SuperK's Custom Gauge Project - With Ryan's Rings

[SuperK]

I got Ryans' rings... and boy were they in rough condition.





I ended up beveling the edges...




Painting the Gauge Plate Gunmetal...




Once the edges were bevelled, they no longer had that plexi "shine"

... So I ended up painting them.


Here's My progress so far:




I think it's looking pretty sharp!


I want to replace the oh-so-90's green bulbs with a different color.

All it is, is a little bulb with a green condom over it:




Anyone have any good ideas? I have a gunmetal/blue theme going on, so I want to go with a bit of a "royal" blue.

[Stablo87]

Sorry no suggestions, but i did want to let you know what a great job you did.

Keep up the good work

[SuperK]

I am the Rattle Can GOD.

[Dali]

the actual gauge faces are green when the light shines threw them, with no light they are white. you should get a set of custom gauges from speedhut.

[Ryan]

I hope you sanded the inside of the rings out a bit, it seems they were pushing it on the size and needles were getting stuck, with paint.

I swear my future products will be better quality

Although, I must admit your setup looks pretty darn sexy.

[SuperK]

I sanded every edge inside out. I also ended up having to sand the needles shorter as well so they wouldnt hit so its all good. SuperK has it all under control

[mudflap13]

do all the early 90s bulbs have those green condom things on it cuz i d really like to change em just havnt due to the fact that every other "car" that ive tried to do were clear bulbs and the cluster had green paint/dye under the white on the face id really like to know before i risk fudgin up a perfectly good workin cluster ( its happened before)

[SuperK]

It has both. Both the green condoms, and the back of the faceplates is also green.

[colinsmx3]

hmm thats a good idea! got me thinking now!!

[marcdh]

Looking very nice indeed, those rings cleaned up well.

[Mooneggs]

I was tired of the green look so I tried LED's but they burnt out after a while since the gauge lights are on a dimmer (apparently LED's can't handle that)... anwyays I bought some 194 bulb covers from this place...

http://www.trucknvans.com/Small_Bulb_Covers_p/8088_.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



I have more pics in my fast car worklog... and I think I may still have some extra red or blue ones...

[SuperK]

thanks mooneggs, thats what i need.

by the way, just for confirmation, you remove the pin from the motor on the needles when swapping guage plates? i am not sure which part breaks/stops working when removed

[tmac4t4]

i tried pulling my needles, i was succesful with only 2 of 4..if done right u can usually pull them straight off, but if u happen to pull the slightest in any other direction you will snap the pin they are connected too..im now out fuel and temp needles,,been thinking of something to fill the space with, since i kinda favour NOT havin a fuel guage constantly reminding me how little fuel i have ..ive replaced guage faces that way before but it doesnt seem to work out to well with the mx3 clusters

[Mooneggs]

I have never removed any needles... although I have never removed the OEM black faces either...

[onlytrueromeo]

by the way, just for confirmation, you remove the pin from the motor on the needles when swapping guage plates? i am not sure which part breaks/stops working when removed

Do you want to add indiglo gauges like on ebay? If so, you should not need to remove the needles. I was able to get mine over and sit nicely on top...it just takes a bit of maneuvering. You have to slide the center part over the needle and slightly bend/fold the gauge face itself so that it can get over the whole thing. Just be gentle. If you remove the needles, you will prob have to re-calibrate them. Gas shouldn't be too hard, but the others could be.

I would err on the side of caution and not remove the needles. Just be careful not to break them!