Forget MacEwen, has anybody tried to make their own overlays? I'm working on my set right now. I took my stock guage faces off, scanned them up, and then did a bit of graphics work before inverting them.

What did you guys use as a print media to make these? I am gonna spraypaint some clear overhead sheets flat white and try them first, if not then matte photo paper.

I am willing to send to anyone who requests them the graphics files of the guages. Beware, though, they're ~ 1mb each, and even if I cut the resolution from 600 to 300, it will still take up a bit of space.

------------------
--
Kevin-87 Firebird 2.8 liter A4
!Cat, !Maf, !Air Intake, K&N, Bosch Platinum +4, Blue Streak Cap & Rotor
Performance Rebuild in the planning stages...
Best 0-60 10.26 seconds...for now

 

i have always wondered what it would take to make some of these, but never felt like screwing with it so i just bought some from macewen. It would be nice to know how to make my own for future vehicles though. Let us know how it turns out.

 

Yeah $70 sounds a little steep for some platic sheets.. Thanx for givin' me some ideas. Maybe custom emblems could be made by scanning and using fiberglass resin (clear) to seal them, then smooth&polish. Hmm thx!

 

I'm also curious because $70 is a lot of money for a student. Heck, $70 is a lot for anybody.

------------------
, Jon (91 RS too many mods to list), getting new engine in summer

 

When you start to think that the money is too much start adding up all your time you'll spend screwing around trying to get it right, and the amount of materials you waste. $70 won't seem so bad.

And if your real tight on cash, maybe white faced gauges shouldn't be your top priority.

No flame, just speaking from experience.

 

hey firebird87....if your willing would you send me the files...i always wondered about puttin while back gauges in,,,,thanx in advance...my email is VLcakx517@hotmail.com

------------------
86 Trans Am,T-Tops,305tpi,7r4(rebuilt w/shift improvments&added clutches),9-bolt(2:77),flowmaster,3" cat back,,,otherwise completely stock

[This message has been edited by 86T/AWS6 (edited January 24, 2001).]

 

Umm...Karps TA, sorry to bust your bubble, but you're making no sense. So far, my expenses add up to....55 cents. That was for a clear piece of plastic that I spray painted white using flat white I already had. I'm gonna print them up either here at my house or at school, which will run up a bill of about $0.00 for me. So now buddy, would you like to find someplace where I can blow $69.45 to make this figure of yours add up? If not, then perhaps I'd just go buy myself a shift kit or something like that. I'm not gonna start a flame war with the likes of a moderator, but this "experience" you speak of, is it yours, and if so, are you completely inept?

 

whew...87's getting a little fisty there. Anyways, the one thing that i would really like is the fact that you can add your own flash to it if you want. Plus its kinda nice to say..."ya i made those myself...look professional dont they"

 

Woah. Had to put out a fire on my screen.. hang on.

Hehe, 87, I think he was working under the presumption that a lot of people work under and that's: "Time is money".

Personally, if you can make your own and they look good and you save much money in the long run, then that's what hot-rodding is all about. Making your own parts always has a higher standing in my book than simple parts changing where someone's already done the R&D, because when you come down to it, that guy that has the car with all the cool parts on it spent nothing but money, where the other guy who has parts just as cool, but one of a kind, spent brainpower and that's a lot more fun than spending money.

I say try it. If it works out, then you can proudly point when you show someone and say "I made that". If not then you've learned and when you talk to people, you're the "one who has been there, done that".

Now let me climb down off my soapbox because my gauges all came from Intellitronix...

[This message has been edited by Jza (edited January 25, 2001).]

 

Hey if you can do it and it looks as good more power to ya, but I see too many people do something half *** and spend $20 and think it's just as good. Post pics when your done, I'd love to see how spray painted plastic looks in comparison to what MacEwen is doing.

Again I'm not trying to flame you, I just get tired of some people who think guys like Macewan are ripping people off, because they think they can do it just as good for cheaper.


Hell I don't even have MacEwan's overlays.

 

Personally, I don't even care if they look good. As long as they work!! Kind of like John Milner's duece.
My T/A is my daily driver, as well as my hot rod. I also have an '81 Elcamino, that is my show, and weekend car,(this one I care how it looks) and I have a '63 Buick Riviera, (my cruiser) and a '40 Packard limosine,(my grandmothers, but I'm the care taker). So in my case, my T/A has to be cheap.
I would love to put a full load of Autometer, but, for now, I'll stick with Auto guage.

BTW, Karps, That IS one of the coolest dashes that I've seen in a long time.

------------------
'82 Firebird, dead stock, 9 bolt disc rear, over 200,000 miles and still going strong, more to come...
http://www.spinfrenzy.com/stingerssx...easures.html#4

 

I agree with Karps. I'm perfectly capable of making my own overlays if I wanted to, and if Macewen hadn't made them already I would have. If you think you're going to get any sort of quality without investing many hours then you're nuts. For me it wasn't worth the 15-20 hours it would have likely taken to do the job right. If you just print them out, they're going to look like hell after the sun shines on them for 14 seconds. The black will turn yellow and so will the white. Ryan's are silk screened so they should be much more durable. There's also no guarantee that all of the markings will be positioned properly. This will take a lot of time consuming trial and error work to straighten out. I paid $55 as part of a group purchase, and although there was a total of about $.50 in materials, I felt it was worth the cost in exchange for Ryan's time invested in designing and producing such a high quality product.

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

Okay, now it's your turn, Jim :-) Black won't yellow as it's laser printed. numbers are positioned right because these are scanned from the original guage face. This version I made didn't quite work out as I planned, but next version WILL. Thanks

 

Ok, so black won't yellow. Laser paper will.

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

Hey, everyone, guess what! The whole thing worked beautifuly. Combined with my blue instrument lighting, the effect is simply awesome. The new black lettering on the guages has a light glowing "aura" around it, and the white guages are black at night b/c very little light shines through them. Right around the needle center there is a blue circle, and the needle casts a blue glow around it. Very cool, I'll post pics as soon as I can get ahold of a camera.

 

got to see 'em. Can't wait!!!

 

I don't know if your gauges are the same as mine, but could i get a copy of the scanned images? I know the feeling....I've got more time than money and really enjoy making things for myself.

Thanks,
Mike
gte805i@prism.gatech.edu

 

I also would like to be able to do this for myself.... darksithlord@hotmail.com

------------------

 

maybe i am just dumb, but i don't understand how you made them. I get the clear plastic spray painted white, but how does the light shine through the numbers? Did you only paint the part around the numbers? if so, how?

------------------
91 rs, convertible, K&N, Edelbrock open element cleaner, 3.73, B&M mega-shifter, goodmark cowl-induction hood,tinted windows

 

ok, i wanna see em' Post pics.

 

Heres what I did. Take you gauges out. Spin the needle so its facing off the gauge. Mark the settings on the sides and back, EX. mark the full and empty on the back and sides of the fuel gauge. Then sand lightly the surface. primer, then flat white. Go to staples and get rub throuhg letters in the sizes you need. Going by the marks you made earlier, rub off the numbers and letters. afterwords get a neon orange paint pen or ou can use model paint, and paint the needles and spray some semi gloss enamal to make it all last and shine. I did it and the local speen shop asked me to offer it as a surface for poepl who companies didnt make for their cars. It take about an hour a gauge an paitients. If you screw up, just sand it all of and start over. Shouldnt cost more than $20 to do and a few hours. Snother way i tired was to print out some on a giant stickersheet for the printer but oyu need a set to copy and it has to be a life size direct view. Its easier the first way.

------------------
Teach your children the dangers of Rice......88 RS 3.4L 2000 BMW silver. Black and grey interior.

 

Hmmm...I jumped into the bird today to go to school, and guess what...the overlays are starting to push up in the middle,thereby limiting needle movement. Not good, methinks. So, tomorow afternoon they're gonna get pulled out AGAIN, given the glue stick job, and put back on, this time for good. Better be for good...And does anyone else want the graphics files? I'll hopefully be posting pics as soon as I can lay my hands on a digital camera....

 

if you dont mind send me the graphics files @ mrithrande@aol.com

-Steve
92 rs/ss frankencamaro
406/t5
www.groundzerocustoms.org

 

Hey, sounds cool. Can you send me the files please? MetalliCamaroRS@aol.com.
Thanks, no hurry either.

------------------
1992 Camaro RS
305ci automatic, all stock til I get some cash.
My 1992 RS

 

Hey 87 Firebird, hook me up with the files too please. email them to me at badiroc_76@yahoo.com

------------------
'88 IROC 305 TPI
Crappy 700R4 slushbox
Gutted airboxes
180 degree T-stat
Advanced base TPS voltage
Relocated IAT sensor
Momo steering wheel (gotta luv it)
Ram-air setup coming soon
Flowmaster muffler (puke)
Taylor SpiroPro wires
Accel cap and rotor
Ported plenum
Kills: '94 Z28, Olds Aurora V8, bunch of Mustangs, T-birds, ricers, and others who assumed a 12 year-old car would be too slow.

 

Ill take the files also at arwjosh@home.com Thanks

 

send the file to me also darksithlord@hotmail.com

 

id like them too, iroc@cybercomm.net

------------------
1988 IROC-Z 305TPI MINT!!
Mods= Accell SuperCoil, MSD 6A, Ported Plenum, No MAF Screans, K & N, 180 Thermostat+ Temp Switch, Relocated MAT, Cold Air. Soon to have Edelbrock TES Headers,MSD Ignition wires and a few other misc goodies

1988 Pontiac Trans Am. 305 TPI Beyond MINT Condition. Dynomax Catback

 

Send me a copy of the files 2 please. I know u have a bird... but just curious to see what i can come up with on Photo Shop

Thanks

Mole@optonline.net

------------------
91 3.1 RS.
T-Tops
12" tube in the trunk
16" ROH Rims (Need Center Caps) ROH Rims
Firehawks all Around

 

oooh oooh me too!

kashmir_x@hotmail.com

 

Count me in. Have you got the pics of it yet. Catlett00@home.com. BTW that is zero, zero and not O's. Thanks

 

Hey if you get the time email me the guages. Thanks! brogge3@bigred.unl.edu

------------------
1988 GTA (29,000 original miles):
Crane Cam, K&N
Flowmaster, Off Road Pipe.

 

hey man i would love to get those graphics offf of ya i think i have an idea to make it work


shawngmitter@hotmail.com

------------------
1983 CHEVROLET CAMARO with a 1986
305 C.I.D.V8 BORED .030 OVER
HIGH VOLUME OIL PUMP
FLAT-TOP PISTONS
MILD CAM
3" CAT BACK EXHAUST W/ FLOWMASTER MUFFFLER
KEYSTONE CLASSIC WHEELS.
B&M RATCHET SHIFTER
STAGE THREE SHIFT KIT
(she'll spin em into third)

MUSTANGS SUCK

 

I'd also like the graphics files. Thanks.
mcconahay@webab.com

 

please send me the graphics files as well. Thanx.

bullfrawgs@yahoo.com

------------------
1985 TransAm BLK/GLD Stock
1985 TransAm BLK/BLK
305HO (soon as it is put in) 5-speed, 3.27 posi, WS6, power everthing.
http://www.geocities.com/bullfrawgs

 

This sounds very interesting and inexpensive, but are we ever going to see some pics? Im eager to get started on this myself if it looks good.

 

Sorry to all about the wait, but as some of you know, I've been having computer problems, big time here. The skinny of it is that they are on a CD that is god knows where, and I can't post them until I get the CD. AFAIK, the CD is at work right now, and I'm gonna be there tomorrow to pick it up. Then, I most likely will just post these in a forum here instead of emailing it to everyone, as long as the moderators allow it. Best to all of ya....

------------------
--
Kevin-87 Firebird 2.8 liter A4
!Cat, !Maf, !Air Intake, K&N, Bosch Platinum +4, Blue Streak Cap & Rotor
Performance Rebuild in the planning stages...
Best 0-60 10.26 seconds...for now

 

Cool, I'd like em too.

If you need web space to host them for awhile, I've got around 5 megs free space that I can use to host em for ya and I can just post a link here for all to d/l. Let me know.

razorz28@bellsouth.net if you want to send them for me to put up.

Do you have just the base scanned stock ones too? I'd like to play around w/ those as well.

------------------
Ray87Z
-Vortec headed 350.
86 IROC w/ a cammed 305 TPI.
Formerly Ray86IROC.
www.inter-scape.com/Ray


[This message has been edited by Ray87Z (edited February 10, 2001).]

 

cool idea man, thx for the idea of the pics, but if it doesn't work out, hit me up with a copy

Notoriousjjs_2000@hotmail.com

thx! CAMARO/FIREBIRD PRIDE!!!!!!!!!

 

Howabout a 220mph speedo? Heh_Heh_Heh....


BlackBowTie

 

Doh...
Damn angelfire
http://www.angelfire.com/80s/Camaro83/

Try that one

BlackBowTie

 

Did 87 Firebird email the files to anyone at all yet? If so please forward them to me, and I'll host them on my server space for all here to D/L. I don't get any response from him yet, probably busy but I'm impatient, lol. razorz28@bellsouth.net

Someone has to have em already, one of the first couple to ask maybe?

------------------
Ray87Z
-Vortec headed 350.
86 IROC w/ a cammed 305 TPI.
Formerly Ray86IROC.
www.inter-scape.com/Ray

 

Hey i would love to get those graphic files off you too. Or i will get them from the site if you post them.

my e-mail is
island.watersports@home.com

Thanks

 

Yeah might as well send those over here too POPAPORK@JUNO.COM

------------------
89 Rs Camaro 305 TBI
Air Intake
K&N air filter
80 Series FlowMaster Muffler 2.5 inch Cat Back
BFG 235/60r15 (soon to be 25th Anniversary rims with 235/50r16)
Apperance: Black gray pinstripe. Black interior with Gray center piece in seat. Blue Gauge lights and 2 Blue neons under dash Board.
90 Iroc Checkerd Tail lights
Iroc Foglights
System: Pioneer 5200 Head unit Polk 3 ways up front and in the back. Kenwood 300 watt amp pumpin a 8inch JBL GT

 

I think makin' your own faces is a great idea. I work for a vinyl sign shop and we have all the materials needed. Here's what I did though. I bought Macewens. dressed up the red warning sections with orange vinyl to better replicate the original coloring. The Macewens have too much red. I also painted the needles bright white, and carefully and painstakingly put a orange stripe down the middle. It looks mostly orange during the day, but the white makes'em glow at night. Finaly I printed Camaro across the speedo and IrocZ across the tach in Saleen s351 fashion.

Hey, Something different right!

 

Damnit, I'm dying for some scans to play around with. Come on 87 Firebird, don't be soooo cruel!!!

------------------
Ray87Z
-Vortec headed 350.
86 IROC w/ a cammed 305 TPI.
Formerly Ray86IROC.
www.inter-scape.com/Ray

 

ok are we ever gonna get those files ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????

------------------
1983 CHEVROLET CAMARO with a 1986
305 C.I.D.V8 BORED .030 OVER
HIGH VOLUME OIL PUMP
FLAT-TOP PISTONS
MILD CAM
3" CAT BACK EXHAUST W/ FLOWMASTER MUFFFLER
KEYSTONE CLASSIC WHEELS.
B&M RATCHET SHIFTER
STAGE THREE SHIFT KIT
(she'll spin em into third)

MUSTANGS SUCK

 

See my above post, 83CAMAROMAN. Believe me, I want to get these things on the net ASAP. Heck, I just might write a tech article for thirdgen.org Whaddaya guys think?

------------------
--
Kevin-87 Firebird 2.8 liter A4
!Cat, !Maf, !Air Intake, K&N, Bosch Platinum +4, Blue Streak Cap & Rotor
Performance Rebuild in the planning stages...
Best 0-60 10.26 seconds...for now

 

definetly write that article i know a lot of people who would love to see it. i cant wait my self

------------------
1983 CHEVROLET CAMARO with a 1986
305 C.I.D.V8 BORED .030 OVER
HIGH VOLUME OIL PUMP
FLAT-TOP PISTONS
MILD CAM
3" CAT BACK EXHAUST W/ FLOWMASTER MUFFFLER
KEYSTONE CLASSIC WHEELS.
B&M RATCHET SHIFTER
STAGE THREE SHIFT KIT
(she'll spin em into third)

MUSTANGS SUCK

 

Are we still waiting for the site??? Im really anxious to do this. If you havent gotten the picture up yet can you at least tell us exactly how you scanned them in?