My First Test Gauge Lens Font Change (Huh?) - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

BigMike · 08-13-2006, 02:11 AM

Well, I finally took the time to make up a template for the lens set for our trucks. I took off the old lettering/numbers and played around with different fonts. All of the white face gauges I see all have the green letters/numbers on them and do not look quite right to me. The tick marks on the white gauge overlays are black, so I thought it would look better if the letters/numbers were black as well - here is the results of my first test set. I still need to adjust some things, but not bad for my first try. Cool thing is, I have about 60k of different fonts and can make them nearly any color.

I know the silver is not perfect and the bottom of the tach where it says RPM X is missing the 100 after it, I just wanted to see how it all lined up. The vacuum gauge hole that has the crown like design was also made up as well, I just have not put it in yet (it still needs a little work).

Anyways, let me know what you guys think.

Mike

BobbyK · 08-13-2006, 02:21 AM

Very interesting...looks good...unique too.

BigMike · 08-13-2006, 02:31 AM

Oh yea...never mind the silver ring with black center thing, I just did the silver so the black digits would show up. I do plan on making a set of silver overlays so it would all be silver with black letters/numbers/ticks. it would look great all white or make it to match your body color...red with a red truck, blue with a blue truck...etc... The other option is to make just the numbers/letters the same color as your truck just to mess with people - something different -

Mike

al's71gmc · 08-13-2006, 03:41 AM

I think that looks great, Mike. I really like the font. Are these going to be available anytime soon?

Longhorn Man · 08-13-2006, 09:45 AM

Looks good... however...
the white overlay people used to provide black numbers and letters to place on the lens. The problem is, nothing you put on the lens will catch the light from the dash lights, so no matterr what color you use, you won't be able to read ANY of the numbers or letters ar night. I agree that black numbers and letters look better.
Now, what I have always thought of, was making an overlay, one that you place on the back side of the lense, that has all the letters and numbers done in black, BUT just slightly larger than the stock ones.This way, from the front side, everything will be outlined in black.

tom71 · 08-13-2006, 12:06 PM

looks real nice mike . availabilty????????. tom

BigMike · 08-13-2006, 03:22 PM

Hmmm...I guess I'll have to plug in some back lights to see how they look at night. These are installed on the back side of the lens, this way it is more like the stock digits and they won't come off when cleaning the lenses. This is only my first, so there will probably be more changes to them before they're right.

I wonder if there is anywhere I can get lenses without the digits on them. It took a while to get the old digits off without ruining the lens itself. You cannot use thinners or heavy solvents as it will ruin the plastic. Cannot scrape them off or it will scratch the plastic. The method I used (secret

) was a long drawn out process but guaranteed not to damage the plastic. I was thinking of possibly just buying Lexan and using the stock lens as a template to make clean ones with no digits.

I was thinking of making kits to sell but I don't even know if people would be interested in them, just because I think they're cool does not necessarily mean others will as well. I guess I will get one finished and see what people think. There are several people making the gauge overlays but no one I know of is doing colored digits like this, maybe I should make a kit with instructions on how to do it? It is difficult to get the digits to line up properly so it may be better to install the digits on the lexan templates for people for better results.

Who knows, at this point I am just thinking out loud. I do appreciate your comments and thoughts. As far as availability goes??? not sure. As soon as I perfect it

Mike

Longhorn Man · 08-13-2006, 04:35 PM

I've removed the lettering with a razer blade and didn't mess up the lens. I have also used wax and a buffer pad on a drill.

BigMike · 08-13-2006, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

I've removed the lettering with a razer blade and didn't mess up the lens. I have also used wax and a buffer pad on a drill.

Hmm..I guess if you are careful, a razor would do the trick. I used a strong tape and kept putting it on and yanking it off (like hot wax treatment I guess). It took a while but left no marks at all.

Mike

Longhorn Man · 08-13-2006, 05:20 PM

Sweet.
The wax/buffer will also get rid of all the fine scratches on the face of the lens from all the years of dry wiping.

cstanley · 08-13-2006, 09:57 PM

i'd also be curious how they read in the dark with the lights. they do look good on the silver, though.

Brad · 08-14-2006, 12:07 AM

I like that font- gives it a sorta rat-rod look

BigMike · 08-14-2006, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

The problem is, nothing you put on the lens will catch the light from the dash lights, so no matterr what color you use, you won't be able to read ANY of the numbers or letters ar night.

Yep, does not show up well...But, I have another idea. The reason it does not show up is because it is opaque and cannot capture light. They make semi-transparent vinyls that I bet WOULD work, I am working on getting some as I type this.

The black did look cool though. Maybe even a smoke tint might light up, I'll keep you guys informed.

Mike

chevy_fatman · 08-14-2006, 09:02 PM

That looks great!

1972cheyenne454 · 03-05-2014, 01:08 AM

I wish I would have found this thread years ago. Did you ever get anything that showed up well in the dark? Are you even still messing with this kind of thing?

sdwolff98 · 03-05-2014, 03:07 AM

Hey Big Mike,
I like it looks really good the silver is a good background as well. Let me know when ya start making them I will be interested in a set for our new 69

Sean

chuckmc8 · 03-05-2014, 06:57 AM

Not the same ole stuff! Excellent!

acemang · 03-05-2014, 08:35 AM

Like Chuckmc8 said, its different and that makes it awesome. Great creativity. I like it.

**LockDoc** · 03-05-2014, 12:23 PM

-
Mike hasn't been on the board for about 5 months. Maybe he will slide in one of these days and see this update to his thread though....

LockDoc

BigMike · 06-03-2014, 07:26 PM

Ya, the lens project was a bust. No matter what level of opaqueness I couldn't get them to work out at night. During daytime they looked great, but as soon as it got dark you couldn't make out the numbering. I could probably make a template that left the numbers blank and then lightly sand blast them, but that would be way more time than I'd like to put into it.

It was a interesting thought though, thanks for the encouragement guys.

Mike

08-13-2006, 02:11 AM	#1
BigMike Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita - SoCal Posts: 1,432	My First Test Gauge Lens Font Change (Huh?) Well, I finally took the time to make up a template for the lens set for our trucks. I took off the old lettering/numbers and played around with different fonts. All of the white face gauges I see all have the green letters/numbers on them and do not look quite right to me. The tick marks on the white gauge overlays are black, so I thought it would look better if the letters/numbers were black as well - here is the results of my first test set. I still need to adjust some things, but not bad for my first try. Cool thing is, I have about 60k of different fonts and can make them nearly any color. I know the silver is not perfect and the bottom of the tach where it says RPM X is missing the 100 after it, I just wanted to see how it all lined up. The vacuum gauge hole that has the crown like design was also made up as well, I just have not put it in yet (it still needs a little work). Anyways, let me know what you guys think. Mike __________________ Mike My 69 SWB Project Father/Son 72 Nova Project My Airbrushed RC Car Bodies

08-13-2006, 02:21 AM	#2
BobbyK Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,Mi. Posts: 1,771	Re: My First Test Gauge Lens Font Change (Huh?) Very interesting...looks good...unique too. __________________ 71 blazer,350SBC,approx.375HP,700R4,factory GM TPI.Dual electric fans,33x12.5x15 ATR on stock suspension. Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,MI. See ALL my Blazer pic's HERE

08-13-2006, 02:31 AM	#3
BigMike Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita - SoCal Posts: 1,432	Re: My First Test Gauge Lens Font Change (Huh?) Oh yea...never mind the silver ring with black center thing, I just did the silver so the black digits would show up. I do plan on making a set of silver overlays so it would all be silver with black letters/numbers/ticks. it would look great all white or make it to match your body color...red with a red truck, blue with a blue truck...etc... The other option is to make just the numbers/letters the same color as your truck just to mess with people - something different - Mike __________________ Mike My 69 SWB Project Father/Son 72 Nova Project My Airbrushed RC Car Bodies

08-13-2006, 03:41 AM	#4
al's71gmc 4 eyed fever Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Eureka, Nevada Posts: 500	Re: My First Test Gauge Lens Font Change (Huh?) I think that looks great, Mike. I really like the font. Are these going to be available anytime soon? __________________ 1971 GMC 2500 4x4 1972 GMC Sierra Grande 1/2 t 4x4-#1 son's truck. Recently completed resto. 4 YO daughter," Daddy, I like your truck better than Mom's." (2000 F350-ranch truck) Smart kid!!

08-13-2006, 09:45 AM	#5
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: My First Test Gauge Lens Font Change (Huh?) Looks good... however... the white overlay people used to provide black numbers and letters to place on the lens. The problem is, nothing you put on the lens will catch the light from the dash lights, so no matterr what color you use, you won't be able to read ANY of the numbers or letters ar night. I agree that black numbers and letters look better. Now, what I have always thought of, was making an overlay, one that you place on the back side of the lense, that has all the letters and numbers done in black, BUT just slightly larger than the stock ones.This way, from the front side, everything will be outlined in black.

08-13-2006, 12:06 PM	#6
tom71 what happened to flint mi Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: san diego Posts: 437	Re: My First Test Gauge Lens Font Change (Huh?) looks real nice mike . availabilty????????. tom __________________ 71 swb 2wd fleet frame off in progress 72 4x4 blazer daily driver 70 olds cutlass s mint condition owned by a grandma 56 gmc 2wd project waitng 97 fiance mobile

08-13-2006, 03:22 PM	#7
BigMike Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita - SoCal Posts: 1,432	Re: My First Test Gauge Lens Font Change (Huh?) Hmmm...I guess I'll have to plug in some back lights to see how they look at night. These are installed on the back side of the lens, this way it is more like the stock digits and they won't come off when cleaning the lenses. This is only my first, so there will probably be more changes to them before they're right. I wonder if there is anywhere I can get lenses without the digits on them. It took a while to get the old digits off without ruining the lens itself. You cannot use thinners or heavy solvents as it will ruin the plastic. Cannot scrape them off or it will scratch the plastic. The method I used (secret ) was a long drawn out process but guaranteed not to damage the plastic. I was thinking of possibly just buying Lexan and using the stock lens as a template to make clean ones with no digits. I was thinking of making kits to sell but I don't even know if people would be interested in them, just because I think they're cool does not necessarily mean others will as well. I guess I will get one finished and see what people think. There are several people making the gauge overlays but no one I know of is doing colored digits like this, maybe I should make a kit with instructions on how to do it? It is difficult to get the digits to line up properly so it may be better to install the digits on the lexan templates for people for better results. Who knows, at this point I am just thinking out loud. I do appreciate your comments and thoughts. As far as availability goes??? not sure. As soon as I perfect it Mike __________________ Mike My 69 SWB Project Father/Son 72 Nova Project My Airbrushed RC Car Bodies

08-13-2006, 04:35 PM	#8
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: My First Test Gauge Lens Font Change (Huh?) I've removed the lettering with a razer blade and didn't mess up the lens. I have also used wax and a buffer pad on a drill.

08-13-2006, 05:20 PM	#10
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: My First Test Gauge Lens Font Change (Huh?) Sweet. The wax/buffer will also get rid of all the fine scratches on the face of the lens from all the years of dry wiping.

08-13-2006, 09:57 PM	#11
cstanley Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,229	Re: My First Test Gauge Lens Font Change (Huh?) i'd also be curious how they read in the dark with the lights. they do look good on the silver, though. __________________ "Anybody who would paint his truck like this, would go to a minister's funeral dressed in feathers!" - Big Enis Burdett '72 Blazer Restoration Blog: http://sportchicken.blogspot.com/

08-14-2006, 12:07 AM	#12
Brad Out of the carpool lane. Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Clark Co, WA Posts: 5,673	Re: My First Test Gauge Lens Font Change (Huh?) I like that font- gives it a sorta rat-rod look __________________ 1968 C-10 SWB, 5.7 Vortec/700R4/3.73 posi, Torch Red 1968 Camaro, 250/Powerglide, all original (No, I'm not gonna drop a 350 in it!...Jeez!) 2000 Honda VFR in the faster yellow! 2008 Husqvarna TE-610 1967 C-10 SWB 'Six Appeal'-Gone but not forgotten...

08-14-2006, 09:02 PM	#14
chevy_fatman Where's my beer? Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I live in the state of denial.... Posts: 5,621	Re: My First Test Gauge Lens Font Change (Huh?) That looks great! __________________ Paul How do you make the invisible, visible?.........You take it away.

03-05-2014, 01:08 AM	#15
1972cheyenne454 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Middle-a-nowhere, USA Posts: 63	Re: My First Test Gauge Lens Font Change (Huh?) I wish I would have found this thread years ago. Did you ever get anything that showed up well in the dark? Are you even still messing with this kind of thing? __________________ 1972 Cheyenne, 350/th350 12bolt posi, shift kit, 262 Craine Cam, Pertronix HEI. "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, only then will the world know peace." "Who are you people and where is my horse?"

03-05-2014, 03:07 AM	#16
sdwolff98 Turning Wrenches Daily Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Gladewater Texas Posts: 1,129	Re: My First Test Gauge Lens Font Change (Huh?) Hey Big Mike, I like it looks really good the silver is a good background as well. Let me know when ya start making them I will be interested in a set for our new 69 Sean __________________ Work! Play! Work work work! Money to play with. 64 GMC, 66 burb 4x4, and now 64 1ton money pits......ahhh life is good. Upcoming move back to Texas Dallas bound we are this september!!! 1964 GMC I1500 2wd (my baby) 8.1 allison 6 spd conversion Aka Smurf http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=438342 2016 Ram Big Horn 4WD parts hauler 2010 Chevy HHR wife new car after the circled problem blew up!!! 1981 Ram D150 /6 auto Wife's sunday driver Living outside Gladewater Texas now working in Longview at the hospital there future project toys: 1966 Chevy K14 carryall aka Smurfette future project 283/auto overdrive http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=551867

03-05-2014, 06:57 AM	#17
chuckmc8 It's alsways something..... Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Douglasville GA Posts: 1,171	Re: My First Test Gauge Lens Font Change (Huh?) Not the same ole stuff! Excellent! __________________ 1968 RS Camaro 'Vert Matching number 327 and M21 Muncie 1968 C10 Black with red interior and orig paint. 5.3 / 4l60e,3:73 POSI 17" Torq Thrusts 1968 CST 514 Red with black interior. Buddy Buckets, Factory A/C, PS, PB- 20" AR custom shop TT, 5.3 and 4l60e



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03-05-2014, 08:35 AM	#18
acemang Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Liberty Lake, WA. Posts: 59	Re: My First Test Gauge Lens Font Change (Huh?) Like Chuckmc8 said, its different and that makes it awesome. Great creativity. I like it.

03-05-2014, 12:23 PM	#19
LockDoc The Older Generation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Posts: 25,593	Re: My First Test Gauge Lens Font Change (Huh?) - Mike hasn't been on the board for about 5 months. Maybe he will slide in one of these days and see this update to his thread though.... LockDoc __________________ Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 -

06-03-2014, 07:26 PM	#20
BigMike Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita - SoCal Posts: 1,432	Re: My First Test Gauge Lens Font Change (Huh?) Ya, the lens project was a bust. No matter what level of opaqueness I couldn't get them to work out at night. During daytime they looked great, but as soon as it got dark you couldn't make out the numbering. I could probably make a template that left the numbers blank and then lightly sand blast them, but that would be way more time than I'd like to put into it. It was a interesting thought though, thanks for the encouragement guys. Mike __________________ Mike My 69 SWB Project Father/Son 72 Nova Project My Airbrushed RC Car Bodies

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