Making new dials look like vintage ones.

Has anyone done this kind of thing, I want to do the three gauge set-up, but getting hold of anything off e-bay even knock-offs usually leave me out of pocket. What I was considering was buying a brand new set of gauges of a performance car...oil temp, pressure, tach and speedo, gas gauge and giving them the old treatment.

Anyone? I can get stickers made up that can just be stuck over the existing gauge face to give it that look, but I was wondering if anyone else had done this sort of thing and can give me some advice.
- G

Skip the afermarket and start with the three gauges from a Porsche 914. Pretty cheap, 12 volt, and they mimic the earlier 356 gauges in configuration and function.

If you have a little more to spend, look for 912 Porsche gauges. They still retain the green numerals of the 356, but have the two piece bezel found on the 914 gauges.

Even the Audi gauges from the late 70's will work as a base to work up from. They have green numerals as well, a nice 12 volt tach, but will need VW Karmann Ghia chromed bezels to complete the masquerade.

Look at the other VW and Porsche family members before turning to the aftermarket.

Luck ! !

Thanks for the advice. I'm currently looking around, but finding 2nd hand porsche anything in this country is almost impossible. I've never thought before of using Audi parts, I should be looking into that. I'd love to use porsche items 914/912, just most of what we have locally are attched to full cars...lol.

Pity most US companies don't want my money.............*cries*

TC
Do you know of any chrome, stainless or aluminum bezel trim rings that are available or can be fabricated will fit over the 3 pc black 914 gauge set?
~Alan

So this is what I should be looking for? Freaking $20 odd...I'm willing to pay abut $100 if some sod will ship to me....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsche-914-Gauges-Cluster-Tach-Speedometer-73-74-75_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6763QQihZ001QQitemZ110148041628QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW#ebayphotohosting

Damn sellers won't do deals with anyone outside the states......damn Nigerians.......boo.

Thee are places/services in the US where you can have goods shipped to and then they will forward the goods on to you. They charge for this service of course but if you need or want something and its worth it then they do offer the service. I have used one once and it was okay...took a bit longer and cost me but for what I was buying it was worth it (in my mind).

Try to google USA Parcel Forwarding...here's one place but there's more.

http://www.usabox.com/

the 914 tach is a different size though. Although simialr in function, and easy enough to reproduce the face, the actual size and chrome bezel are big sticking points. :(

Gary, Those look pretty rough. Visit "thesamba.com", post a
"wtb 914 gauge set" in the porsche parts section. You'll receive many
responses I would think. Paypal them or other $$service, money is money. If all else fails you could pay me and I'll fwd them. I don't understand the reluctance to shipping outside the U.S. If you are paying for it.....I think people are gun shy of Africa because all of the Nigerian shenanigans that have been going on.

Also--visit--Brazilian ebay, though the real (spelling?) has gained
almost 1005 in the last few years things still tend to be a bit cheaper there.--Hence the reason for the imported speedster bodies.

Thanks for the info guys. I used ebay twice and got screwed over on both occassions. I'm a bit nervous about ordering something, and the guy selling either sends me rubbish or doesn't send me anything at all.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=478270

I had a paypal account hooked up a while ago for this very same thing so that shouldn't be a problem. I've seen that the going rate is between $15 odd for a rough looking set to about $30 for something almost perfect. Nice to have some sort of guideline that I can use.

Thanks for the offer of helping me out if I don't come right with thesamba, I really appreciate that. We get so screwed over here, I got a quote this morning of almost $200 for a set of broken gauges, don't even get me started on the smaller parts that I need for my speedster.....

just to the point of why some fair number of perople won't ship out of the country....

1) extra paperwork to cover customs, and this paperwork seems to change every time I ship out of country. What is the correct ID number for used auto parts and what is really their country of origin again? Maybe Brazil, maybe USA, maybe Germany, maybe China, just for used guages?
2) Fed Ex, USPS, DHL, UPS, and the like all have different requirements for this that or what ever. And the requirements will differ from day to day and person to person at their shipping locations
3) hard or impossible to track
4) generally impossible to get a claim for damage or loss paid
5) generally impossible to prove receipt of item
6) declared value issues, where you sell something for say $100 and because of VAT or other taxes someone wants it declared as a sample or of no value...how do you suppose a claim would go for loss or damage of something you have declared as "no value"? Not to mention whose laws might have been violated?

I have shipped quite a few things internationally....it is not easy...hence some fair number of folks won't do it...

" Do you know of any chrome, stainless or aluminum bezel trim rings . . . "

Lemme poke through my goodie boxes and see what seems to fit, OK? Last year I had a nice combination of Ghia, 914, and early Beetle working out that seemed worth pursuing. Very different, vintage look, but just killer for the right car.

I'll look around and post some pics when I find the bits and pieces.

In the last three weeks I sent motorcycle parts via fed ex to the following places with:

1. sent $150 (declared value) worth of motorcycle parts to Paris
no issues what so ever. Just fill out a little single page declared value form.

2. $200 motorcycle goods to Italy, same as above

3. $1200 to Canada--as agreed with the buyer I put down a declared value of $500 (but thats all we would receive back if damaged or lost). CAN. customs wanted parts to picked up in person so the (heavy)tax could be paid prior to release. Luckily no issues.

4.My daughter tried to have clothing bought/shipped directly to the U.S. from U.K.---No good, they don't do it. Shipped to a U.K. relative than forwarded from there. Crazy effort.

I think it's crazy to limit your sale area/market. Especially if you have something of higher value. People in the UK and other areas of the world have deep pockets at the moment. Just be careful.
I would pass on anyone from Nigeria with a special request or a large check that they were going to split with me if I was nice enough to cash it for them.
The world is getting smaller, right?

gee Bruce, your item number 3 you just admitted in print to a violation of customs rules and regs (laws?) in both the US and Canada by missrepresentation of the true value of items for export. Care to look up the possibility of fines on that?

His name isn't Bruce, and he doesn't live in New Jersey.

F. them, bunch of pansies. I don't live in a glass house. I'm sure we have all paid the sales tax due our home state for ebay purchases, right? I was asked the value not the recent sale price. What's declared value anyway? Just because someone pays x amount for something doesn't always make it a realistic value. Go buy a new $40k car, drive it around the block and try and return it. You'll quickly learn the real "value" of your recent purchase. How come Colonial
New Englanders who bucked taxes were Patriots and I"m a criminal.
I know a few people in England who deal with old motorcycle parts etc..When the "tax man"
comes knocking they go right for the ebay account records. Very different approach than over here. But don't worry it'll be here soon enough.
When he says "I'm from the government and I'm here to help"---run!

Besides--I'm just a little fish.

P.S.--California has been catching up with lots of people who built their kit cars for 15k
and their sweat/tears. "The Man" says market value is 40k. Guess what they want their sales tax based on.---They're not very nice.

Tnx in advance TC for checking into the chrome 914 bezels ...it's appreciated !

I skimmed the majority of posts here, but to the initial question, I ask, "Why would you take a half-assed approach to something that'll be staring you in the face every time you drive your car?"

Break down and get a set of 356 repros or have some other alternative appropriately refaced by professionals.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=478340

This is a great price for a genuine speedo. Grab this and start looking for the other two gauges . . . ?

Maybe?

Of this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsche-911-VDO-Tach-Tachnometer-gauge-NR_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33679QQihZ016QQitemZ260136934465QQrdZ1

The 911 tach is the same size as the speedo and combination gauge from the 914 and seem to be around everywhere. I got one for cheep 'cause the bezel was dented. easy to swap the bezels for the 914 gauges.

OR grab a set of these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsche-911-993-964-Tacho-Gauge-Bezel-Rings_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43951QQihZ012QQitemZ220130118767QQrdZ1

replace the bezels on the two 914 gauges and the 911 tach and sell off the extras here.

Not to "over-post," but nearly all of the Porsche gauges from the earlier cars will swap out, either gauge for gauge, internals, bezels, needles, or whatever. You can mix and match a sweet set of genuine Porsche VDO without any trouble and not much money at all. AND you always end up with enough extra bits and pieces to put together a partial set for that next OUTLAW project. You know . . . . the one where you go with all black gauges and interior, the one that you already have the steering wheel for, kind of rough and ready with a padded roll bar but without those expensive hub cap crests . . . you know . . . . the one that never gets built.

Thanks for all of the replies guys.

To answer some questions: The 356c speedo, I've mailed the guy, but he also won't ship internationally, I've begged and pleaded and hopefully something comes from that.

I'm following some replies on the samaba that I've gotten and hopefully that will provide some leads.

I know that the are going to be looking me in the eye all of the time, that's why I want to get rid of the crappy VW one that I have and fit something better.

In South Africa, it's all about availibility. The 914 that we got here was in a VERY limited run, under 2500 and finding parts locally is pretty impossible, you guys have NO idea what it's like over here. You get lots of repro stuff over there that looks the part and that I'd give my left ball for, but over here, forget it.

I understand the extra work that may be involved with shipping parts internationally and am more than willing to pay a bit extra to the seller to cover his time.......I'm no cheapskate.

I'll keep everyone updated on what happens.

- Gary

I got a lead. Local chap who has a complete set of re-furbed 356a gauges for sale. Including an original 356 clock as well.

If his price is what I expect it to be, I'll take them.

Stay tuned.

Just a note of caution regarding shipping and customs.

I learned that a business owner friend of a friend recently sold and shipped some $2000 worth of parts overseas. The buyer asked him to declare a lower value of $500 for customs and to include a receipt for the lower value

I've both bought and sold a lot of stuff from and to many countries.

If I am buying I NEVER ask for a reduced declared value or "gift". Ever hear of conspiracy to commit fraud? No thank you. Nor will I declare the same on something I sell. You should bid or agree to buy something knowing, and accepting, your full cost.

As far as shipping, I use Canada Post and usually through Paypal on line. The forms are filled out for you as you answer the questions and then you just print out your postage paid label. Funds come from my Paypal acct.

Or I can do the same at the Canada Post website and pay by credit card on-line. I know that USPS has the same service on-line too. You then just drop the parcel off at the post office...here there's no need to even wait in line. Just drop it off on the counter and they take care of it.

Don't know about UPS, FedEx, etc as they are way too expensive to use up here.

As for declaring lower values, to try and cheat the system, no thanks. The last thing that I want done is to have my goods seized or destroyed once I've spent so much time organising them.

An update on this. I'm going to be biting the bullet and am going to buy from vintage speedsters over the net, I've already been in contact with them and we're going to put an order together and just phone through the order one day. This is the safest option for all involved and is going to cost me about $100 extra, but it's worth it.

The local guy wanted $1000-00 for his 356c gauges........pass.