Gauging interest (speedo/cluster mod possibilities)

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Gauging interest (speedo/cluster mod possibilities)

April 01, 2005, 07:59:28 PM

After seeing the thread the other day about ProCarParts finally offering the reverse glow gauges for base digital clusters (in addition to the 85 MPH gauge faces for TC's), I was thinking. We all know that the 85 MPH speedo can be easily and cheaply modified to show 140 MPH. Because of this I can't think of a compelling reason for an 85 MPH speedo face to even exist. I was wondering if there would be enough interest in a 140MPH aftermarket speedo face for me to write the people at ProCarParts and ask if they would manufacture 140MPH gauge faces in their very nice looking "reverse glow" styles.

Even if they would not, I was also thinking of getting some 140MPH faces printed up at a print shop on a semi-translucent plastic. Obviously this would be cheaper in a large run, so if there was enough interest I would get a couple hundred made. Thet could be made as white faced gauges that look normal at night (like in a lot of Chrysler cars) or as black faced gauges that would still look normal at night. Because the translucent base material would be colorless you could easily change the color of your gauges by putting in colored bulbs or LED's. I'm thinking there would be a market for this, but before I commit too much time to the project I'd like to know if people would be interested.

I have no idea what the cost would be - obviously I'd like to keep it in line with other gauge face manufacturer's (say around $40 for a set, with the chief advantage being that this would be for the 140 cluster instead of the 85) but this would of course depend on what it would cost me to get the faces printed.

To have these made up the way I'm thinking, installation would involve removing your current gauge face sticker entirely and replacing it with the new one (instead of simply putting a sticker over it). This would allow excellent night time visibility, as well as the aforementioned option to change colors. So what do you all think?

Re: Gauging interest (speedo/cluster mod possibilities)

Reply #1 – April 01, 2005, 08:02:32 PM

...oh, by the way, no pun was intended with the thread title...

Re: Gauging interest (speedo/cluster mod possibilities)

Reply #2 – April 01, 2005, 08:15:46 PM

i like the idea, i personally love the look of the stock gauges, so id prefer black faces, count me in if it goes well

Re: Gauging interest (speedo/cluster mod possibilities)

Reply #3 – April 01, 2005, 08:23:00 PM

I asked them once if they produced any kmh ones or a 140mph and they said no so all the power to ya if you can get some.
There was aguy called whitefacegaugeguy that could produce any color or design on a sticky plastic speedo face.
I bought some white ones for my old cluster and removed the black stock ones,then put blue bulbs in my cluster.
Once i removed the green domes it looked awesome at night,just like the new chryslers,totaly white during the day but fully lit up blue at night.

Re: Gauging interest (speedo/cluster mod possibilities)

Reply #4 – April 01, 2005, 09:23:59 PM

if u can get soem for an 83, count me in! :D

Re: Gauging interest (speedo/cluster mod possibilities)

Reply #5 – April 01, 2005, 10:55:46 PM

count me in to

Re: Gauging interest (speedo/cluster mod possibilities)

Reply #6 – April 01, 2005, 11:19:23 PM

I'm in!!!!!!!!!! :D

Re: Gauging interest (speedo/cluster mod possibilities)

Reply #7 – April 02, 2005, 12:10:15 AM

id be in. i do prefer the dark face but some nice reverse glow ones would be sweet if it was a quality unit. if i could realy have it my way, i would realy like something close to the autometer cobault gauges...in my eyes, they are dreeeaaamy...

Re: Gauging interest (speedo/cluster mod possibilities)

Reply #8 – April 02, 2005, 03:09:41 AM

I'd be in. If only I could convert EVERY green light in my car to blue to match it too.

Re: Gauging interest (speedo/cluster mod possibilities)

Reply #9 – April 02, 2005, 11:27:18 AM

you probably could, but it would be a lot of work

i have a spare heater control panel ill try to hack up sometime soon, and report back to you all

Re: Gauging interest (speedo/cluster mod possibilities)

Reply #10 – April 02, 2005, 03:16:15 PM

i'm interested in a stock face 140 speedo.