Gauge Cluster Lens & Bezel, do they come apart?
Gauge Cluster Lens & Bezel, do they come apart? 
12-12-2005, 02:57 PM
#7
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Yes they are seperate pieces.
Yes you can buy just the bezel, or the plastic seperate. www.macewenmotorsports.com
Yes you can buy just the bezel, or the plastic seperate. www.macewenmotorsports.com
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06-20-2006, 09:26 AM
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Well, the Camaro version aparently comes apart (i.e. the clear lens is seperate from the rest of the bezel) However, the T/A version is NOT. The clear plastic lens is welded/glued to the black plastic backing.
If anyone knows of a way to seperate the (2) without trashing either/both - I'd be glad to here it! I already tried dremel - but the way the edges are stepped and lock into one another - it is almost impossible to cut them apart without damaging both
Obviously, I'm also trying to find a way to install a brushed finished stainless steel bezel over the stock black part on my T/A
If anyone knows of a way to seperate the (2) without trashing either/both - I'd be glad to here it! I already tried dremel - but the way the edges are stepped and lock into one another - it is almost impossible to cut them apart without damaging both
Obviously, I'm also trying to find a way to install a brushed finished stainless steel bezel over the stock black part on my T/A
06-20-2006, 02:14 PM
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Originally Posted by 1QUIKWS6
Well, the Camaro version aparently comes apart (i.e. the clear lens is seperate from the rest of the bezel) However, the T/A version is NOT. The clear plastic lens is welded/glued to the black plastic backing
Yours may have been apart before and got broke. So the probably glued it back together.
06-20-2006, 02:24 PM
#12
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Originally Posted by WhiteRhino
Every Firebird I've done,they just seperate. You take out the 4 screws Then clips are at each top side and there is 2 clips on each side on the bottom.
Yours may have been apart before and got broke. So the probably glued it back together.
Yours may have been apart before and got broke. So the probably glued it back together.
06-20-2006, 03:43 PM
#13
I think he's thinking of seperating the lens/trim bezel assembly from the ip cluster itself. Matches his description exactly for 98's on up.
The link to Mac isn't right either. What they are selling is a lens only for 93-96 Camaro's, and a full lens/bezel assembly for 98-up Firebirds. The parts are much different.
98 up - All cars have a black plastic shroud sonic welded to the lens itself. Camaros don't have all the nice gauge surrounds - there are just two little corner trims. Those ebay bezels are really designed to be used with Camaro clusters as a way to liven them up.
The firebird lens/trim bezels include what is effectively a black overlay already, which looks much nicer than the Camaro ones and can also be used on the Camaro clusters.
Far as seperating the trim bezel from the lens, there is no easy solution. I think it would be nearly impossible to not end up with a total hack job.
If you want to use that overlay in a Firebird, you could just buy a Camaro lens and use it with that. But it may even be more complicated than that, because the Firebird needle stops are in the bezel, whereas the Camaro's are in the ip cluster. So there is another kink in the road.
Don't trash your Firebird lens because it is a $60 part.
In the end you should probably just sell the damn thing, it's really meant for Camaro guys and our boring clusters. If you want to dress up your cluster get some overlays - white overlays with the Firebird bezel looks very nice.
The link to Mac isn't right either. What they are selling is a lens only for 93-96 Camaro's, and a full lens/bezel assembly for 98-up Firebirds. The parts are much different.
98 up - All cars have a black plastic shroud sonic welded to the lens itself. Camaros don't have all the nice gauge surrounds - there are just two little corner trims. Those ebay bezels are really designed to be used with Camaro clusters as a way to liven them up.
The firebird lens/trim bezels include what is effectively a black overlay already, which looks much nicer than the Camaro ones and can also be used on the Camaro clusters.
Far as seperating the trim bezel from the lens, there is no easy solution. I think it would be nearly impossible to not end up with a total hack job.
If you want to use that overlay in a Firebird, you could just buy a Camaro lens and use it with that. But it may even be more complicated than that, because the Firebird needle stops are in the bezel, whereas the Camaro's are in the ip cluster. So there is another kink in the road.
Don't trash your Firebird lens because it is a $60 part.
In the end you should probably just sell the damn thing, it's really meant for Camaro guys and our boring clusters. If you want to dress up your cluster get some overlays - white overlays with the Firebird bezel looks very nice.
Last edited by todddchi; 06-20-2006 at 03:53 PM.
06-24-2006, 10:39 PM
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FYI,
Only 93-96 Firebird (mech. odometer) cars have bezels which are separarable via screws.
The latemodel (97-02) Firebird lens we offer is indeed clear and black plastic fused installed and sold as one part. I have tried to separate them, but it simply will not happen cleanly (breakage).
If a billet insert is made for Camaro, it may be used in a Camaro if you hot-knife (recommend) or dremel out opening in Firebird lens/bezel to accomodate it. However, care should be taken on these cut edges if they are visible.
97-02 Firebird lens/bezel are NOT seperable without cutting... Even then, still not cleanly.
-Ryan MEM
Only 93-96 Firebird (mech. odometer) cars have bezels which are separarable via screws.
The latemodel (97-02) Firebird lens we offer is indeed clear and black plastic fused installed and sold as one part. I have tried to separate them, but it simply will not happen cleanly (breakage).
If a billet insert is made for Camaro, it may be used in a Camaro if you hot-knife (recommend) or dremel out opening in Firebird lens/bezel to accomodate it. However, care should be taken on these cut edges if they are visible.
97-02 Firebird lens/bezel are NOT seperable without cutting... Even then, still not cleanly.
-Ryan MEM
06-25-2006, 09:11 AM
#15
Originally Posted by MacEwen
FYI,
Only 93-96 Firebird (mech. odometer) cars have bezels which are separarable via screws.
The latemodel (97-02) Firebird lens we offer is indeed clear and black plastic fused installed and sold as one part. I have tried to separate them, but it simply will not happen cleanly (breakage).
If a billet insert is made for Camaro, it may be used in a Camaro if you hot-knife (recommend) or dremel out opening in Firebird lens/bezel to accomodate it. However, care should be taken on these cut edges if they are visible.
97-02 Firebird lens/bezel are NOT seperable without cutting... Even then, still not cleanly.
-Ryan MEM
Only 93-96 Firebird (mech. odometer) cars have bezels which are separarable via screws.
The latemodel (97-02) Firebird lens we offer is indeed clear and black plastic fused installed and sold as one part. I have tried to separate them, but it simply will not happen cleanly (breakage).
If a billet insert is made for Camaro, it may be used in a Camaro if you hot-knife (recommend) or dremel out opening in Firebird lens/bezel to accomodate it. However, care should be taken on these cut edges if they are visible.
97-02 Firebird lens/bezel are NOT seperable without cutting... Even then, still not cleanly.
-Ryan MEM
Interesting.......
06-25-2006, 09:35 PM
#16
I ran into this problem when installing my bezel overlay. We're talking about 2 pieces of plastic. There has got to be some way to seperate the two. I tried with a cutting tool and totally screwed mine up. I'm now looking for a whole new cluster (or bezel if I can find one sold seperately.) But I'm stubborn and want this installed in my car so I plan trying again. Someone has to have some knowledge on how to cleanly seperate the two parts.
06-25-2006, 11:43 PM
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They cannot separate without breakage or CUTTING.
New 97-02 TA lens/bezel(s) are available from vendors like myself.
The 1996 and earlier TA's do not have an inner framework (bezel) as in later models. As to WHY? Who could answer!? It doesn't. However a modified 97+ TA lens/bezel can be fitted to earlier 93-96 birds. It has been trimmed and notched to fit earlier models. However it will cover up icons (symbols) for four smaller volt, gas, temp, and oil smaller gauges.
-Ryan MEM
New 97-02 TA lens/bezel(s) are available from vendors like myself.
The 1996 and earlier TA's do not have an inner framework (bezel) as in later models. As to WHY? Who could answer!? It doesn't. However a modified 97+ TA lens/bezel can be fitted to earlier 93-96 birds. It has been trimmed and notched to fit earlier models. However it will cover up icons (symbols) for four smaller volt, gas, temp, and oil smaller gauges.
-Ryan MEM
11-03-2008, 06:12 PM
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I just bought mine and was trying to separate the bezel from the clear lens with no success yet. I tried a blow dryer and tooth floss, razor blade, small flat head screw driver, even through it in the oven for about 4 minutes but the glue that it looks like it is held on by would not soften up.
11-03-2008, 07:54 PM
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Are we talking about the clear plastic piece that encloses the gauges being removed? I was going to tackle this feat on saturday. Is there really no clean way to do it?