White-face gauges and needle color

08-13-2009, 12:19 AM

I'm sorry if this has been asked before, but I looked through a few pages of threads and did not find exactly what I was looking for. So here goes:

Being the slave to fashion that I am, I'm contemplating hopping on the white-face gauge bandwagon. That said, here's what I'm looking at:

The overlays come from here: http://www.whitegauges.net/products/...ce-Gauges.html

No, I don't want indiglow gauges or anything that requires extra wiring - I want everything to look like it came from the factory. I like these since they look the most factory-like (I hate kits that place a white overlay over the idiot-light portion of the IP).
But going to WFGs introduces a problem with the pointers, namely the color. White on white (for the daytime) is a no-no for visibility (we wouldn't have this problem at night). Forget the LED pointers that seem so popular. Is is there a way that the stock pointers can be colored (red) or maybe replaced? Remember, it's gotta look factory-clean.

Ideas / opinions / comments?

99alerogirl · 08-13-2009, 12:21 AM

i do like those gauges better. always thought the white idiot light part was a little overkill. as far as the needles go... i'm not sure, i just wanted to give you my opinion!

Cliff8928 · 08-13-2009, 12:58 AM

I do believe that you can just color the back of the needle to get the color changed.

Not sure how it is now, I've never actually removed one.

surreal_awakening · 08-13-2009, 06:52 AM

The white appearance of the needle is due to the back side of the needle being painted white. If you remove the white paint, you can paint the back side of the needles whatever color you want. I experimented with this a bit before ditching the ho. I went with a bright orange color. It worked alright, but in order to remove the white, I sanded the back of the needles and I think I used too coarse of a grit. Perhaps if you could use something to strip them without sanding them (and without causing the plastic to get cloudy) it might be better. Definitely doable though.

cherrington17 · 08-13-2009, 08:34 AM

http://autoparts.cartype.com/auto-pa...-gauge-needles

??

you could sand/paint them too. Just be careful and it will look good.

surreal_awakening · 08-13-2009, 09:56 AM

That's a good looking link there...interesting!

Crazytaxi37 · 08-14-2009, 05:00 PM

Hey Matt, Just use a Testor Paint pen used for Models.

08-14-2009, 07:15 PM

Sent you a couple PMs, Greg.

dragon8807 · 08-15-2009, 02:40 AM

i have them and they're nice overlays, but the hardest part of installing them is lining up the numbers so the light gets through the stock gauges and these. the only thing they could use is leds behind them to make them brighter

here's what they look like installed in my car
during the day

at night

knuckleballer32 · 08-15-2009, 11:49 AM

for the install would i just remove the screws by the gauges or would i have to remove the whole dash? dumb question

cherrington17 · 08-15-2009, 11:59 AM

just the gauges.

ServO · 08-15-2009, 01:37 PM

I love how the aura of light around the base of the needles looks like a solar eclipse.

StoopidAlero · 08-15-2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ServO

I love how the aura of light around the base of the needles looks like a solar eclipse.

Nicely put sir! Me likes

Cliff8928 · 08-15-2009, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragon8807

i have them and they're nice overlays, but the hardest part of installing them is lining up the numbers so the light gets through the stock gauges and these. the only thing they could use is leds behind them to make them brighter

You mean you couldn't just remove the original face?

jrim · 08-15-2009, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliff8928

You mean you couldn't just remove the original face?

You can't remove the original face, it's printed to the instrument cluster, ergo you have to 'line them up' perfectly

cherrington17 · 08-15-2009, 08:20 PM

incorrect. you CAN... its just not easy. we have a few members on here who removed it, to take the green film off.. for better light color shown through.

jrim · 08-16-2009, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherrington17

incorrect. you CAN... its just not easy. we have a few members on here who removed it, to take the green film off.. for better light color shown through.

Ohh, my mistake! I thought it was printed onto the cluster. Oh well. lol