Help with Gauges!

[BuddyP]

Got it narrowed down but up in the air about 2 final choices. Think I'm going with Speedhut gauges. The car will be plain silver. You will notice in the photos below that the dash is also silver (the camera flash makes it look darker than it is).

Choice #1 - Black gauages
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif



Choice #2 - Silver carbon gauges (may consider just plain silver gauges also - Ignore the red lettering in the small gauges)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif


Thoughts? Opinions?
Thanks!

[spacepirate]

Black. UNless you are doing a carbon fiber theme, it just feels out of place.

[FatfreeGTO]

That's funny I did the very same thing and printed mine out for a trial. I went with the black background and the white numbers, red dials, and white backlight. They look great, carbon fiber is cool but I feel its trendy even though its been around so long. Still seems trendy to me... There was one person that did the plain silver that I saw, can't remember who but I thought it looked neat. Here is a link to mine if you wanted to see them.

http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/1444266-66-gto-ly6-swap-vvt-7.html

[tdm119]

I am in the process of ordering gauges from New Vintage USA. If you haven't looked at them check them out Mark is great to work with. Black is my suggestion.

[spacepirate]

I have the New Vintage set and they looks fantastic.

[crustysack]

I like the black better than the silver carbon BUT i like the look of the white face with black lettering- Much easier to see at night AND you can change the bulb colors
That dash is SICK in silver!!!

[Atomic 67]

My vote is for Speedhut. Thanks for posting...I'm in the market for gauges for my Corvair project and Speedhut may be a great option for me too. Go with your first gut reaction.

Brad

[MuscleRodz]

I have messed with a camaro with speedhut guages and will tell you there stepper motors are noisy if the guages you are picking run them. Quality wise new vintage is a much nicer guage. You could also do autometer with same style faces as well

[BuddyP]

Well my gut reaction was red faced, think it'd look neat but get old very quick.

I had looked into new vintage also, the gauge pack that I liked only came in 3 5/8" and for me to get those in 5" was doing to be a grand. I like the look of the speedhut gauges and are very resonable price wise while still being made in usa. The 4.5" is slightly smaller than the stock gauge opening but can make a backer to mount them.

Probably will settle with black/white lettering with cobalt blue glow at night.

I've put the carbon silver off to the side but still considering plain silver with black lettering.....

[BuddyP]

Wonder about silver with red lettering? The red would tie in with red seat harness'.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[SparkyRnD]

the silver with red is nice and simple. We're using New Vintage on Sabre. Did you call them about what you were looking for? Many people don't realize that they can do a LOT of custom set ups that are very affordable.

[BuddyP]

I did contact them about doing reline style gauges but in the larger size. They estimated around a grand. Can get the speedhut setup for right at $600 and are LED and have shift light in tach.

[CreepinDeth]

I am in the process of ordering gauges from New Vintage USA. If you haven't looked at them check them out Mark is great to work with. Black is my suggestion.

Same here, I'm going for the 1969 Series. I prefer LED thru the gauge VS perimeter lighting.


I did contact them about doing reline style gauges but in the larger size. They estimated around a grand. Can get the speedhut setup for right at $600 and are LED and have shift light in tach.


Are they LED through the gauge lighting or
Are they just LED illumination via perimeter with LED's in the gauge face??

I see their site, and I really like that they show you the day and night view, but I can't tell which it is.

[tdm119]

I'm not sure. I'm having indicator lights put in the tach and speedo. Call and talk to Mark he will answer all your questions.

[BuddyP]

Are they LED through the gauge lighting or
Are they just LED illumination via perimeter with LED's in the gauge face??

I see their site, and I really like that they show you the day and night view, but I can't tell which it is.

They are actually neon through the gauge. I didn't want perimeter lit either.

[Windsma]

Hi Buddy,
I noticed in your build thread you said the gauges were 4.5in gauges. https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?24797-Buddy-P-s-68-Camaro-progress-post&p=891901#post891901
Speedhut only sells 4in speedo's?



EDIT: Scratch that. Called Speedhut and the 4.5in gauges can be custom made.
sorry but im gonna copy them for my build, they look sick. I hate where the Autometers sit in the bezel.

[LeighP]

From an ergonomic point of view....white lettering on a black background is one of the easiest to see combinations...you can read them with a flick of the eyes...other colour combinations take more time for the brain to process the info....means more time with the eyes off the road. Theres a good reason why, after all these years, aircraft instruments are still presented as mostly black face, white writing.
Just a thought....

[makoshark]

I like the black best. Gives good contrast to your dash. On a side note, I vote for the gauges I have, Dakota Digital VHX. Sweet gauges with tons of options

[DirkDiggler]

Although I have heard you never go back, I would go black.

[TheJDMan]

Will a 4.5" gauge fit in the 1st gen bezel? I thought they were 5".

[BuddyP]

4.5" won't fit in the 1st gen bezel. I made a backer plate for them to set in. If you look at page 6, post #116 of my build page you can see what I did for the backer plate. I had these laser cut. If interested I can get the backer plate cut for you.