Hi again everyone. I'm sure this is a unique question and against the purist motto but I have to ask anyway.

As most of you know, the W123 has a cluster with chrome plated needle hubs, etc. The W123 and W126 clusters are not interchangeable due to fit and the mechanical drive on the W123. When I get my hands on a properly working W126 Diesel cluster, I want to swap the needles out for the chrome based W123 type. I think the older style are classier than the bland-looking W126 style. I am also thinking about customizing the efficiency gauge from a gas model cluster by attaching its vacuum line into the tranny modulator line. I think it should simulate the throttle vacuum of a gas engine as that is what MB designed the tranny for.

Are needles interchangeable? Can the left-side cluster pack be swapped and still maintain correct temp, pressure, etc readings to be accurate?

__________________
1991 F250 super-cab 7.3 IDI. (rebuilt by me) Banks Sidewinder turbo, hydroboost brakes, new IP and injectors.
2003 S430 - 107K
1983 300SD - Tanoshii - mostly restored ~400K+.
1983 300SD - Good interior. Engine finally tamed ~250K.
Monark Nozzle Install Video - http://tinyurl.com/ptd2tge

I can't give the answers you require but you might be able to glean some information from this thread

Help identifying diesel tachometer req'd - want to fit it to my car!

I think diesel giant did a rolling back the years odometer thread somewhere - perhaps there's information in it about needle swapping...

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!