WBK 1675 Pepsi GMT Mod progress thread

[la Fantasma]

So i figured i would share with you a few mods I've done to my WBK 1675 rolex gmt. The watch comes with a insert with thin fonts and the plexi is horrible. It distorts the date and the mag isnt even close to being correct, and as you may know i get ocd about that so it had to go. So here is my build thread up to this point:
This is what it started off as:


Then i aged the insert a little to see if i would like the faded insert on the pepsi, this is with the same plexi, see how the date looks all goofy:



The first plexi i ordered was from esslinger.com, and it still wasnt right, the mag was off to the left and it was still to small and i faded the insert even more (i had one on order so i knew this one wouldnt be on for long anyways:



So i ordered a clark plexi which is what i should have just done in the first place. The mag is right, the date is centered. Also ordered a clark insert, which i bleached slightly and lightly sanded it, i didnt want it ghost or as faded as my last one. I also applied some matte varnish to the markers because they were just to shiny for me. I didnt age them at all as i was going for a cleaner look on this one. here is how it stands now with the new clark insert and plexi:


Now it was on to the case. It had lug holes drilled but they were obviously to small for gen spec bars, and i had to upgrade the end links to 580's to fit the fatter bars. Also i drilled the bracelet out so the fat bars fit in there with ease. I went with clark bars and drilled the holes out to 1.35mm. Now on one of the holes i ran into something that ive never had happen on a project before. The stainless had a hard spot in it and when i was drilling the edge of the hole chipped and the drill bit broke. It didnt do to much damage, it looks vintage but it did scare the crap out of me.



You can kind of see it on the lug hole on the right. It has a small chunk taken out of the top of the hole. Like i said it scared me more then it should have. haha.



Also the case was aged and brushed then polished. The movement was regulated to +1 second a day. Its working perfect now, it was about 30 seconds slow a day when i received it. I think it just has a nicer cleaner look to it now. Overall im happy with it. Comments please! Thanks for looking guys!
-Johnny

 

[Mendota]

Nice progress so far. I don't think the 1675 used the fat 2mm submariner bars, though. I believe the GMTs used the smaller 1.8mm size, which is why the endlinks are different. I don't know for sure, though.

There are some good sources on Ebay to get that smaller size. The rest of the dimensions of the bars are all the same, only the diameter is just 1.8mm instead of 2mm. Your original endlinks will work fine then. You can also use these bars with sub bracelets. I'm getting some for my PT 1680. 2mm bars fit in the endlinks but the fit is so tight that the pins on the bars won't line up with the lugholes anymore. I need that slight forgiveness that the 1.8mm allows.

 

[la Fantasma]

Thanks for the kind words. Actually the 1675 did use 2mm bars on it. The end links from Stan are just standard end links for subs. I had 1.8mm in there but they didn't fit right. The 2mm are wide enough so they can go right to the end. I have my 1680 on 2mm bars and it looks great. I guess I just like the look of them peaking through lol. Plus the end links shouldn't have openings when you look through the back so I like it to look as close as possible! Post some pics of your 1680! I'd love to see it.


Sent from my iPhone using Some sort of magic

 

[droptopman]

Hey nice work here. Good looking budget build.

 

[la Fantasma]

Thanks man! WBK pieces are great, just need to be modded a bit. Super easy to work on, the plexi slid right in perfect with no fitment issues. The insert snapped in right when i pressed it. So they're good bases. I appreciate it man!

 

[DreadPirateRobert]

Johnny, Great job as usual!

 

[la Fantasma]

Thanks man!


Sent from my iPhone using Some sort of magic

 

[QueTip]

Looking really good buddy!

 

[la Fantasma]

Still have more to do on it, but itll get there! Thanks guys for the support! I appreciate it!

 

[Skywatch]

Another nice modding project, love the look of the bezel insert.

 

[la Fantasma]

Thank you sir! The Clark bezel inserts are really nice!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Some sort of magic

 

[R2L]

Great work! You have a talent to make great looking pieces out of cheapies! I envy you! Thanks for sharing


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[la Fantasma]

Thanks Arthur! It means a lot!


Sent from my iPhone using Some sort of magic

 

[Hype]

Mine say hi. Just fitted 20mm gen spec springbars. Surprising, no mods to the lug holes were needed. More mods to come. [emoji4]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[la Fantasma]

Looks good man! I ordered a special insert that should be in today so I'll fit it and post some pics!


Sent from my iPhone using Some sort of magic

 

[SRower003]

Very nice project.

Which Clark plexi did you use? Can you provide a link?

Thanks in advance.

 

[la Fantasma]

Very nice project.

Which Clark plexi did you use? Can you provide a link?

Thanks in advance.

Thanks very much man! It's the Clark 25-116 plexi. I bought it off ebay. It was about $9 with shipping. Here's a pic of it and the packaging from the bay.



Sent from my iPhone using Some sort of magic

 

[tanweekiat]

Mine say hi. Just fitted 20mm gen spec springbars. Surprising, no mods to the lug holes were needed. More mods to come. [emoji4]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That crystal gonna go asap

 

[P4GTR]

modded one of these also.

Had a hard time with the bezel assembly. It was very difficult to reinstall once removed. Other than that, great watch. Replacement movements are inexpensive and available from Ofrei.

 

[Mendota]

Thanks for the kind words. Actually the 1675 did use 2mm bars on it. The end links from Stan are just standard end links for subs. I had 1.8mm in there but they didn't fit right. The 2mm are wide enough so they can go right to the end. I have my 1680 on 2mm bars and it looks great. I guess I just like the look of them peaking through lol. Plus the end links shouldn't have openings when you look through the back so I like it to look as close as possible! Post some pics of your 1680! I'd love to see it.


Sent from my iPhone using Some sort of magic

After I wrote that I went out on the bay and realized the GMTs also did have the same bars. My bad!

What I meant when I wrote about 1.8mm is there are bars sized the same as 2mm in every way except the bar diameter is 1.8mm instead of 2mm. The pins go out to the end of the lug holes but they fit our rep end links better without having to buy new endlinks or try to modify the end links to accept 2mm bars. The 2mm sometimes doesn't even fit in the endlink, or when it does it uses up all of the slack and wiggle room and can cause problems with the pins going through the lugholes.

Here's a link that some modders on RWG have used. They are good quality and I'm picking some up myself.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221571300...:MEBIDX:IT&clk_rvr_id=814733359044&rmvSB=true

Here's another link to bars that others have used successfully. Also great quality and CONUS based.
https://www.topspecus.com/shop/genuine-marathon-stainless-steel-spring-bars-20mm/