White-faced Gauges?
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Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4
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From: Cambridge, MN 55008
White-faced Gauges?
I am looking at getting a white-face gauge kit from APC Inc. The one with blue backlighting. How easy or hard are they to install? Anyone have any tips? Photos would be awesome too.
Thanks,
Jeff
1997 F-150 SuperCab XLT Lariat, 4x4 Off-Road, moon blue, longbox, 5.4 with dual exhaust, AT, billet grille, stainless bug shield, Lund Moon Visor, chrome rockers, clear corners, HID conversion lights
Thanks,
Jeff
1997 F-150 SuperCab XLT Lariat, 4x4 Off-Road, moon blue, longbox, 5.4 with dual exhaust, AT, billet grille, stainless bug shield, Lund Moon Visor, chrome rockers, clear corners, HID conversion lights
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 979
Likes: 0
From: Tampa Bay Area - FL
I didn't get those, but I did get NR Automotive's white/black gauge face replacement kit. Not sure if they're the same, but it was easy. The hardest part was getting the OEM faces off and getting the needles back in the right place. Before starting install...
Fill up gas tank.
Let temp come up to normal operating level.
This will also assure that the choke is no longer engaged so the tach will be accurate.
Take a picture of the gauges in this position.
Take dash apart, take cluster out.
Need to do the swap on a table or something to avoid any damage to the cluster.
Take out the speedo needle stop with a pair of pliers. (Lift straight out). Note where the speedo needle ends up. Should "unwind" below zero MPH. Now take the remainder of the stop pins out the same way.
Use the needle removal tool to get needles off. CAREFULLY!!!
Peel gauge faces off (a bit tricky).
Put on new gauges (peel off adhesive protectant on back of new gauges).
Put cluster back together (but without clear plastic cover. Reinstall needle stops (except speedo 0 MPH stop).This gives you access to adjust needles while plugged into truck's electrical system.)
Plug cluster back into truck.
Start truck. Let warm back up to normal temperature.
Place all needles back on in appropriate position except for speedo.
This is where it gets tricky.
In my 2000, I have the digital odometer. My gauges can be put into digital mode within the odometer display.
You don't have this option. I drove down a vacant back road up to about 15 - 20 MPH and placed needle back on, you are going to need to put needle back on where it "spun" back to when you removed the needle stop pin. Now, spin the needle up to about 10 MPH, and replace needle stop pin. Let needle rest on stop pin. Should sit on the stop pin. If all of your positioning is correct, you should be in business.
Drive down the road, and have a friend drive next to you and see if your speedo is accurate. This is where my digital readout came in handy.
As for wiring the "Indiglo" lights, just use a power source that only comes on with the dash lights...like the dimmer on the stereo, or your parkng lamp switch.
Good luck. Be sure to post pics when done.
P.S. As I stated earlier, I have a 2000 and used the NR Automotive white/black gauges. Your APCs may differ slightly in your 97 truck.
------------------
--Lariat4WD--
2000 Ford F-150 Extended Cab Flareside 4x4 Lariat
5.4L;auto;3.55LS;Black/Silver;ORP;remote keyless;floor-shift 4wd;Class III;AM/FM/SingleCD
Mods so far:
Lund X-Terminator bug shield; Vent Shade Vent Visors; Westin Black step bars; Pendaliner bedliner; GSP black Safari Grille Guard; GTS TailBlazerII Slotted taillight covers; Clear corner lenses; under hitch backup lights; 2 KC Hilites Daylighter 6" 150W black round; Cranked torsion bars; Removed lower striping; Replaced factory ORP decals w/ silver; 2 Polk Audio EX10 10" subs under rear seat; Sony XM754HX amp; Viper 300ESP alarm; NR Auto white/black gauges
Pending
2001 Lightning tail lights; Replacing factory gold/maroon Lariat decals & upper stripes with silver & black
Warranty Paint Work
In body shop now!!!
Entire bed being repainted due to primer showing; also painting roof (cracking paint); Changing all silver 2-tone to dark charcoal
Wish list:
More lights; Flowmaster 40 Series SI/DO exhaust w/ 99 Z-28 chrome tips; Optima red top battery; Remote starter & Prox. sensor; In-dash TV/CD/DVD/AM/FM head unit; BedRug & Roll bar; Aluminum dash kit
<A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1288981&a=10889838&p=40339331&Sequence=0&re s=high" TARGET=_blank>
</A> <A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1288981&a=10889838&p=40339335&Sequence=0&re s=high" TARGET=_blank> 
</A>
<A HREF="http://www.bmgsite.com" TARGET=_blank>
</A>
2000 VW Cabrio GL (Wife's)
2.0L, auto, pw, pdl, pm, tilt, cruise
Green ext, black cloth int
Am/Fm/Cass w/ CD cgr
[This message has been edited by lariat4wd (edited 03-15-2001).]
Fill up gas tank.
Let temp come up to normal operating level.
This will also assure that the choke is no longer engaged so the tach will be accurate.
Take a picture of the gauges in this position.
Take dash apart, take cluster out.
Need to do the swap on a table or something to avoid any damage to the cluster.
Take out the speedo needle stop with a pair of pliers. (Lift straight out). Note where the speedo needle ends up. Should "unwind" below zero MPH. Now take the remainder of the stop pins out the same way.
Use the needle removal tool to get needles off. CAREFULLY!!!
Peel gauge faces off (a bit tricky).
Put on new gauges (peel off adhesive protectant on back of new gauges).
Put cluster back together (but without clear plastic cover. Reinstall needle stops (except speedo 0 MPH stop).This gives you access to adjust needles while plugged into truck's electrical system.)
Plug cluster back into truck.
Start truck. Let warm back up to normal temperature.
Place all needles back on in appropriate position except for speedo.
This is where it gets tricky.
In my 2000, I have the digital odometer. My gauges can be put into digital mode within the odometer display.
You don't have this option. I drove down a vacant back road up to about 15 - 20 MPH and placed needle back on, you are going to need to put needle back on where it "spun" back to when you removed the needle stop pin. Now, spin the needle up to about 10 MPH, and replace needle stop pin. Let needle rest on stop pin. Should sit on the stop pin. If all of your positioning is correct, you should be in business.
Drive down the road, and have a friend drive next to you and see if your speedo is accurate. This is where my digital readout came in handy.
As for wiring the "Indiglo" lights, just use a power source that only comes on with the dash lights...like the dimmer on the stereo, or your parkng lamp switch.
Good luck. Be sure to post pics when done.
P.S. As I stated earlier, I have a 2000 and used the NR Automotive white/black gauges. Your APCs may differ slightly in your 97 truck.
------------------
--Lariat4WD--
2000 Ford F-150 Extended Cab Flareside 4x4 Lariat
5.4L;auto;3.55LS;Black/Silver;ORP;remote keyless;floor-shift 4wd;Class III;AM/FM/SingleCD
Mods so far:
Lund X-Terminator bug shield; Vent Shade Vent Visors; Westin Black step bars; Pendaliner bedliner; GSP black Safari Grille Guard; GTS TailBlazerII Slotted taillight covers; Clear corner lenses; under hitch backup lights; 2 KC Hilites Daylighter 6" 150W black round; Cranked torsion bars; Removed lower striping; Replaced factory ORP decals w/ silver; 2 Polk Audio EX10 10" subs under rear seat; Sony XM754HX amp; Viper 300ESP alarm; NR Auto white/black gauges
Pending
2001 Lightning tail lights; Replacing factory gold/maroon Lariat decals & upper stripes with silver & black
Warranty Paint Work
In body shop now!!!
Entire bed being repainted due to primer showing; also painting roof (cracking paint); Changing all silver 2-tone to dark charcoal
Wish list:
More lights; Flowmaster 40 Series SI/DO exhaust w/ 99 Z-28 chrome tips; Optima red top battery; Remote starter & Prox. sensor; In-dash TV/CD/DVD/AM/FM head unit; BedRug & Roll bar; Aluminum dash kit
<A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1288981&a=10889838&p=40339331&Sequence=0&re s=high" TARGET=_blank>
<A HREF="http://www.bmgsite.com" TARGET=_blank>
</A>2000 VW Cabrio GL (Wife's)
2.0L, auto, pw, pdl, pm, tilt, cruise
Green ext, black cloth int
Am/Fm/Cass w/ CD cgr
[This message has been edited by lariat4wd (edited 03-15-2001).]
