Feeler: Get Your Custom Gauges

[QuickSEV6]

Here are some examples of Black Cats custom work.


I'm in the process of getting new custom gauges. Many years ago, I got the reverse indiglo gauges off of Ebay.

They look good, but I also got some lit needles off of Ebay. These required me to remove my needles and and sand off the orange backing. This was a mistake. Now, I'm not entirely sure if my needles are accurate (fuel doesn't even move). And when the backing was sanded, it looks bad.

I was fortunate enough to find another manual gauge cluster of the same year on Ebay. (Have you noticed lots of Ebay transactions?) I was going to attempt something new, but then, completely by accident, I found a company that makes custom gauges.
http://www.blackcatcustom.com/index.htm

Their website has no Toyota products on it. I sent them an email, asking if they can, in fact, do a custom job on a Solara. They replied "yes".
The cost would be between $80 and $120, depending on what I want done (remember, its custom). Plus, they have to charge for a design and set-up, UNLESS I can get four people to join me.

So, if anybody would like custom gauges for under $120, please let me know. If you like, I'd be happy to forward anybody a copy of the email they sent me.

Thanks
-Quick

Interested so far:
1 QuickSEV6
2 '00vegas-solara
3 SirMacDaddy
4 Fresco Bob
5 Akfahad
6 Astro

[Sp33d]

could we potentially make a gauge that is an exact duplicate of the REAL TRD gauges for the solara?

-mark

[SolaraBlue]

do we all have to get the same gauges? im not realy a fan of the trd gauges.....

[QuickSEV6]

do we all have to get the same gauges? im not realy a fan of the trd gauges.....

You can all get any style of gauge you want. Thats why they are called custom. I submitted my own ideas, but if you are not sure of what you want, they can supply you with ideas and pics before they start producing your gauges.
I just need a couple people to join in with me to eliminate the set up cost. As long as we get, at least 4 people, you can get whatever style you like.
Click on the link to see some of thier work.
http://www.blackcatcustom.com/index.htm

Any face color you want, any number and hash mark color you want, any graphic or writing you want. Its completely custom.

[QuickSEV6]

Bump:

Isn't anyone else interested in personalized gauges?

[SirMacDaddy]

im interested

[Fresco Bob]

I'd be down. I'm interested in somethin like the gen5 camry se gauges, with the metal look, as long as I can keep it in km/h.

[Nyyankees3511]

I dont think that will work, you might have to stick with the stock layout of the gauges.

[Fresco Bob]

I dont think that will work, you might have to stick with the stock layout of the gauges.

obviously it wouldnt work if you were thinking of a direct swap, but its the look I like and it would be nice if someone made it for our application.

[GooseXRS]

Are these^^^^ the actual TRD gauges? If not what do they look like?

[QuickSEV6]

Are these^^^^ the actual TRD gauges? If not what do they look like?

Yup. Thats them. They are on Ebay right now.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-01-To ... enameZWDVW

But I want something more unique. Thats why I contacted Black Cat.
I'm going to get gauges that match the color scheme of my car (Blue with Gold trim).

[QuickSEV6]

This is off of the Black Cat website. I thought it might generate a little more interest.

What better way to express your car's uniqueness than with Custom Gauges. We specialize in personalized, custom designs for your car!

For the ultimate in custom design, only a personal touch will do. We encourage you to contact us via e-mail or at our toll-free number 1-866-943-8641 with your custom design ideas. We can prepare a custom design layout for your gauges so that you can see what the finished product will look like before the gauges are produced.

If you'd really like to have customized gauges but aren't sure about the design, then send us a photo of your car and we can offer some suggestions.


Here are some examples of our custom work.

[Akfahad]

hhhmmm...i like. I'm feeling the gray one with the subdued Mitsu symbol, beneath the top Mitsu one. My only requirement would that it would have to light up blue. Also, there's that vertical gap varying between manual and auto, but they can probably fill it with something.

[QuickSEV6]

Here is the latest info I got from Black Cat.

Ok, thanks for the photos. It looks promising. The stock lighting uses 194
size bulbs. We can supply leds that will plug into the stock cluster and put
out enough light to land a 747. The odometer display probably uses a tinted
film that we can also change so all the lighting matches. Worst case, for
just one set, you'd be looking at $250 for the gauge faces, design and set
up and another $30 for the lighting upgrade. The design and set up accounts
for about $160 of that, so for multiple orders, we can split that cost
between each set, or for 4 or more, we will waive that cost all together,
and charge a base price (probably between $70 and $90) plus custom work for
each set. Lighting upgrade pricing will be the same regardless of quantity
(well, if we start looking at 10 or more complete sets, we should be able to
to do a bit even with the lighting price).

WRT the install, we've never worked with a Solara cluster, so I can't quote
you on the install and re-cal by us, but the speedo shop we deal with can
reset the mileage and recalibrate the needles for $95 total, or just do the
recalibration for $45 and have the dealer set the mileage. Otherwise, I can
explain a procedure that you can follow if you want to reset the needles
yourself. WRT the needles, we may be able to re-color them and have them
light up a matching or contrasting color to the rest of the lighting, but
I'll need to see inside the cluster before quoting on that.

To me, this seems like a really good deal. I will definately be doing this. Looking for more people. Anyone else interested? I don't need any money. Just looking for those that would seriously like to upgrade thier clusters.

So far:
1 QuickSEV6
2 '00vegas-solara
3 SirMacDaddy
4 Fresco Bob
5 Akfahad

Anybody else? This will save me (first Solara to be customized) $160.

[SirMacDaddy]

how custom can we go? i really like how the new mercedes guages are and would want mine to turn out like those