Thor brushed steel dials, photos

here's what you get..

http://www2.css-networks.com/thor/2.jpg

gloves, colour backing things, dials, two sticky dots and some filing board

http://www2.css-networks.com/thor/3.jpg

I started from the right-hand side first.. this turned out to be a bad idea, or so I thought.

I removed the stock dial faces with their numbers on etc, and stuck on the blue backing.

Some instructions would have been nice. After sticking it down, I realised that I should not have removed the foil square. This is there so that the warning light doesn't appear "red" all the time.. only when there's light shining through.

Don't you just hate that feeling when you realise you have Just Fucked Up™? That's enough anger to last me for the rest of the weekend.

http://www2.css-networks.com/thor/4.jpg

I got to the next dial in.. the RPM dial, and when I took off the existing dial face, I realised I was taking off the needle-rest too. It's at this point where I realised I had "Just Fucked Up Again™". I fitted the RPM dial in what I had now decided was the correct way to do it and went back and re-did the first dial by putting the OEM face back on and sticking the blue stuff over the top of that.

http://www2.css-networks.com/thor/5.jpg

http://www2.css-networks.com/thor/6.jpg

Carrying on, I did the MPH dial the same..

http://www2.css-networks.com/thor/7.jpg

The finished item, or so I thought..

http://www2.css-networks.com/thor/8.jpg

http://www2.css-networks.com/thor/9.jpg

I then took a closer look at the peice of paper in the bag with the filing board, and noticed it has two sticky circles on it.

It then occured to me that I was meant to file the back off the needles to remove them from the OEM dials, and stick them in place on the new dials using the sticky circles.

Once again, I realised I had "Just Fucked Up Again™".

http://www2.css-networks.com/thor/10.jpg

I am now going to fit them and hope that they light-up okay with the OEM dials behind them.

My conclusion:

These are very nice dials. Exceptionally well made, and a nice mod for anybody to carry out, but I am slightly disappointed that there were no instructions. Just something basic like: "Fully remove the OEM dial faces, these will not be needed again, and "do not peel off the foil".

It's good to learn from others "f*ck ups"

I'm surprised you have to stick them over the existing dials..

nice work, how much?

I'm surprised you have to stick them over the existing dials..

that's the final point - you don't. That's what the sticky circles and filing board are for - to remove the needle-stops and stick them in place on the metal dials. I presume. That was my final fuck-up.

shit. It's TRL.. not TDI. any chance a mod could change the thread title as it's not nice to attribute peoples work to the wrong company

nice work, how much?

£80 at http://www.thor-racing.co.uk/Stainless_Steel_Accessories-57.asp

oh FFS another thing has just occured to me.

The MPH dial goes to 220MPH rather than the OEM 180MPH.

I'm going to have to re-do it properly!

I suppose if I was a bit brighter I would have studied it and worked all this out in advance.

Well at least others can learn from my fuck-ups!

Carlos, Hope you took note of exactly where the fuel and temp needles rested, and even at that I had to do the fuel one again.

To get the speedo needle back on again right, I had to drive @ 60 and when the blitz power meter read 60 push it on, not easy on a bumpy road.

Rev counter was the same story, worked out the 60 mph in 5th and then replaced it on the move.

I agree with Carlos, not an easy fit, no instructions. My UK specs came with the wrong fuel/temp dial, was annoying to have to build it all in then I'll strip it out again shortly to get the dial fitted. The "Electric blue" colour is Pale blue, so I have changed to dark blue that will match up with the LED's else where better. Not looking forward to the sticky colour change over. By the way I pulled the green covers off the std bulbs so not to confuse the colour.

Thor would be better to offer a "by return" service for you cluster, using special delivery insured for the appropiate amount. They the Pro's who made the kit can fit it and save the hassle. (suits non everyday users only i suppose)

They do look the dogs, and if you like a bit of top end driving, like me on the autobahn then the speedo is a must :-)

Carlos did you get plastered after fitting these like i did? :-)

This is the rear of the needle. Presumably you are meant to file this with the supplied nail-file.

http://www2.css-networks.com/thor/11.jpg

The filing board and sticky-circles (double-sided paper) seems like a slightly retarded way of removing and re-adhering the needles to me, so I used a stanley knife to remove only as much as was necessary of the rear, and then using a soldering iron I melted around the back to fix it in place.

http://www2.css-networks.com/thor/12.jpg

http://www2.css-networks.com/thor/13.jpg

http://www2.css-networks.com/thor/14.jpg

happy days

Carlos, Hope you took note of exactly where the fuel and temp needles rested, and even at that I had to do the fuel one again.

To get the speedo needle back on again right, I had to drive @ 60 and when the blitz power meter read 60 push it on, not easy on a bumpy road.

Rev counter was the same story, worked out the 60 mph in 5th and then replaced it on the move.

dude I thought about this after reading about the problems before! however.. I couldn't see how it would be possible to see where they rested, since the needle-stops are in the way. Here's what I think is going to happen:

1. I'm going to have a nicely re-calibrated Fuel-gage. I'm going to start the car in the driveway with what I know is "very empty", and push the needle on pointing at "E".

2. I'm going to wait for the car to sit at its normal idle, and push the rpm dial on where it should be.

3. I'm going to have a fucked up speedo My tomtom will tell me what speed I'm doing, but there's no way I'm going to be pushing the needles on while I'm driving at 60!!

Carlos did you get plastered after fitting these like i did? :-)

if only!! This is Live! as we speak. and I've just noticed the time. Gotta be in Birmingham at 3 to pick up my bonnet from Liam!

shit. It's TRL.. not TDI. any chance a mod could change the thread title as it's not nice to attribute peoples work to the wrong company

Another "Just Fucked Up™" moment

They look great, can't wait to see finished install photos.

Perhaps if you'd not been doing the install with one hand and photographing with the other, things would have "Just Fucked Up™" NOT.....

Mate, only chance you can get a pic of them once finished and in the dark please.. As I was wondering what blue I should choose to fit in with other blue lights on my dash.

Thanks...

Markie, might be a couple of weeks until i have it done but yes of course I will let you see.

Carlos, maybe THOR will give you a free go on their rolling road to set the speedo / rpm? :-)

I was told be thor "there should have been instructions in there", now thay have sent the second kit and i have still to see them? I think they need to make an effort to sort these kits out and make them user friendly.

Did the same stupid things like you. You wont see anything at night trust me.

edited thread title for you.

JB

They do look really good but a bit of a dog to fit, there's got to be better ways of re-fitting the speedo needle than doing it while driving along?

What if the needle rests are removed prior to taking the needles off, would they then go to a natural rest position that could be marked?

Paul

They do look really good but a bit of a dog to fit, there's got to be better ways of re-fitting the speedo needle than doing it while driving along?

What if the needle rests are removed prior to taking the needles off, would they then go to a natural rest position that could be marked?

Paul

Yes, that's the way to do it. Take the needle stop off, connect the dials up and turn ignition on, then mark where it settles. You will find it settles slightly below zero, which is why if you just put the needle back on zero with the ignition on it will over-read by 10mph or so. Without the ignition on they just drop right down. Revs are easy - just turn the air con off, note what it idles at (when warmed up) and line it up on that when you refit.

Yes, that's the way to do it. Take the needle stop off, connect the dials up and turn ignition on, then mark where it settles. You will find it settles slightly below zero, which is why if you just put the needle back on zero with the ignition on it will over-read by 10mph or so. Without the ignition on they just drop right down. Revs are easy - just turn the air con off, note what it idles at (when warmed up) and line it up on that when you refit.

mate I have absolutely no idea what the fuss is about!! I fired up my car and let the engine warm. I knew how much fuel was in there, and where it idles. I pushed the needles back on and everything is puuurfect! my speedo overreads by a near-perfect 10% !

Did the same stupid things like you. You wont see anything at night trust me.

I did it properly in the end! The only thing I'm bothered about now is that my coloured backings are a little rippley after being refitted three times!! and my Handbrake glow is very ripply because I peeled the damn foil off!

I'm going to ask Thor if I can buy a new pack of backings.. shouldn't cost much.

branners: thanks!

Got some night time pics mate?

Got some night time pics mate?

aww man they look great!

The only problem is that the bulb behind my fuel gauge has died.

They look very dim in the photo, but actually look great really.

http://www2.css-networks.com/thor/15.jpg

Nice.. What colour was the blue? As I think there are a few options for the back light?

Looking for a nice ice blue kind of light.

Like the blue dash conv kind of colour.. These like that would you say?

Thanks for the post, they do look great mate!

I agree, Carl0s keep up the good work

http://www.mx5ocforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=22049&start=45

Ur hard work always pays off