Does anyone make a reproduction instrument cluster lens for a 72 XR7? Or, is there a restoration service? Mine are clouded/discolored (milky) looking. Meguiars PlasX doesn’t work. The clear plastic lens has become clouded.
If they’re cloudy there’s usually nothing you can do.
The cloudiness is inside the plastic, not on the surface.
I thought these had been done. Maybe a Mustang part?
Mustang is not the same. This is a Cougar only part.
Randy Goodling
CCOA #95
You know I think this might be a great product. The 123 guys get so little love in the parts world. be sure to let Don Rush know if you guys would like to see this. I am getting pretty good doing lenses.
The 1971-73 XR7 lens has a built-in, trip odometer, reset button. Standard model Cougar does not have the button.
Two versions would be needed, should be the same contour wise and fitment.
There is a way to use one tool for two parts. A section gets swapped out. But what that means is that there will be a hair sized witness line where the reset button would have gone. I wonder how big a problem that would be?
CBTN has 83054 standards and 94141 XR-7s built over the three years. The most amazing thing is that sales actually increased every year.
The plastic piece of the instrument cluster housing that the lens attaches to is the same for both standard and XR-7 models so the lens is the same size and shape for both models.
In my opinion most restorations being done on a 1971-1973 Cougar will be done on an XR-7. There would not be very many standard models that would receive a high end restoration. Those would be a 429 car, a GT or perhaps some car with a 351 4V and a 4 speed. All of those are low production cars and they would most likely be the only ones where a restorer might make notice of the witness line. I would think that most standard owners would just be happy to be able to actually be able to see their gauges and the witness line would not bother them.
Randy Goodling
CCOA #95
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Well considered opinion. Thank you.
Another possible solution would be to tool up a little filler plug. This is what is used on the clock lens for 67 and 68 standards when there is no clock.
Maybe if the plug was made of the same clear plastic as the lens. I do think that the plug would be more noticeable than the witness line though.
Randy Goodling
CCOA #95
I should have clarified that. If we have a convertible tool, it has to be broken down and the insert replaced. That calls for the tool to be pulled and cooled off and then reinstalled. That calls for a second run of probably another 350 parts minimum. It saves on tooling costs, but you still have to run twice as many parts. If I did the plug then we could get by with a smaller run. If it takes more than a year to sell 350 parts then it starts to get costly from an inventory investment perspective. Making the plug out of the same material is a good idea if it can be made of the same material.
If the plug was a different color it would most definitely stand out. The only plus there is that unless the car was being shown at a Cougar only event the vast majority of people would not know that it is incorrect. Even at a Cougar show a lot of people would not know it was incorrect. Plus it is not the easiest thing to see. The way a 71-73 dash is put together you would almost have to be sitting in the drivers seat to see it.
I do not know how many of these you would sell. I do know that any time that I had one that was decently clear it did not take very long to find a new home. WCCC has both styles listed on their website and they sell for a little over $200 each. Both are shown as out of stock. Perhaps WCCC could tell you how many people have them on their notify list. That may help gauge the need.
Perhaps a clear plug could be 3D printed. Maybe that would be less expensive then tooling up to produce it.
Randy Goodling
CCOA #95
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What about tooling up the standard version and 3D printing the button and tower assembly to put through a hole you drill into the standard lens when needed? That would never work for volume production, but this is definitely low volume.
If I tool it in hardened tool steel every part will be identical and perfect. If we use the same material it will age the same way. I will probably talk myself into tooling two parts, one XR7 and one Standard just so I don’t have to make any excuses for the quality of the part. This is not smartest business decision but in the long run I know I won’t regret it.
I am the original owner of a 72 XR-7. My instrument panel clear plastic lens has some discoloration. Is someone thinking about manufacturing a reproduction lens? If so, when would they be available for sale? How difficult is it to replace the lens?
Warren Neville
I am afraid it is just the thinking about it stage right now. In a best case scenario it would take a minimum of a year to develop this and get it into production. With tariffs and inflation it is also probably going to be more expensive than we might like.
For what it’s worth, I would be interested in both XR7 and the standard versions.
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I know from time to time I sound real cheap, but I used my ‘72’s faded lens and traced it onto a sheet of 3/16” lexan. Double sided 3M tape to act as both a cushion and a positioning tool works for me. In fact, it’s invisible at night with the gauges shining thru! (and, no, it doesn’t attract dust)