Installing a 5-speed dash decal?

[Hodgepodge]

My Chamonix 2002 has a 5 speed.   My wife, who looked at the little shift diagram on the dash and only saw 4 gears, didn't know there was a 5th.   So I bought one of those decals that shows the 5-speed shift pattern.  

 

Any suggestions on the best way to remove the 4 speed diagram prior to installing the 5-speed version?   I don't want to screw up the dash.   

Edited March 14, 2019 by Hodgepodge

[irdave]

You didn't just tell her it was a secret?  My wagon still has the 5 speed ZHP knob even though it has the 6 speed in it.  It's fun to tell my friends to go ahead and put it in 6.  They look at the knob, look at me, look at the knob, shift to 6, smile.

 

I have no idea about the decal, haven't tried scrubbing it off myself- sorry.

[JohnM]

I used a little acetone to remove the 4 speed decal with no apparent damage to the dashboard.

[7502]

I never removed the original 4 speed diagram, decided to just cut the 5 speed leg off the new decal. Didn't have the heart to remove the original. 

[02Les]

When Keith Kreeger was making these decals way back, I believe the decal just went over the top of 4 speed decal (thus hiding the orig decal).

[jrhone]

8 hours ago, 02Les said:

When Keith Kreeger was making these decals way back, I believe the decal just went over the top of 4 speed decal (thus hiding the orig decal).

 

 

Yup...mine went over the 4 speed decal....

 

[Gordon]

Only US spec 02 dashes (with a manual gearbox) had a gearshift pattern on the dash. For some reason, the federal govt thought we were stupid and needed a gear shift pattern to know where the gears were.  Euro spec 02 dashboards did not have a gear shift pattern (or fasten seatbelt billboard on top of the dash). 

 

G-Man

[TobyB]

Quote

. For some reason, the federal govt thought we were stupid

 

I'm not sure they were wrong.  They never said THEY were any smarter, btw... just that we had to do what they said...

 

I've also never looked to see if it WAS a Federal law...

 

But Dear Gott, the hit your 'original value' will take if you alter the pattern.

 

t

 

Edited March 16, 2019 by TobyB

[John_in_VA]

On 3/14/2019 at 7:48 PM, jrhone said:

Yup...mine went over the 4 speed decal....

 

 

I don't see any evidence of the edge of the overlay - did you cut it down?

[mo02]

I wanted to add a few pictures to this thread sent from an owner in Australia.  His installation looks excellent and I am still selling all shift decal (5-speed / 4-speed / 5-speed dogleg).  

 

Use this link for if interested in a decal for your car.

 

 

Thanks,

 

Mo 

Edited May 8, 2020 by mo02

[AustrianVespaGuy]

On 3/14/2019 at 8:09 PM, Gordon said:

For some reason, the federal govt thought we were stupid

Continuing tangent, but such lunacy only got worse in later years!  In my E39, I replaced the whole lower/knee dash with the European parts. Why? Well, for the US market, they used up almost 2 inches of knee room with low density foam behind the dash panel whose ONLY purpose was to help direct an UN-belted driver-projectile into the path of the airbag in the event of a crash!

[mo02]

I would also add removing the old graphic/paint can be achieved by letting DOT brake fluid sit on it for a while.  A few passes and bristle brush would probably be the best option.  Brake fluid is safe for vinyl which is why I recommend it....and of course clean the residue before installing the decal.

 

Interesting notes in this thread -- but glad to read and share here.

 

-Mo

Edited May 8, 2020 by mo02

[TobyB]

This reminds me-

 

back in 1996, we were looking for a 2002 for Jenn.  One of the first cars we looked at was

a converted auto, so no shift pattern anywhere.  This was a more trusting age in this town, so

the owner let us take it out for a drive.  We pulled into a parking lot to pop the hood and take a look

on our own.  Figured out the hood, but the reverse lockout spring's so stiff on a 5 speed that we couldn't find

reverse, and so couldn't back out of the parking space.  Eventually, I pushed, and off we went,

but dang, if you wanted to upgrade the manual shift security system, removing the decal is certainly

one way to do it.

 

t

now pushes all his cars.