348 Updated gauge trim rings

Designed and had machined some new gauge rings. The smaller gauge rings (oil pressure, fuel etc) for the dash and center console will be here in a few days. They are in unfinished 6061 currently but soon to be Nickel plated along with some other interior bits.

The idea was to add a little update without being over bearing and chunky, less is more really. I had 5 different profiles mild to wild and selected one that was not too modern and fit with the vintage look. Essentially flat as possible where I could add a round to the edge. Some profiles were taller and had profile that swept out dramatically etc etc.

I made them as narrow and as thin as possible but they could actually be a wee bit smaller, there is some play on the gauge face where it is SLIGHTLY oversized, we're talking .5mm. Super hard to measure accurately the gauges are actually not round they are slightly egg shaped. I may make another batch.

Here is a picture with one trim ring and one without trim ring on the same cluster. Thoughts?

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You mis-understand the post, these are the hill ones below. Huge, chunky, overbearing, a meat cleaver approach to trim rings. They actually look stuck on.

The ones I had machined above are not Hill I had htem made they are much more svelt, more like a scalpel approach to trim rings.


Hill Engineering rings


My updated Trim rings
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Yeah I'm with you Brian, I like sans rings too. Same with my old E30 M3, no rings.

I wanted to see how smaller rings would be, I'll make an even smaller set and add the small rings and nickel plate and see. If I recall 355 has slight polished trim probably plastic. The thing is I think it needs to be subtle and doing them in nickel may fit nicely.

If not it will be out here for others to see and know instead of wonder "what would smaller rings look like" because that's what I did when I saw the Hill ones.
I'll update pics with all the rings on before plating and before making a more svelt batch.

 

Here they are laying on top. Version 1 as a concept test fit idea thing. They are unfinished aluminum. I need to make a new set a bit tighter and smaller still to get to whats in my mind. I'll be making a new batch but SLIGHTLY smaller and nickel plating them.

I have 3 sets of these, if anyone wants a set for free. You may want to powder coat them.


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I'm working out a recessed/countersunk billet speaker grill solution also, probably nickel plated trim ring on that too.

 

Almost positive the for the 355 at least the binnacle cluster. The 355 are painted on. It does not look crafted. The trick for me is nice metal old school like but not some huge slab stuck on, the select the right finish. Hell maybe chrome. The stupid gauges are not actually round either more like egg shaped slightly. Real pain. Burning through money prototyping these and speaker grills and seat tilt spacers etc, I no longer have a mini CNC but I can do the cad work then send out for small runs. Runs up into 4 digits real quick, damn my brain.

 

lol to each his own. Ferrari has and does use rings just not on the 348 obviously. Technically you can paint the existing rings too they just lay on the gauge and pop through the cluster plate. take off, rattle can silver like the 355 then back on. I am after metal and I am betting slightly more svelte satin nickle plated rings will be awfully nice, some still wont like it. Hell I amy not and decide to not do it. Either way much better than those Hill monstrosities.

I plan on matching door speaker trim rings in satin nickle as opposed to plastic car speaker trim rings that come with speakers that are 1/2 thick. And plastic.

 

Think I have 1 set left. I had more than I thought actually. Responded to pm.

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Wow looks good!

When I make more I'll send you some no problem! They will be a bit smaller which will work well there.

Copterjon got some to any updates there also, I know they were powder coated too.

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Yes very good especially with lights on. So raw finish then.

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There is another set put there too that the guy never posted pics of. 355 if I recall.

 

The hill ones look a bit like checker auto parts bits. I don't have any left I gave them all away. I may do another run as I don't actually have them on my car they weren't quite good enough, I have some changes for them.

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They were good, not not exactly what was in my head I should say.

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