Now refix the perspex backs and refit the dials. It is worth regluing the dial faces.
Now it
simply remains to fit the new needles, right? HA!
First problem is that the holes in the two smaller needles are larger than the MG spindles. So you'll need to glue them to the spindles.
Second problem is that despite marking the rest positions of the old needles at the beginning, when you fit the new needles they will all be pointing in the wrong position when you connect the instruments back up.
So your nicely glued small needles will almost certainly have to be removed to refit correctly.
To get it all working correctly you'll need to reconnect the pod into the dash without the front section so that you can adjust the needles position repeatedly until they are pointing in the right direction again.
This is when you appreciate the lack of steering wheel and column shroud.
Temp gauge is pretty easy because you just need the engine at operating temperature and the needle position is obvious.
Rev counter, again with the hot engine ticking over set it at 850 ish. Check it rotates correctly when you rev the car.
The fuel gauge - now having swapped my gauge for the old one, I had no way to know where it should be pointing.
Hence, temporarily refit the steering wheel and make a trip to the filling station to fill the tank. Don't forget the glue, to restick the fuel needle after you've adjusted it
.
Now I could set the fuel needle to full.
That just leaves the speedo, OH BOY!
So I connected up my satnav to have something to check the speedo against and set off.
Initially the needle wasn't moving at all. So pull in to next layby.
That needed an adjustment of the spindle outwards slightly, and now it was moving.
It was now reading 20mph over actual speed, so pull in again.
Of course the needle drops to zero/near zero when you stop,
so ease it off and estimate how much you think the needle should be rotated on the spindle. Refit and drive off.
It's now under-reading by 10 mph. Pull in and adjust needle again.
Now its over reading by 15 mph. Pull in, adjust needle........................................................
Continue doing this ad infinitum, or you run out of fuel, or until you have the needle reading correctly-ish, - slight over read of speed is safest.
By now you will probably have used a fair bit of petrol so you can see if the fuel needle has moved down, or is stuck in place., Like mine was.
Free off fuel needle, go back to filling station and top up again and check that the needle is reading full. Reglue needle in full postion on spindle.
Now you have all four needles reading correctly and all you have to do is take off the steering wheel again, and refit the front of the instrument pod(WITHOUT disturbing the needles).
Now put the dash back together, refit the column shroud and steering wheel, and switch on your lovely illuminated needles.
Finally retire to a darkened room with a cool damp flannel over your forehead and steam gently for two hours.