???

I just wrap them with multiple layers of the super 88 electrical tape until they push in and make a tight fit. 69's are particularly bad to remove the knurled nuts since they have the more modern ventilation system.

I was wondering if the later rubber grommets can be turned down in a lathe, on some sort of mandrel?

Thats what i did when i fitted newer style gauges in my 69.

That worked perfectly! The first roll of tape that I uses was 0,2 mm thick, and it took 4.5 wraps (1.8 mm in total added to the gauge diameter) in order to fit perfectly. I had to use a different roll (0.18 mm thick or 7 mils) for the last gauge, and that took 6 wraps.

I knew you guys would have a solution!

Thanks!

Sometimes the simple solutions are the best ��