Check out the new gauge faces! - Body - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

Abubaca · 03-20-2005, 04:35 PM

We have a new digital printer at work, and I'm already seeing the benefits!

...I've tried a few things before, but I kept running into problems. Either the faces weren't UV protected and didn't last, or the black wasn't "black" enough when I used the UV material. This new printer uses a solvent based ink so long story short I can pretty much print whatever I want for whatever application.

You can't really tell in the pic, but there's a glare due to the gloss material. I plan on rediong them some time in the future, but for the meantime I'm pretty happy.

camarogirl18 · 03-20-2005, 04:38 PM

very cool!

sounds like someone has too much time at work,maybe i should talk to the boss!?

J/K!!

shortyjmg · 03-20-2005, 04:38 PM

dude thats just sick

Brock's91RS · 03-20-2005, 04:47 PM

Those are REALLY nice
Good work..I'd like to see them installed,I bet they look great
Even an old fart like me can read those!
Good Luck
Steve

Abubaca · 03-20-2005, 04:47 PM

Quote:

sounds like someone has too much time at work,maybe i should talk to the boss!? J/K!!

Did I say during work????

I meant AFTER work!!

Pretty much my whole car's appearance is "not quite" stock, but maybe if ya didn't know better, it "could've" been, ya know?

Kinda like the blue bowtie on the grill (see sid in first post), polished Iroc rims, embroided (but matching) floormats... stuff like that.

camaro430sut · 03-20-2005, 05:09 PM

o man those gauge faces r sick lookin. would it be possible for you to make me a set for the 115 cluster. ill pay for em i just love the font you chose and the lettering awsome work

ill PM u about makin em.
matt

Yossarian14 · 03-20-2005, 05:42 PM

Those look very good, how did you go about creating those before you printed them though? I mean getting the circle shape and the right pointes on everything?

KonArtist · 03-20-2005, 05:54 PM

How about making a acouple sets.

E-mial me if you could do me a set for a 86 Iroc.....those would look sooo killer.

bsteele@pineland.net

Abubaca · 03-20-2005, 05:57 PM

Years ago I has some Macewen faces. I scanned them in, and then used Illustrator to size and manipulate the colors, layout, fonts etc.

I have so many files with different fonts, colors, numbers etc. it's not even funny!

Here's a few more. You can see some oil and crap form my fingers. It came right off, but of course I didn't notice until I took the pics...of course!

You can see the slight reflection of the needle too, which is from the gloss. I'm gonna go back and try again in a few weeks to tweek it a little and see what I can come up with.

Abubaca · 03-20-2005, 06:04 PM

Can you see the light blue outline around the 55 and the red outline around the 100 hash? Just a little personal touch.

I didn't take into account the high-beam indicator and the screws when I designed them....again back to the drawing board.

As far as making them for you guys, I'd be happy to, but I gotta work out some issues before I would consider them worthy enough to sell. The gloss finish doesn't look ideal when in the car. As I mentioned, the number placement on the speedo. The biggest thing is the installation technique. These are not the semi-rigid like Macewen faces, and they are fully backed with sticky, not with tabs. They're flimsy like a wet noodle and they want to stick to EVERYTHING they touch. It was a BITCH to install, and there's no way I'd expect someone to be able to do it. I work at a sign shop and know all the tricks and it was still a pain. I have some ideas though, but like said, it's gonna be a little while.

I'll keep you informed as to the progress.

Scorpner · 03-20-2005, 06:41 PM

That's really cool. Put me on the list if you are interested in selling them.

MetalliCamaroRS · 03-20-2005, 06:44 PM

Those look awesome. Are they printed on regular paper or something else? Would you be able to print white ones?

drkbrd · 03-20-2005, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Scorpner
That's really cool. Put me on the list if you are interested in selling them.

bump^ im intrested too

IROC-Z28_CAMARO · 03-20-2005, 08:14 PM

I would be in for a set also. By the way they look badass

*F-BodyFanatic* · 03-20-2005, 08:21 PM

Count me in too!

Man I bet if you made some of these and sold them on eBay, you could make a killing!!

Camaroguy18 · 03-20-2005, 08:58 PM

Im down...those are killer

IROC-Z28_CAMARO · 03-20-2005, 09:08 PM

They look so much better than the white or silver faced gauges. They just look out of place on our cars. Those however are a perfect match, to the untrained eye they look stock but to third gen owners they give the car that more custom look.

Gr89RS · 03-20-2005, 09:10 PM

O yes give me give me

I am extremely interested keep up the good work and dont give up on us like some others do on the boards when they make something

Kevs87Z28 · 03-20-2005, 09:24 PM

sign me up for a set too. wow those are nice. i just got white faced gauges a couple monthes ago and they keep peeling up so having it be all stickey will help out a lot.

Abubaca · 03-20-2005, 09:54 PM

Damn guys, I gotta say I'm really taken back by all of your comments and inquiries about getting some made. I just threw out a few pics like we all do when we come up with something. I never expected such a positive response!

I also hadn't intended to develop these to the point where they could be sold, but I'm gonna look into what's needed to do so. Like I said, there's a few problems at the moment, but i think I have a few solutions. Since I can't be sneaking them out the back door of the shop, I'd have to charge to cover my costs, but I'd pretty much make'em for cost. (at least for TGO'ers). Lemme see what I can do........

Thanks again for all the kind words!

OutLaw305 · 03-20-2005, 10:01 PM

I have been searching for soooo long for someone that made black face WHITE NUMBER gauges . I think the whites face are cheap looking. If you consider producing some for a 92 rs with the 110 on the dash... please let me know!!!!!

86TA305Ga · 03-20-2005, 10:27 PM

hmmm... wanna design some t/a ones?

AlbertaFbody · 03-20-2005, 10:32 PM

wanna make some for a kmh gauges?

Abubaca · 03-20-2005, 10:53 PM

The design is easy. I can make 'em pink with rainbow numbers if ya want. Kmh, 110mph, TA overlays, no problem. I would need some sort of pattern to go by. Since I have the dimensions of 82-89 Camaros, I'd just need a GOOD photo, and I "think" i have some bird gauges from an old parts car. I do NOT have a 91-92 pattern....

...but we're gettin' ahead of ourselves!!!

Lemme work on ironing out the kinks on the production end first, then we'll get into different designs.

theshmo891 · 03-20-2005, 11:09 PM

keep up the good work bro, those are really flippin nice, you need to find a 91-92 dash man, i wanna see the wonders you can do to that thing, if you can do this to an 80s id love to see a 90's. Also, when you got all you stuff sorted out, how much do you think they would cost?

Abubaca · 03-20-2005, 11:34 PM

I couldn't say for sure. I haven't priced materials yet. All I can say is that they'd be quite a bit less than other overlays. That's not saying "others" ARE or ARE NOT overpriced, but I just wouldn't feel comfortable charging that much.

I just can't say right now.

1992rs/ss · 03-20-2005, 11:43 PM

you make 'em for the 90-92 110 gauges and you have my money as well as my praise.

iansane · 03-22-2005, 12:47 AM

Those look really good.

But, where's your redline start?

I really like the gradient look but I'm confused where the redline is.

vernw · 03-22-2005, 11:06 AM

Add me to the list for some 'Bird versions. What would you need for the 91-92 gauges? I might even have a spare dash set I could loan you if it helped you get them going....