Trans Am Guage Rings
#152
Member
iTrader: (1)
Re: Trans Am Guage Rings
Regarding international shipping, I have some advice, especially for destination Germany:
My sets have both still not arrived. USPS has the great disadvantage of quitting tracking after the package leaves the US.
This has already happened to me last year with a calendar I ordered. Four weeks nothing, wrote to the seller, he sent out a replacement, then exactly one day later the original calendar arrived and a couple days later the replacement.
Another USPS package (ordered later than the rings went out) arrived a couple of days after ordering, totally ripped up.
My Rockauto delivery by FedEx arrived completely unharmed and also within a week, full tracking from beginning to end.
I guess the rings are on some shelf in some huge warehouse of our customs offices, waiting to be opened by some customs officer's greedy hands, just to repack them and send me a tiny note to come and pick them up.
Damn, I hate customs!
Edit:
Well, as usual, as soon as I start complaining, I walk down to my letter box and see the note to come pick up my first set of rings
I'll be polishing them now and post pics when done. Thanks
Customs claimed that even when declared as gift, they need a reference value... so the customs officer looked up some reference value of 20 euros which still left me below the tax value, so I did not have to pay anything.
My sets have both still not arrived. USPS has the great disadvantage of quitting tracking after the package leaves the US.
This has already happened to me last year with a calendar I ordered. Four weeks nothing, wrote to the seller, he sent out a replacement, then exactly one day later the original calendar arrived and a couple days later the replacement.
Another USPS package (ordered later than the rings went out) arrived a couple of days after ordering, totally ripped up.
My Rockauto delivery by FedEx arrived completely unharmed and also within a week, full tracking from beginning to end.
I guess the rings are on some shelf in some huge warehouse of our customs offices, waiting to be opened by some customs officer's greedy hands, just to repack them and send me a tiny note to come and pick them up.
Damn, I hate customs!
Edit:
Well, as usual, as soon as I start complaining, I walk down to my letter box and see the note to come pick up my first set of rings
I'll be polishing them now and post pics when done. Thanks
Customs claimed that even when declared as gift, they need a reference value... so the customs officer looked up some reference value of 20 euros which still left me below the tax value, so I did not have to pay anything.
Last edited by NCC-2569; 04-26-2013 at 06:33 AM.
#155
Re: Trans Am Guage Rings
#157
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Mount Hope Ontario
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1984 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Engine: Stock 305
Transmission: Stock 4 speed auto
Re: Trans Am Guage Rings
Is your gauge cluster modified? The needles of my gauge cluster do not glow.
#158
#160
Member
iTrader: (1)
Re: Trans Am Guage Rings
Hey Luis,
I hope the second set arrives within about a week or two from now.
I'll keep you posted
To the others:
Has anyone of you had to do what I did to get the rings in straight?
I tried to heat up the dash bezel but somehow I can't get it to flatten properly, so I got some flexible glue with gap filling properties and used a vise to get the rings properly glued on.
Still waiting for the second ring's glue to dry right now.
I hope the second set arrives within about a week or two from now.
I'll keep you posted
To the others:
Has anyone of you had to do what I did to get the rings in straight?
I tried to heat up the dash bezel but somehow I can't get it to flatten properly, so I got some flexible glue with gap filling properties and used a vise to get the rings properly glued on.
Still waiting for the second ring's glue to dry right now.
#164
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: S.New Jersey
Posts: 709
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 89 GTA/90 Iroc Vert
Engine: 5.7/5.0L
Transmission: 700R4 x 2
Axle/Gears: 3.27/2.73
Re: Trans Am Guage Rings
Luis,
How invasive are the white gauge overlays ? If you wanted to change back would the original surface be affected by the adhesive ?
How invasive are the white gauge overlays ? If you wanted to change back would the original surface be affected by the adhesive ?
#166
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Mount Hope Ontario
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1984 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Engine: Stock 305
Transmission: Stock 4 speed auto
#169
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Mount Hope Ontario
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1984 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Engine: Stock 305
Transmission: Stock 4 speed auto
Re: Trans Am Guage Rings
and another thirdgen member has this on his car, just not on the gauges, this is "TheFab"'s interior
#170
Supreme Member
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Car: GTA
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Aussie 9-bolt/3.27 posi
Re: Trans Am Guage Rings
I would think that maybe some flourscent orange would look fine in the day & really pic up the light and make them "glow" (just a brighter shine really) really good.
Maybe http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/MAR...-Marker-21U677 ? Found lots of UV paints or spray cans, but you wouldn't need much so the spray can would have a LOT of excess to paint just the needles.
Maybe http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/MAR...-Marker-21U677 ? Found lots of UV paints or spray cans, but you wouldn't need much so the spray can would have a LOT of excess to paint just the needles.
#172
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Mount Hope Ontario
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1984 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Engine: Stock 305
Transmission: Stock 4 speed auto
#175
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Frankfurt am Main Germany
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1991 Firebird
Engine: 3.1 V6
Re: Trans Am Guage Rings
#178
#179
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Mount Hope Ontario
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1984 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Engine: Stock 305
Transmission: Stock 4 speed auto
Re: Trans Am Guage Rings
it does but if you were looking for a temporary installation just use rubber bands to hold them in, like put the elastic around the gauge ring and then push the ring in
#181
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
Re: Trans Am Guage Rings
Yep, rubber bands do work well especially if you want to be able to remove them if you get tired of them without damaging the factory cluster. I don't think that will ever happen though as I never get tired of looking at mine and I get all kinds of compliments on them. I may mount them more permanent in the future, but for now the rubber bands hold and hold well.
#182
Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Melbourne Australia
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 88 GTA
Engine: Ls1
Transmission: 4L60E
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt 3.27
Re: Trans Am Guage Rings
I got mine and I LOVE them, they fit and look great. Thanks Luis, you have done us all a great service. Anyone that is on the fence, get these, they are cheap and look brilliant
#184
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio.
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: Pontiac GTA
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Trans Am Guage Rings
Hey luis, would you be interested in making another set or have another set for sale? I'm super interested and cannot find anyone around here that will make them.
Thanks!
Thanks!
#187
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio.
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: Pontiac GTA
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
#188
Re: Trans Am Guage Rings
Here are some pics of something I experimented with. I had an instrument cluster sitting around storage, so I sprayed the inner bezel with chrome paint, then laid the dash bezel with the trim rings over it(there's no lens between them) to see how it would look.
My thought was that the trim rings might look more fitting if the bright finish went all the way back to the faces of the gauges, like on newer cars. It came out looking good, but not like I hoped it would... which is why it's always good to experiment on extra parts first lol. With white faced gauges I think this would look very good, but I won't be installing white faces, and I'm not liking it with the stock gauge faces.
I like the idea of white gauge faces, but the ones available for our cars are too plain-looking for me. If white faces had a silver "grid" pattern on them, similar to the design of the stock faces, then I think the bright look I mocked-up would work very good.
So I won't be installing this. Just presenting the idea.
My thought was that the trim rings might look more fitting if the bright finish went all the way back to the faces of the gauges, like on newer cars. It came out looking good, but not like I hoped it would... which is why it's always good to experiment on extra parts first lol. With white faced gauges I think this would look very good, but I won't be installing white faces, and I'm not liking it with the stock gauge faces.
I like the idea of white gauge faces, but the ones available for our cars are too plain-looking for me. If white faces had a silver "grid" pattern on them, similar to the design of the stock faces, then I think the bright look I mocked-up would work very good.
So I won't be installing this. Just presenting the idea.
#189
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Mount Hope Ontario
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1984 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Engine: Stock 305
Transmission: Stock 4 speed auto
Re: Trans Am Guage Rings
Here are some pics of something I experimented with. I had an instrument cluster sitting around storage, so I sprayed the inner bezel with chrome paint, then laid the dash bezel with the trim rings over it(there's no lens between them) to see how it would look.
My thought was that the trim rings might look more fitting if the bright finish went all the way back to the faces of the gauges, like on newer cars. It came out looking good, but not like I hoped it would... which is why it's always good to experiment on extra parts first lol. With white faced gauges I think this would look very good, but I won't be installing white faces, and I'm not liking it with the stock gauge faces.
I like the idea of white gauge faces, but the ones available for our cars are too plain-looking for me. If white faces had a silver "grid" pattern on them, similar to the design of the stock faces, then I think the bright look I mocked-up would work very good.
So I won't be installing this. Just presenting the idea.
My thought was that the trim rings might look more fitting if the bright finish went all the way back to the faces of the gauges, like on newer cars. It came out looking good, but not like I hoped it would... which is why it's always good to experiment on extra parts first lol. With white faced gauges I think this would look very good, but I won't be installing white faces, and I'm not liking it with the stock gauge faces.
I like the idea of white gauge faces, but the ones available for our cars are too plain-looking for me. If white faces had a silver "grid" pattern on them, similar to the design of the stock faces, then I think the bright look I mocked-up would work very good.
So I won't be installing this. Just presenting the idea.
#190
Re: Trans Am Guage Rings
Dupli-Color Chrome. It's one of the few "chrome" spray paints that produces a decent finish. It's obviously not as realistic-looking as chrome, nor is it as shiny and reflective as one of those expensive chrome spray products, but it does produce a softly-reflective finish that's better than most off-the-shelf "chrome" spray paints, while being priced in the same range as off-the-shelf spray paints.
This wasn't worth buying one of those expensive chrome spray products, so I did a web search for chrome spray paints to see if any of them produced good results, and Dupli-Color's was one of the more highly-reviewed paints. With the right surface prep, which I did not do, you can get some very nice results with it.
And apparently the "right" surface prep for achieving a nice finished product is to lay down gloss black first, then top-coat with the chrome spray paint. IIRC, that's not on the can's label, but that's how most people claimed to be getting the best results, and the pics they posted were good. I didn't do that, and it still came out decently.
This wasn't worth buying one of those expensive chrome spray products, so I did a web search for chrome spray paints to see if any of them produced good results, and Dupli-Color's was one of the more highly-reviewed paints. With the right surface prep, which I did not do, you can get some very nice results with it.
And apparently the "right" surface prep for achieving a nice finished product is to lay down gloss black first, then top-coat with the chrome spray paint. IIRC, that's not on the can's label, but that's how most people claimed to be getting the best results, and the pics they posted were good. I didn't do that, and it still came out decently.
#191
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Vernon B.C
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1986 Trans Am
Engine: 350 SBC
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: Trans Am Guage Rings
I'm also interested in a set as soon as you have a batch made up. They look spectacular!
#197
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1984 T/A
Engine: 383
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt 3.08:1
Re: Trans Am Guage Rings
Hey Motobooks, I'm up for a set if/when you have another batch made. I have an '84 as well and these would be an awesome addition.
Please PM me and I'll purchase right away.
Please PM me and I'll purchase right away.
#199
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1984 T/A
Engine: 383
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt 3.08:1
Re: Trans Am Guage Rings
No big rush on my part, I just arrived in Brazil and will be here for 4 weeks. (this won't affect the purchase/shipping to Houston if you have them earlier) Thanks for taking the initiative and helping your third gen brothers out!
#200
Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Millville, New Jersey USA
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1991 firebird base/ 1985 Trans Am
Engine: 91: 3.1 T/A: 350
Transmission: 700r-4
Axle/Gears: 91: 3.23 T/A: ?
Re: Trans Am Guage Rings
I'm deffinately interested in a set let me know! I've been looking for a year for these and have't found a single set =[