$1200 for 4 gauges/wiring/radio panel ? Isn't this a bit much?

http://www.ricks2k.com/products/gaugeset.html

 

btw, I'm not trying to knock anyone but rather just trying to find out why he is asking so much.

 

BryanS2k

the cost is based on parts (600+) and then the time it takes to make it (2 weeks).

Rick posted a "How to" thread for folk that wanted to make their own. So the info on how to make them is out there.

Think of it this way, if we did not offer them, them folk would want them and they would be asking for them. So we offer them at a fair price to the time it takes to make them. 600 dollars for 80 hours work is a fair rate don't you think?

 

ah Ic. I do admit it does look good...

 

My roommate is doing this for me (hes a car audio/security installer). Its going to cost me about $500 Canadian in the end, including a new radio door from Honda...

To be fair to Rick the gauges we're using are Summit Racing's generic brand. It'd cost a few hundred more to use the same gauges as Ricks.

 

Yea the gauges rick uses are $89 a piece... there is a lower model of the same brand for $50 a piece... so either around $240/set or $360/set then depending on the type of gauges the sending unit for oil pressure is $49 and water temp is like $20 etc... so to be fair... at very most $500-$600 for the gauges and sending units but this can be lowered a good amount depending on the gauge from intellitronix that you decide to get.

 

I installed the same gauge set as Rick, if fact we completed it about the same time. It was Covkid 48 who acutually first did the in the radio door install of gauges. It is a very time consuming job, and to get the gauges centered and line up right isn't easy. It took me a couple of doors to get it right. The install of the sending units isn't bad, but it too takes time. When I got it all done, I decided that I didn't like the bright red gauges, so I torn them out, and replaced them with yellow gauges. I probably spent close to $1000.00 doing it myself. So if you don't mind taking your time you can save a few bucks, but don't be in a hurry. I can totally understand why Rick charges what he does.

That said, I love the gauges, and think that Honda should of done it in the first place. It really looks great, and the radio door works just like new.

 

gdw's work was the inspiration for this whole approach, and we are grateful to him for development of the idea. A while back he was even kind enough to send me the hole saw he used to cut the radio door holes, which I still use.

As far as the cost is concerned, given the labor involved, and given that I do all of the labor myself, the cost has to be that high. Otherwise, I have better things to do with my time than to labor over gauge sets. Bottom line is that it doesn't really matter if we sell none of these, since it simply doesn't pay to do them for less.

That's why we posted detailed instructions on how these are made, so that people who want to try can do it themselves and at least save the labor part of the cost. But it still will set you back at least $600, provided, of course, that you don't make mistakes that add to the cost (like messing up a few radio doors, or ruining a gauge, which I have done).

 

Rick, could you post a link to the detailed instructions for this install?

Thanks

 

Per your request
covkid48's post on his installation that started it all
Rick's How to \"Do it your Self\" thread