This is another project I've been working for awhile. So far, the only thing I've had to pay for was the ink in my printer. The rest was all free samples.
A Little background: I'm a graphic designer/digital printer for a portable tradeshow display company- as well as just starting a new Graphics/Wide-format company. This basically gives me access to a few medias that most people wouldn't think of. I have seen the white-face gauge conversions as well as backlight-white faces, and even on ebay a "REAL" indiglo gauge set. Well, import drivers have easy access to these types of things- but not us.
So I've used only 2 different materials: "Trans-White" backlite film (usualy used in light-boxes like you see at the airport or tradeshow), and 3M "Optically Clear Adhesive" which is commonly used in automotive gauge applications as well as layering digital components like touch-screen displays for your palm pilot. I used the optically clear because it is rated at 98+% light transmission- this is the expensive stuff. I don't know exact costs on these materials, being they were all samples from business associates- sorry.
I started by front printing the white (outer) layer of the gauges on the TransWhite, then on a separate sheet of TransWhite- backprinted the blue layer. I then apply a layer of Optically clear adhesive to both sides of a blank TransWhite page for spacing. Then the front is attached, followed by the back. Another layer is then applied to the back side of the set- to be used to apply the face to the gauge-plate.
I have not yet recieved my sample gauge set to use as a prototype, so the pics are just handheld digital photos of the printed sheet. They do still have a slight bluish cast to them when not-backlit, but become a rich-lite blue color when backlit. I am going to try to produce a second set shortly to see if I can streamline the process.
If anyone happens to have a digital file of the inset warning lights (high-beam, turn signals, service engine, etc...) they could send me, that would be great!
So, what do you think?
A special thanks to AUS, for emailing me his original printable files- which I used as a template for my gauges (I redrew everything in Adobe Illustrator). As well as to Songman for sending (soon I hope ) some old gauges to use as samples!
------------------ Medium Metallic Green 87 GT 3.1L High Output 4 Spd OD Tranny Open (read: Loud) Exhaust and More! -Rob Bartlett
[This message has been edited by MinnGreenGT (edited 09-05-2001).]
If/When I do produce them (my wife wants me to at least make a few bucks from my time-spent)... it will probably be a limited quantity. My sample roll of 3M optically clear adhesive is only 60ft Long, and there are 3 layers for every finished set. After that, I'll have to find out about pricing!
------------------ Medium Metallic Green 87 GT 3.1L High Output 4 Spd OD Tranny Open (read: Loud) Exhaust and More! -Rob Bartlett
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02:21 PM
Joe Torma Member
Posts: 3485 From: Hillsborough, NJ USA Registered: Jul 2001
Wow They look great! You could try some more funky stuff like your checkers or the Fiero Emblem that only show up when you turn the lights on or something.
Originally posted by MinnGreenGT: If anyone happens to have a digital file of the inset warning lights (high-beam, turn signals, service engine, etc...) they could send me, that would be great!
Cliff- you are awsome... format: anything I can read! I'd love vector (illustrator) format, but anything from JPG, GIF, EPS, or anything! I'm running Photoshop 6.0 and Illustrator 9.01... so I'm pretty well set. Are the images at actual size? that would be great! Please email them to rob@xtralite.com or my home address: MacGod911@aol.com
Thanks Again!
------------------ Medium Metallic Green 87 GT 3.1L High Output 4 Spd OD Tranny Open (read: Loud) Exhaust and More! -Rob Bartlett
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03:26 PM
Denny Member
Posts: 1410 From: Leola, PA USA Registered: Apr 2001
Ummm.... pricing... what are they worth? I know the import guys can get indiglo sets for around $95, but these aren't truly indiglo. I guess I better figure out my cost to start with. But since I like everybody here- what would people be willing to pay for something like this? They are all hand-layered, and do take some time. ALSO, I need to point out that I've never installed a set and this is not a "sure thing" just yet.
------------------ Medium Metallic Green 87 GT 3.1L High Output 4 Spd OD Tranny Open (read: Loud) Exhaust and More! -Rob Bartlett
I dont care about the price! All I know is I would love a set!!! Put me on your list of people to buy them when you make them! keep me posted.
Thanks!
------------------ James Essar AOL IM Name: FieroMaster88 88 Coupe With a new V6 5 speed Isuzu trans AcCel 8mm wires rapid fire plugs custom intake with K&N filter. Soon to be 2" closer to the ground and have a turbo
Those would look real nice in combination with the carbon fiber that I hope to do at some point. If they work out, put me down for a set. Are you bringing your samples to Fierorama
Hey, those are nice! I like the design. Anyway of doing the "face" on the A/C control panel? I've looked into it a bit. Seems like it could work. Just need to scratch out all the orange paint stuff around the light hole.
Oh yeah, you need to fix the temperatures on the gauge. They're a little low
could you post the templates? or email them to me? file format doesnt matter, as long as its bmp j/k jpg/gif/bmp/psd i dont even care if its pcx, i have an idea for my own custom guages!
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06:12 PM
Denny Member
Posts: 1410 From: Leola, PA USA Registered: Apr 2001
Originally posted by MinnGreenGT: Ummm.... pricing... what are they worth?
I think you should get a fair price for your efforts.
Figure the material cost, then add what you think is a fair price for construction time (includes printing time), then add what you think is a fair amount for artistic efforts/talent.
Sqoach... I never even noticed that!!! I got the original layouts from AUS... must be in Celcius (sp?)... I guess I'll have to change that on the next set! Good Eye! Thanks.
About the A/C panel... I guess I'll just have to take one apart to see!
Someone asked me off-forum about different colors... I guess I can print them in any color my printer will do- I'll try sometime and see what else I can come up with!
------------------ Medium Metallic Green 87 GT 3.1L High Output 4 Spd OD Tranny Open (read: Loud) Exhaust and More! -Rob Bartlett
If you need one, I think I still have the one I was messing with. The face came off pretty easily. Just took off the knob and the slider and peeled back the face. I was just trying to scratch off the orange paint stuff from the face, but that didn't work too well. Hope you can figure something out.
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11:49 PM
Sep 6th, 2001
artherd Member
Posts: 4159 From: Petaluma, CA. USA Registered: Apr 2001
I've been trying for a while to find a contractor that would make me just 'blank' indiglo circles that we could then cut and laminate and print whatever gauge designs we wanted onto, but no luck yet.
Yours do look quite good, and I've had recent expierence with using acrylic block as a marcro lightpipe and diffusior with high intensidy (5 and 10,000mcd) white and blue LED diodes...
I can't show the actual project, but here's an offshoot I did one night for a friend of mine
A sheet of cinema lighting diffusion goes behind the abraded surface lexan pipe, which makes for a nice soft even glow.
(Yes, he drives a ford and I still talk to him, grin!
Hrm...
Give me a hollar off-list if you like.
Best! Ben
------------------ Ben Cannon 88 Formula, T-top Metalic Red 88 Formula, Silver 87 Coupe, Metalic Red "Every Man Dies, not every man really Lives" -Mel Gibson, "Braveheart"
i'll take a set with red face, and black writing. non indiglo of course, and can you make the red lite lite up, and have a dimmer with my factory dash lites?
------------------ WTB:cheap fastback standard. can be ugly, doesn't have to have engine.
looking for computer parts, wholesale? cpu built to order? email me
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12:25 AM
Nashco Member
Posts: 4144 From: Portland, OR Registered: Dec 2000
To all those asking... no real progress yet. I took the prototype set to Fierorama for people to play with, but with the rain not many got to see them. I still haven't recieved my extra dash parts to test the backlighting system (I don't really have the ability to dismantle my GT yet... it's my daily driver). So if anyone here has an extra 120 mph speedo/dash cluster that is damamged or non-working, let me know 'cause I still need samples to work with!
Sqoach- did you say you had a spare A/C & heater panel? I'd try to play with it if you're willing to give it up!
------------------ Medium Metallic Green 87 GT 3.1L High Output 4 Spd OD Tranny Open (read: Loud) Exhaust and More! -Rob Bartlett
Originally posted by MinnGreenGT: To all those asking... no real progress yet. I took the prototype set to Fierorama for people to play with, but with the rain not many got to see them. I still haven't recieved my extra dash parts to test the backlighting system (I don't really have the ability to dismantle my GT yet... it's my daily driver). So if anyone here has an extra 120 mph speedo/dash cluster that is damamged or non-working, let me know 'cause I still need samples to work with!
Sqoach- did you say you had a spare A/C & heater panel? I'd try to play with it if you're willing to give it up!
Sure, I just need to find it. I'd be happy to donate it to help you out. I think I might have thrown the face out, but I'll look. There's no V6's in the junkyards around here, so can't help you with the 120mph speedo cluster.
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01:42 PM
Monkeyman Member
Posts: 15829 From: N. Wilkesboro, NC, USA Registered: Nov 1999
Rob--You don't need a 120mph setup to see if your indiglo gauge faces work. Any gauge package should do it except maybe the '84s (weren't they metal or something?). I'm pretty sure you can swap gauges from any model/year to any other without problems. BTW--I was one of the lucky few who got to see your gauge faces. Really neat. Once you get them done, LMK. I might be interested in a set.
------------------ 'Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.'
Hey, I found it! Still has the face I was messing with on it. Missing a few parts, but you won't need them I don't think. Just need an address to send it to.
Hey I love those. Didn't even knew you had them at Fieroramma. Would have loved to look at them. I did like the clear tailight thoe. I have to get me some now. Keep up the good work and yes I would like a pair of the guages if you do start to make them.
Thanks Ken
------------------ 87 GT, 3.4 engine with a 4:10 tranny, and Viper Yellow!
I recieved an email today from Dale (Songman)... said his "donor" parts should arrive here in a couple of days. Hopefully things might move along more quickly then! Anyone know offhand (I don't feel like looking it up) what model the backlight bulb is? And how powerful is it? ... and is there a brighter replacement? Just wondering if anyone might know offhand!
------------------ Medium Metallic Green 87 GT 3.1L High Output 4 Spd OD Tranny Open (read: Loud) Exhaust and More! -Rob Bartlett
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11:22 PM
Oct 10th, 2001
Steve Normington Member
Posts: 7663 From: Mesa, AZ, USA Registered: Apr 2001
Anyway- I've finally got some pricing for the materials (found a non-3M source for the adhesive @$1.50 sq/ft where there is about 3 sq ft. used in each page. 3M was more like $5 per sq.ft). I've also scanned in the warning/signal lights, but haven't had a chance to recreate them for the backlight system.
I'm trying to see if I can produce a few (3-5sets) at a shot on a wide format printer- And I'm going to install at least the AUX gauges in my GT shortly for an official "TEST DRIVE" of the materials. I also located a spare Gauge Pod, hopefully to use as a demo/tester as well.
I'll notify the forum as soon as I can produce the parts at a steady pace, with a set price (won't be too high). BTW: Making other colors aside from standard "indiglo blue" should not be difficult for those intersted. Also, I may research getting brighter bulbs (found 194's in "HyperWhites" today while ordering bulbs for my clear taillights. It'd be an expensive upgrade, but might make quite the difference).
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05:54 PM
LT1 Chop Top Member
Posts: 645 From: San Antonio, Texas, USA Registered: Mar 2001
In case I forgot to mention this, I saw Robs prototype at Fierorama last month. They look awesome. If they look as good at night as they do in the day, I'll be a customer for sure.
Rob--When you get them finished, email me please.
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04:10 AM
GodSend Member
Posts: 874 From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Registered: Aug 2000
Minn, I was also looking to bulbs for the clear taillight conversion. I know the painted glass bulbs are bad, but what about the ones with the actual coloured glass?
I have looked around for the LEDS in Canada, but the cheepest I found was 25$ a bulb! ugh! If I can find cheeper LEDS I might go with 4 red Leds, and the Amber ones in coloured glass.
Originally posted by GodSend: Minn, I was also looking to bulbs for the clear taillight conversion. I know the painted glass bulbs are bad, but what about the ones with the actual coloured glass?
I have looked around for the LEDS in Canada, but the cheepest I found was 25$ a bulb! ugh! If I can find cheeper LEDS I might go with 4 red Leds, and the Amber ones in coloured glass.
GodSend... LEDs are really expensive. Just placed my order for the full set of taillights yesterday (cost me about $200 total). For LEDs and Hyperwhite bulbs goto http://www.xtremewhite.com for colored glass bulbs goto http://www.lightlens.com and look for the link in the lower left that says "colored bulbs"
To everyone else... I'll be sure to keep you all posted!
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09:42 AM
86seyellow Member
Posts: 1147 From: wabasha, Minnesota, 55981 Registered: May 2001
) some old gauges to use as samples!
Those would look real nice in combination with the carbon fiber that I hope to do at some point. If they work out, put me down for a set. Are you bringing your samples to Fierorama 
