bnoon

For the last couple of years we've been waiting for someone to make copies of the aluminum gauge surrounds like Powermite made himself for his car. For those that don't know some of the history, check here. Well, I finally took the chance and had a small run of them made.

Here's a few pics of the two prototype rings that showed up on Friday (while I was out of town). I'm going to open up the inner hole just a touch because for tall people, these rings may partially block the hash marks at the top of the gauges from being viewed. Aside from that, they fit well and look great! (pics are huge!) They will be sold in sets of FOUR, are press fit, and will come in brushed, polished, and natural finishes... and even powder coated in almost any color.

http://www.bnmotorsports.com/gauge_rings/1.JPG
http://www.bnmotorsports.com/gauge_rings/2.JPG
http://www.bnmotorsports.com/gauge_rings/3.JPG

Price will be $150 shipped to the US main 48 states unless something changes drastically from my supplier. Paypal will be accepted as well as Post Office Money Orders, no other payments allowed unless you live around here and can pay cash (plus sales tax ) Polished will be $25 more, brushed will be $25 more, powder coated will be $45 more.

bnoon

For those with only 56K modems, I offer my condolences and these smaller pictures.

TPIterror

I friggin LOVE that! That looks great man. Maybe its the angle, but the one on the left looks like theres a little more gap around it than the other one.

If the price is right, count me in!

85_ZED28

thats cool, kind of makes the gauges look aftermarket

Parrydise7

iTrader: (1)

Price?

Gambit69

Oh yeah, a price would be nice. They would look awesome inside my car. Would match up nice with my gauge pod with the cobalt series gauges in them. What do you think



Let us know about a price and I would more than likely order a set from you.

shipfitter_sjd

Almost makes me wish I had a Firebird............NOT!!!!

All kidding aside, seriously nice.

Good job.

bnoon

Nothing wrong with the ring, just didn't push it in all of the way the second or third time that I put those rings in. I had both rings in every hole to see if there were any differences in hole size and must have just missed it.

I'll add the price to the main post if I can still edit it...

Gambit69

Hey bnoon, I forgot that you were down in West Des Moines. I am from Ames. Let me know when they become available. On April 26 and April 27th I will be working down in Altoona at the Wal-Mart there if you care to get together for a little bit. Would love to see those rings. Let me know.

bnoon

Added to first post. $150 shipped to main 48 states.

I'll be in Buffalo, NY from the 25th to 27th though for a new system cut at a new customer site. I could meet up with you some other time once the gauge rings come in. I'll make another post once these rings are in my hand and ready to ship. I don't want to run into production delays and then have to explain why someone's hundred and fiddy dollar custom gauge rings are going to be late.

Gambit69

How much without shipping since I can come down and pick them up?

bnoon

Actually, now that I look at the dash again, the dash bezel on the left side is ever so slightly not flat near the middle of the gauge. Press the top in, the bottom comes out about 1/32" or so. All three other gauge holes sit totally flat. I'll fiddle around with it a little bit and post back.

bnoon

Plan on about 5 bucks off since USPS Priority is $3.95 and bubble wrap is cheap. Plus tax though, so it's worth it to ship... plus your gas down here, ouch... Sometimes it's worth it to see things before you buy though, so I understand.

bnoon

O.K., looked at it some more and the gauge rings fit just fine after some fiddling around and finger work. No worries!

18inchboyds

awesome , i want a set. i hope they look good.

18inchboyds

wow ,150 a set , thats more than i had planned, i was thinking more like 100 . Thiers no way you can come down on the price. Order more to get the price down , maybe ebay and swap meets and stuff.But 150 is a little much .

Gr89RS

iTrader: (5)

They look great, do you think you could talk the supplier into making them for pre- 1990 Camaros??

82firebird

Those look awesome! Will they fit the 82-84 dash as well? I think the guage pod circumfrence is the same; but I'm not positive.

iansane

iTrader: (1)

Those look really good. They'd match the carbon fiber ultralite series exactly.

bnoon

Yes, I could have driven the price down by investing in more than ten sets initially, but I'm already laying out over a grand in set up costs and materials here and I couldn't stretch any farther on something that's unproven in the market. If I go for a big run and really try to sell these things, I have to look at advertisement costs on these boards/etc. which I'm not quite ready to do just for these gauge rings.

It's not a matter of talking someone else into it, it's a matter of convincing me to invest the money in the set up time and materials for the cnc guy to do the work. The cnc guy will do what ever I want and I'll do what ever you want if the market is there.

Dunno. You have any measuring devices?

adambros

iTrader: (2)

Put me down for a set of (4) brushed. Just let me know when you're ready to start accepting the funds.

Thanks again, I can't wait - feels like I just found that last piece of the puzzle and this is the moment before I put it in place.

FSTFBDY

iTrader: (33)

bnoon,

Ive been waiting to see those. Look great man.People will jump on em. (lol and Im a camaro guy)

also if you need a better price on powdercoating some for people let me know. I'll do em for $5bucks a ring. Any color.

TPIterror

Wow. Thats a lot for 4 aluminum trim rings. I was thinking 50-60 for a set. I realize your start-up and overhead is high right now, but more volume sales at a cheaper price will garauntee you more cash in the long run. Unless your only selling a few sets, then ending it. Not many people are going to drop 150 on something like that.

I guess its back to trying to make my own again!

bnoon

Even for 1000 pieces I can't get them down that cheap, not even close. If we sell out of these and people still want some, we'll look at doing another run with more units and maybe get them down to $125 a set or so, but that's down the road a ways and counting fire-chickens before they're hatched. Plus we're down from over $200 a set from the originally projected costs that other people were being quoted.

Thanks for the offer, but with shipping the pieces to you, then back to me for shipment to a customer, we're right at the same factored in cost at $40 per set powdercoated... unless you drop ship to eliminate shipping one way, then you're about 8 bucks cheaper going through you. Would you drop ship???

Gr89RS

iTrader: (5)

I am pretty positive alot of Camaro guys would want them...hopefully they will chime in and show it..these would look absolutely awesome wtih a set of Abubaca's custom guage faces he may eventually start selling...

adambros

iTrader: (2)

IMO, if $150 is what the they're charging you, and your not getting any big price breaks by ordering in quantity, just place the order when you get the order(s). That way if anyone balks at the price it won't come directly out of your pocket.

Ordering 100 or more just so you can offer them at $25 bux cheaper set is economic suicide.

Also, I know it's no TGO.org or Ebay, but I will gladly host a banner, link, or ad to your bezels on norcalthirdgen.com.

FSTFBDY

iTrader: (33)

bnoon,

drop ship would be fine.
You figure $20 for coating 4 rings. No way shipping on them PRIRITY MAIL insured for $250 is gona cost an extra 20bucks.

I shipp out C5 Hubs and brackets I make an they weigh 19lbs and cost $23bucks.( PRIORITY MAIL and INS./Del comf.)

3.1EyeCandy

iTrader: (3)

I'm quite interested bnoon. Do you have nay pics to show the difference between brushed, polished, plain, etc?

Was thinking I wanted something a little different with my dash...and this looks to be just the ticket.

Sonar_un

Those are beautiful rings.

Metal has been getting very expensive lately, that plus the machining costs, I can see how you priced the items.

Now, its not cheap by any means, but I know that you won't be able to get them down much cheaper than that.

redraif

Glad to know you got them made...its a shame I don't have the dash they would work in! Darn idiot lights, hence my smoked lens conversion. If I had the right application, I would have been all over a set. And $150 is really not bad concidering all the variables! I'll let Joe (lt1guy) know you have them done. Not sure what he is planning for the 87... Excellent job btw!

Mongoose

iTrader: (2)

When will these be available for purchase? These would work well with my all black interior and autometer pillar gauges.

85maroz28

Count me in! Keep us posted!

bnoon

40 pieces (ten sets) was the minimum quantity I could do for the price point I wanted to be under for my own set. If I order a thousand pieces, I could be at the price point everyone else wants... It was just to many zeros after the comma for that production run though, especially this soon.

The money from the first sets will go into investing in more sets and so on. Supply/Demand. I have a Business Economics AAS degree (as well as an AAS in Telecommunications and another AAS in Electronics Design) and have had different side businesses since I was 14 (I'm now 33), I understand the concept.

I'll take you up on the banner idea. I've been putting together my own gif files to be ready for advertising on this site too if it all works out.

I've already gotten an altered drawing with the little changes I wanted for the production run (needs to be a touch thinner to not block the hash marks on the tach/speedo). I'll be approving that drawing this evening and then we'll be in the standard 2-3 week production window unless the machinist got a huge order snuck in on me or something.

You're awsome! I'll let you know what we can work out via PM's. I have an idea for a machine turned finish (one quarter overlap)gauge bezel panel, then put some powdercoated black trim rings in them... kinda like a second gen TA has. I'm experimenting with different sizes of turns on scrap pieces now...

I don't have enough pieces yet to show the different finishes. What is shown in those pics is the natural finish. It's smooth, but not polished. Once I get the production pieces here, I'll take these two prototypes and polish one and brush the other one so that all finishes will be photographed.

Mongoose

iTrader: (2)

2-3 week production window,sounds good. Keep us posted. I look forward to seeing the other finishes but the version in the pics looks to be just right for mine.

JeremyNYR

iTrader: (2)

Those look great... and my tax refund check should be coming soon. I might end up ordering a set. When do you think you'll start selling them? Also, if you're driving your bird to Buffalo you should meet up with our f-body group up here. We have a wing night and cruise every Tuesday evening. PM me if you're interested.

bnoon

I wouldn't trust the TA that far. I'll be flying out. I still might be able to make it out though to see some more fellow F-bodies/etc. We're staying at the Hampton Inn, 5455 Main St. in Williamsville, is that far from your cruise? I could bring the proto rings with me.

JeremyNYR

iTrader: (2)

I'm sending you a PM about it right now

firebirdjosh

iTrader: (1)

Out of my price range but definitely an awesome upgrade. Much better than aftermarket guages IMO.

bnoon

FYI, the small changes that needed to be made have been approved, a PO number has been issued, and the gauge rings are officially on order. Expect 2-3 weeks waiting (impatiently ) period.

Gambit69

Just curious to know how many sets are you ordering? I am interested in a set when you get them.

bnoon

Only ten sets initially. Once those sell, hopefully quickly, that money will be turned into more sets and so on down the line. Don't worry, if you miss one run, you'll only have to wait a couple of weeks for more.

Nate86

Maybe it's just me, but is there anyone else that doesn't think these are all that great? I mean, don't get me wrong... they ARE excellent peices of work and they look amazing, but the thing that made these ring a true work of art is the fact that they were all custom made and matched to the rest of the interior of powermite's car.

Not only did he have the rings, he also had a custom made aluminum center console cover, radio trim peice, window buttons along with custom racing seats, a new steering wheel and a shifter. The radio trim peice even had "PONTIAC" inscribed on it, a real peice of work. All these things matched together made it look like a real work of art.

These rings kind of remind me of a B&M megashifter. Sure, they look great when it's just by itself, but when you throw it into a 20-year-old car that's interior is mostly made of cheap plastic, it just doesn't look right at all.

I'm not trying to discourage anyone from buying them to improve the look of their interior, but to me, it just doesn't look right without the rest of the package.

There's also something to be said for originality... a virtue that seems to be very uncommon these days.

Just my 2¢.

Nate86

By the way, bnoon, I just wanted to point out that there was no flame intended or directed at you. Just stating a personal opinion.

Nice job on the rings though man.

shipfitter_sjd

.........A Back Handed Compliment!

adambros

iTrader: (2)

Originality ?? you mean becuase one other person on the other side of the pond has done something tasteful we should feel bad about adapting the idea. Come on, its a good look for our cars and the fact that were trying to make our interiors our own is proof of individual originality. . . whats next ? you gonna tell me black 3rd gens are played out becuase you see so many of them. sheesh.

BTW, who says we all don't have the rest of the package ?

bnoon

I agree Nate. The rings themselves do almost nothing for an otherwise stock interior. I also agree that holding a theme throughout the cockpit is important, such as what Powermite pulled off with his interior. That's entirely the reason why I did what I did to get these gauge rings made.

You see, I happen to have a Megashifter, and thought it looked out of place by itself. I'm also always looking on EBay for the right steering wheel to replace the stocker, but it must contain the right amount of brushed or polished metal in order to fit with the rest of the interior plans. I also have plans in the works for brushed/polished/natural center console pieces to match and/or contrast. Ebrake handles have also crossed my mind. Other bits here and there are always under consideration as well...

So, everyone listen to Nate. Don't just buy my gauge rings, buy everything I ever make for interiors that will match these rings so that it will look right. No hard feelings Nate. Nothing is for everybody, so don't feel bad about not liking everything someone else builds.

stitchop

I think they would look pretty cool as an accent without covering everything else in aluminum trim. You start covering everything in aluminum, it starts to look goofy, kinda like chrome door guards, chrome fender flares, chrome gas lid, chrome wipers, when just chrome wheels would have been perfect.

Gambit69

I am not planning on going all aluminum in my car I just want them so they match up with my gauges in my gauge pod. Can't wait to actually see them.

18inchboyds

bnoon check this out , did you see someone allready sells the gauge rings, they are in puerto rico though .

http://www.olympicbezels.cjb.net/

Liquid_Metal

I've also been looking for some shiny rims to my gauges. And I'm sure these would make your dash all the more impressive.... but I think the shape is a little bit too rounded for my taste. I'd like to see someting that looks more like a jets aft "iris" except in chrome or alu. Think that would look so cool!!