I've recently put a new (slightly less cracked) dash in my 1970 fastback which obviously required taking the speedo, clock and fuel guage out. When I went to put them back in, however, I had enormous difficulties owing to that weird wavy ring that goes around them.



The problem is, it stops the guage being pushed all the way in to the opening, and so the clips don't come through and can't engage to hold the whole thing in. It works fine if I just don't include the metal ring, but I'm sure they were included for a reason.

Can anyone explain to me where these rings are supposed to go?
(The speedo also had an additional wide plastic ring which I'm even more confused about)

the ring is sprung steel it is supposed to hold tension between the dash and the gauge the two ears flick out stop it falling in your lap

Thanks mate
That thought did occur to me, but somehow it didn't feel right when I tried it that way. Will see how I go