Author Topic: SMMM7 Mod Preview (Read 7866 times)

Whip · « **on:** February 19, 2010, 04:06:32 PM »

I thought I would share a photo of the mod I'm having Joe (The Boss) do for me at the Mod Meet in April. It arrived today along with the white LEDs from Black Cat Customs. Those of you who know me, know that my GXP has an Air Force theme. What do you think?

Kelu · « **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2010, 04:25:36 PM »

It's wrong.

DeepBlueGXP · « **Reply #2 on:** February 19, 2010, 04:33:53 PM »

Sweet

Uranium-238 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 19, 2010, 04:35:29 PM »

Wait, you're having a Navy guy help install Air Force logos on your car?

Whip · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2010, 04:56:40 PM »

I have to double his fee!

Sly Bob · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2010, 06:25:18 PM »

Very nice. I'm going to have to look over Joe's shoulder when he's doing that one.

KWhale · « **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2010, 06:34:35 PM »

Very nice indeed! And the install of the gauges themselves is pretty simple, but if you're changing the color of your illumination, I would be interested in seeing that done because I think that will be tricky. Good luck at the MM with your install, and you will love the white gauges in the sunlight!

Sly Bob · « **Reply #7 on:** February 19, 2010, 06:51:03 PM »

In Canada the MPH is SMALL where the KPH is bigger. I have a heck of a time seeing the tiny red on black numbers. Have to see what my options are.

TomatoSoup · « **Reply #8 on:** February 19, 2010, 07:07:09 PM »

Don't want to rain on anyone's parade here, but there IS an issue with white gauges, especially with white backlighting...

That is, at dusk or low-light conditions, the backlights are on dim/grey and the gauge faces are also grey and there's absolutely no contrast. I had this combo myself for a while and couldn't live with it. I ended up getting the faces remade with white letters on black faces. Much better. YMMV.

1LILNDN · « **Reply #9 on:** February 19, 2010, 07:17:51 PM »

Quote from: Sly Bob on February 19, 2010, 06:51:03 PM

In Canada the MPH is SMALL where the KPH is bigger. I have a heck of a time seeing the tiny red on black numbers. Have to see what my options are.

Bob for the most part #1 you keep up with everybody else #2 Don't do any stupid Moving from lane to lane #3 Don't Pass the State Police . When I came back last Summer average speed was 65-75 through new York. The closer I got to MD the Faster I was going.When I was in Canada kept looking in my Mirror

Critterman · « **Reply #10 on:** February 19, 2010, 09:39:10 PM »

AF - Artzy Fartzy??

The white gauges are gray in the tunnel during the day and evening. You will need to change your lighting scheme from white to a color. Blue maybe to highlight the AF emblem

KWhale · « **Reply #11 on:** February 20, 2010, 12:55:04 AM »

I have the red letters on white background and I have NO issues reading the numbers. I'm not sure why you guys are saying that.

SB, You are right about the KPHs. My car originally had MPH gauges that I swapped out. The numbers for KPH are smaller and closer together, but I find the red letters on a white face are easy to read day or night (or dusk). If you decide to swap your out, Black Cat is a great company (Canadian too) to work with, and they can do some cool custom stuff like they Whip did.

EDIT - OOOOHHHHHH now I see! Whips numbers are not red! His numbers are gray. OK, now I agree with Campbells prediction that the numbers may be hard to read. My bad

Kelu · « **Reply #12 on:** February 20, 2010, 03:43:06 AM »

Quote from: Kelu on February 19, 2010, 04:25:36 PM

It's wrong.

Your speedo is too "low"

Some other guys mentioned this already but to me looks wrong, I'm used with KPH because it has bigger numbers on the speedo

Whip · « **Reply #13 on:** February 20, 2010, 06:53:25 AM »

This is a sample of what the gauge will look like when lit. As you can see, it is from a Sky from Black Cat's website. Although the "face" is white during the day, when lit, it appears black. I believe the white LEDs will be much brighter than the OEM lighting which should help at dusk as someone mentioned. I also believe this setup is similar to what Joe has.

DickW · « **Reply #14 on:** February 20, 2010, 09:03:10 AM »

My gauges are white with black numbers, white leds. I have no problem seeing them at any time of day. Maybe us retired AF guys can see better than those retired Navy guys.

DeepBlueGXP · « **Reply #15 on:** February 20, 2010, 09:30:27 AM »

Mine is white face with blue letters and blue leds

2kwk4u · « **Reply #16 on:** February 20, 2010, 11:14:10 AM »

Looks good, Whip. If you want an AF guy to install it before the meet, let me know. I'm about an hour closer (still a ~2 hour or so drive for you). 'course if you already have an agreement w/ Joe, I kindly rescind my offer

As for the contrast issues. I went white face w/ blue numbers and blue LEDs as well. My biggest problem was the glare off the DIC shield... I couldn't read the DIC 50% of the time in daylight/dusk. I wound up cutting mine out with an x-acto and replacing it with rubylith. I don't know why Black Cat doesn't put some sort of non-glare film over it

TomatoSoup · « **Reply #17 on:** February 20, 2010, 12:41:46 PM »

Quote from: 2kwk4u on February 20, 2010, 11:14:10 AM

My biggest problem was the glare off the DIC shield...

Yep, agree. 2quick and I have discussed this on another thread. I cut out a piece of anti-reflect scratch protector film to cover my window and though the anti-reflect works, the very edges of the film lift in places and don't look as I'd like. Next stop is going to be spray-on matte-finish clear krylon. If that doesn't work I'll try the cut-out route that 2quick did. Sigh.

KWhale · « **Reply #18 on:** February 20, 2010, 10:22:16 PM »

TomatoS, what if you applied the anti-reflect film to the back of your gauges? That way you could use a piece that's bigger than the window, and wouldn't have to worry about the edges lifting? Just a thought.

G8TR · « **Reply #19 on:** February 21, 2010, 01:37:43 PM »

As a veteran of the air force for 11 years i approve great job.

TomatoSoup · « **Reply #20 on:** February 22, 2010, 11:30:58 AM »

Quote from: KWhale on February 20, 2010, 10:22:16 PM

TomatoS, what if you applied the anti-reflect film to the back of your gauges? That way you could use a piece that's bigger than the window, and wouldn't have to worry about the edges lifting? Just a thought.

I'm not sure what you mean by "back of your gauges", but it may be what I've already done... Right now the film is a thin strip cut to fit in the DIC window area of the gauge faces. I couldn't make it larger, because the window is slightly inset into the 'paint' of the faces and the film would have 'tented' all around the edge of the window. As it is, it's lifting due to the only slight stickiness of the (removable) adhesive surface the film comes with in combination with the slight distortion of the film caused when cutting with an x-acto knife. I don't think better is possible, given the adhesive.

KWhale · « **Reply #21 on:** February 22, 2010, 05:34:41 PM »

Oh, I see, yeah, that is what I meant for you to do but if they are not flush when you mount the gauge face, then it would not work.

There is always a fine coat of VCT Night Shades

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Author Topic: SMMM7 Mod Preview (Read 7866 times)