RPMS Posted July 9, 2001 Share Posted July 9, 2001 My mother gets all these neat catalogs, and in one of them, MicroMark, they have cut-to-fit electroluminescent sheeting with a power supply for only $19.99. I've never seen anything like this before, and it got me to thinking about backlit gauge faces, illuminated emblems, etc. http://www.dxmarket.com/micromark/products/25010.html The only issue I can see is that the sheet is fairly small - 1 3/4 x 3 3/4. That should be enough to do two of the smaller stock gauges, but it's not large enough to do the speedo or tach. Whaddya think? Does this stuff generate any ideas amongst y'all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLKMGK Posted July 9, 2001 Share Posted July 9, 2001 That's exactly what's used to make EL gauge faces Autometer WAS going to make a set of these but said that their engineers found out the stuff "aged" and faded over time. They decided this wasn't suitable for their product and halted it - drat! I really like that stuff, they're using it on foot pedals now too I spotted it in F&F on a nice RX7 and might have to track it down for my RX. If I could figure out a way to do it in my Z I would but right now for me it doesn't look doable with my Autometers. I've colored my bulbs blue for now but if Autometer ever makes those puppies I'll be all over them. Anyway, for you I think ths stuff might be worth a shot if you like it. There are sites that already have the printer files for white faced gauges - maybe print them on clear plastic to put over the EL sheeting? This stuff is getting popular and common so perhaps you can find bigger pieces for the tach and speed too? Would be a really cool project if it works out. I'd have gone with Japanese aftermarket gauges in the Z just to get that effect if they had any tachsspeedos that would work and look decent. For some reason their tachs and speedos are usually too small and darned ugly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 9, 2001 Share Posted July 9, 2001 Hmmmm. I just received a Micro Mark catalogue and looked at the small parts molding products. Now I will have to look for the EL stuff! Sounds like an idea. Perhaps wire the EL directly into the Z lighting system and replace the stock bulbs. Time to check into CLEAR vinyl gauge faces Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLKMGK Posted July 9, 2001 Share Posted July 9, 2001 Do some Google seaches - wow lot's of stuff out there! Turn signals for the mirrors anyone? Lot's of places out there selling the "wire" and some detailing how to install it but I've not yet found sheets of the stuff. My next gauge lighting excercise will be blue LEDs. If I can find a 12 volt unit I'll be VERY happy as I can fudge it into the existing bulb holders. So far fuel gauge looks great (perfect) the water temp gauge is WAL dim (?!), and the other gauges are mixed levels in between. white faced gauges (Autometer in my case) with Blu LEDs will look pretty nice but for stock overlays the EL would be AWESOME. Hrm, beware that it's vulnerable to UV. This is apparently what "ages" it. I wish Autometer would hurry up and build a line of these.... Hrm! -> http://www.autospeed.com/A_0885/page1.html Glovebox light anyone? Now THAT'S a neat idea Good article on the stuff there but it's the wire not the panels (sigh). Hrm! -> http://www.nis-knacks.com/products/b13/b13_face_plate.html http://www.3m.com/us/auto_marine_aero/automotive_oem/electrical/durel.jhtml Okay, here's a "How-To" for making gauge faces but probably for a different car. Probbaly worth checking out for this though http://russ.angrypacket.com/howto/carstuff/diy-indiglo-gauges/ And -> http://beingseentechnologies.goemerchant2.com/nscgi-bin/BeingSeenTechnologies/catalog.cgi?Department=95%20Customize%20your%20Auto%20Gauges&Cartid=700994691019&Merchant=BeingS eenTechnologies for actual kits to do this - pricey though! Looks like this URL is hitting a line length limit but you can puzzle it out - right? [ July 09, 2001: Message edited by: BLKMGK ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 9, 2001 Share Posted July 9, 2001 Great a interior that looks like a tacky night club... Regards, Lond Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted July 9, 2001 Share Posted July 9, 2001 BLKMGK: too much! The glove box is a cool idea, but the whole interior of that car...eeeeeww! Actually, if we manufacture a kit for a Hondah Civic, I'm sure we can be bazillionairs tomorrow... It would be cool to have backlit guages for the older Z cars. I could get into that! The lighting my 260Z had was pathetic! Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 9, 2001 Share Posted July 9, 2001 The Z's instruments were lit? Regards, Lone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 Well, at least I thought they were... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 I think I posted some info about those wires before...was thinking about stuffing them into the turn signal assemblies and such as an alternative to LEDs. I was also thinking about cutting part of my side mirrors and putting some of that stuff behind it to make it look like those newer turn signals with LEDs. I would never do that entire interior stuff though! Yech! Owen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oltmann Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 You can get larger sheets from Edmunds Industrial Optics. A 5x8" sheet is $155. A bit more expensive per sq. in. but it will do the big guages. More info here. http://www.edmundoptics.com/IOD/DisplayProduct.cfm?productid=1393 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPMS Posted July 11, 2001 Author Share Posted July 11, 2001 Damn, that fully "dressed" interior was.... unique. It looked like a disco exploded in there... I've been thinking about using thin fluorescent tubes, the kind that illuminate a laptop computer display, for interior illumination. They're skinny enough to sneak up under the bottom of the dashboard, and they put out plenty of illumination. I wonder if I could use a standard 12-volt power supply from a camping lantern to power them... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 11, 2001 Share Posted July 11, 2001 Ordered my EL sheet from www.beingseen.com just a few minutes ago. Got the clear vinyl gauge faces - exactly like the classic whites on my website - being made as we speak. I am also going to have the EL sheet die cut for blinkers and such as well. Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted July 12, 2001 Share Posted July 12, 2001 Craig, let us know how they turn out when you finish! It sounds as of there is not too much work involved in doing this--or should I say it sounds workable by the average guy who likes to work on car projects... Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 12, 2001 Share Posted July 12, 2001 Will do! I thought the same thing. We shall see. Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MM_280Z Posted July 16, 2001 Share Posted July 16, 2001 The guages are OK but thay EL cable stuff... THAT my friend is some ricey sheit! Definately NOT cool to have EL stuff on the petals either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted July 17, 2001 Share Posted July 17, 2001 Whaddya mean, you don't like that picture of my car?! J/K Owen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted July 17, 2001 Share Posted July 17, 2001 Well Owen, you did mention that being ricey was in your blood J/K Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted July 17, 2001 Share Posted July 17, 2001 Oh...I guess I did. So maybe I should replace the drip rails with neon tubing? How about a glowing ring around the muffler tip?? Yeah! Ever see "Automan"? Pretty corny TV show but all the distinct lines of the car were like neon or something. Owen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MM_280Z Posted July 17, 2001 Share Posted July 17, 2001 Do it man! You will be the envy of High Schooler rice boys across southern CA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fl327 Posted July 17, 2001 Share Posted July 17, 2001 if anything, somebody has to make a hi-po light kit for the map light, dome light, and the inspection light underhood, right now all those lights are so dang dim man!@!!!!!! i really cant see nothing with those lights, the moon actually illuminates better than those dang lights man.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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