356 Gauge bezel removal and tool needed.

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Steve Raucher
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356 Gauge bezel removal and tool needed.

#1 Post by Steve Raucher »

Good morning,
Who has the tool and where can I buy it? How hard is it to remove and reinstall gauge bezel without damaging bezel?
Just want to replace with new glass only, likely an old piece of glass will never clean up and look as crisp as new glass.
Palo Alto Speedo, while I waited years ago replaced new glass and bezel in less then five minutes and cost over $75. That comes to $900 an hour!
Any help or suggestions are appreciated.
Regards,
Steve
 

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Paul Hatfield
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Re: 356 Gauge bezel removal and tool needed.

#2 Post by Paul Hatfield »

Steve-
I did the job myself and am very happy with the results. Try looking at these two posts I made on my website.
https://www.enginesinback.com/restorati ... tification
and then this one:
https://www.enginesinback.com/restorati ... log/gauges

Paul
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Jay Darlington
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Re: 356 Gauge bezel removal and tool needed.

#3 Post by Jay Darlington »

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=53078 steve, i made a holder to hold my gauge wile working on it. a flat piece of 1/4" steel then i covered it with a thick coat of bondo. then i rubbed some Vaseline on the face of the gauge and pressed the gauge into the bondo. when the bondo starts getting hard gently remove the gauge after about a half hour you no have a nice tool to hold the gauge firmly wile you work on it.
i was going to put new bezels on so used a screw driver to remove mine, it will leave small dents on the edge. one could make a curved end on a screw driver and probably put a 30 deg. bend on it so it lays flat on the gauge. it doesn't take much to pry the folded lip of the bezel up. now to put the bezel on i used a spoon put your thumb in the spoon and tip it on edge and press it down as you go around the edge i did 3 rotation just folding it a small amount the first time then a little more on the next rotations, works real good. On your glass they should clean up nicely get some glass polish or what i use is 000 steel wool. be careful with the foam seat washer that the glass sets in.
Jay D.
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Joris Koning
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Re: 356 Gauge bezel removal and tool needed.

#4 Post by Joris Koning »

Steve, I would imagine that the 75 included new glass and bezel.
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Steve Raucher
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Re: 356 Gauge bezel removal and tool needed.

#5 Post by Steve Raucher »

Thanks all for chiming in with your suggestions you all are creative and committed to these cars.
I provided the new bezel, PA Speedo just new glass, R&R was done for $75.
The new glass really pops compared to my two other gauges. Would hate to try to clean up the two just to find visually I can still see the difference.
Drive on,
Steve
 

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Brett Meyer
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Re: 356 Gauge bezel removal and tool needed.

#6 Post by Brett Meyer »

Anyone trying this remove the old bezel with small screw driver take your time but you won't be reusing it,,
Get new bezels and gaskets if needed .
I used a large socket and rolled/ peened the edge of new bezel around the the housing lip -- the meal is soft,, again take your time and it will come out looking almost NOS.
I practiced with the old bezel first --rolling it back onto the housing and of course removing again and then installing the new bezels.
 '60 Roadster -87234- Mom & Dad purchased in 1960



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Steve Raucher
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Re: 356 Gauge bezel removal and tool needed.

#7 Post by Steve Raucher »

Does anyone believe the old gauge glass can clean up very well or just replace with new glass?
Had new glass installed in my Tach gauge and it really looks crisp,compared to the other two.
Regards,
Steve
 

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Wes Bender
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Re: 356 Gauge bezel removal and tool needed.

#8 Post by Wes Bender »

I was always able to clean the glass, but I guess it depends upon its condition when you start. Mine was never bad enough that it wouldn't clean up well with Windex. Tough cleaning can be done with Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. I use that on the inside of windshields to remove the haze from the upholstery gassing off. (And no, it wasn't me gassing off.)
Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.....

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Mike Wilson
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Re: 356 Gauge bezel removal and tool needed.

#9 Post by Mike Wilson »

Oh, sure! Blame it on the upholstery, Wes! We know better (by experience!)

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Vincent Chiaro
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Re: 356 Gauge bezel removal and tool needed.

#10 Post by Vincent Chiaro »

Is it possible to re-use the old bezel? Mine are nicely patina'd on an original car and a shiny one would look out of place. But I do want to fix the odometer to help me keep track of maintenance, etc.
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Mike Wilson
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Re: 356 Gauge bezel removal and tool needed.

#11 Post by Mike Wilson »

I think if carefully removed and it doesn't have any cracks or noticeable dents, I say go for it!

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Re: 356 Gauge bezel removal and tool needed.

#12 Post by Vincent Chiaro »

Thanks Mike! I'm guessing that maybe using a plastic tool to remove the old one (rather than a screwdriver) is most likely to yield the best results in terms of minimizing damage to the original bezel. To be honest, I'm pretty nervous about this part but I think once I get it off hopefully fixing the odometer is simple.
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Wes Bender
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Re: 356 Gauge bezel removal and tool needed.

#13 Post by Wes Bender »

If you can find an old one to practice on until you get the feel of it, you should have no problem.
Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.....

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Mike Wilson
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Re: 356 Gauge bezel removal and tool needed.

#14 Post by Mike Wilson »

A plastic tool would be better but I watched a local repair guy use a screwdriver. He places the gauge face down on a towel and just massages the screwdriver in the bezel and rotates the gauge applying pressure. I think someone in a previous thread mentioned using a spoon to roll the bezel edge back on the gauge.

Mike
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Martin Benade
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Re: 356 Gauge bezel removal and tool needed.

#15 Post by Martin Benade »

I’ve done a couple, it’s pretty easy to coax it off or on. Maybe not at show car perfection, but decent. You just have to put your mind to it.
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