Black Cat Customs = Unreal! [Archive] - Dakota Durango Message Board

caulk04

01-21-2007, 01:45 AM

Good lord does Alex do good work. Worth EVERY penny, plus more.

Showed up today, I had it installed it about an hour. I found the gauge readings for the calibration test to insure my needles are RIGHT, not just guessed into place. Gauge calibration (http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=dakotart&msg=38157.1&maxT=7) There is also one available for the 97-00 clusters.

Pics do little justice, its just plain awesome. The needle centers have been painted for some time, I used a silver paint marker found at Wal-Mart...matches perfectly.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h185/caulk04/DSC05563.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h185/caulk04/DSC05569.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h185/caulk04/DSC05566.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h185/caulk04/DSC05567.jpg

Ohh yeah, I finally have an answer on the tires for my R/T wheels. Getting Cooper Discoverer S/T's tuesday morning...will install and take pics next weekend in case any of you are wondering.

ucimaplaya2

01-21-2007, 01:48 AM

wow those are really nice :biggthump

AmberFireDaK

01-21-2007, 01:55 AM

Wow that's nice.....how much did that cost you?

caulk04

01-21-2007, 02:01 AM

$125 total. A wee bit more than normal because of the addition and color Ram heads.

addicted2blue00

01-21-2007, 02:06 AM

looks damn good but one thing would keep me from gettin it, no numbers for the smaller gauges

Dj Wolf

01-21-2007, 02:08 AM

Looks badass man :drool: cant wait to order mine. :banana2: One question though, why isn't your odometer light up in any of the pics?

caulk04

01-21-2007, 02:08 AM

Yours would have numbers...the 01+ clusters don't have numbers. Just low, mid and high.

www.blackcatcustom.com check it out

addicted2blue00

01-21-2007, 02:15 AM

Yours would have numbers...the 01+ clusters don't have numbers. Just low, mid and high.

www.blackcatcustom.com check it out

dont say that, i might end up havin to get one, looks better then the apc one i have now :rant:

dak-rt-2a-XR

01-21-2007, 02:16 AM

very nice one off work man! Im loving it.... :banana2:

CrazyKevin

01-21-2007, 02:37 AM

Nice dude looks great ive been thinking about getting one my self.

I have a question though did you have to change any of the lights in the cluster so that the ram heads would light up red? Or are the lights in the cluster just white and the ram head is made of some kind of clear red material?

djRavage

01-21-2007, 02:57 AM

i tried to set something up with alex awhile back to get some gauges with the transformers autobot symbol in them. we went back and forth on them, and then i never heard from him again.

then, this fall, i ran into a guy with a Scion TC that had an autobot symbol on his gauges. they were from black cat and they used the image *I* sent.

not angry....i just wanted them first :rant:

DAKSPORT1PA

01-21-2007, 04:05 AM

That looks incredible :drool:

00RedRT

01-21-2007, 04:08 AM

Congrats on those man! Alex really does do some great work. I worked with him around this time last year to get the 99-00 guys setup so he has the headlamp and A/C controls for those years. The 97-98 headlamp faces are different.

I even had Alex color match my paint as you can see from my old stock fuel door. He even put a gloss coating on it to emulate a clear coat finish. Here's more examples of what Alex can do...

http://www.madrt.com/images/darren/Gauges1.jpg

http://www.madrt.com/images/darren/Gauges2.jpg

http://www.madrt.com/images/darren/Gauges-Night1.jpg

Taz_FL

01-21-2007, 05:04 AM

dude, thats awesome, looks great :mullet:

slvdak

01-21-2007, 05:44 AM

jesse, that looks unreal man
I need to get some myself
awesome man
:drool:

01SilverDak01

01-21-2007, 06:50 AM

I like the look of that too!

I think I'll order the same design or one similar, but I'll order a Polished Billet
Insert to top mine off if I can find one!

RagingRedR/T

01-21-2007, 07:24 AM

Lookin pretty awesome, I think I'll have to order some one of these days.

RyanH360

01-21-2007, 08:00 AM

Lookin pretty awesome, I think I'll have to order some one of these days.

I have to have some. Those are incredible. I especially like how clean they are. I do like the fact that they don't have the kph on there. It makes it look so much cleaner. Those are excellent. I may have to hit Alex up and see what he can do for me.

MYDAK

01-21-2007, 10:31 AM

One question though, why isn't your odometer light up in any of the pics?

I am wondering about this also. 00RedRT's also doesn't show the odometer reading.

DocZ

01-21-2007, 01:22 PM

I am wondering about this also. 00RedRT's also doesn't show the odometer reading.

My guess is the key is off.

They do some terrific work.

uwntsumrtII

01-21-2007, 01:43 PM

that's a pretty sweet overlay. if i still had the stock guages i'd get me one. :drool:

caulk04

01-21-2007, 02:41 PM

Ben

01-22-2007, 06:25 PM

Looks bad ass fro sure.

rebelfootball

01-22-2007, 08:34 PM

Looks awesome. I may have to ditch my boring apc one for that. Coupld quick questions-

1)Caulk- does the gear indicator light up blue. I can't really tell in the pic.

2) Why are the gear indicators different? I noticed on Darrens truck, it is not digital like mine is. I believe his is also a 00. Did they do the gear indicators different on RT's? When I got my apc gauge face, the odometer had a blue cover over it, but there was absolutely nothing over the gear indicator, and it looked pretty ghetto that way. I ended up having to make my own blue cover for that side. You can't even tell that it didn't come with a cover on that side, and believe it or not, I used a wrapper from a bottle of dasani. :mullet:

phantomRT

01-22-2007, 10:39 PM

00RedRT

01-22-2007, 10:55 PM

2) Why are the gear indicators different? I noticed on Darrens truck, it is not digital like mine is. I believe his is also a 00.

Gear indicators went to a digital display starting in '01.

bwdakrt

01-22-2007, 11:50 PM

Yeah, the ignition is off, but the key is on just far enough to unlock the gear shifter (gotta move it down to 1st to get the dash and cluster out.

Thanks guys!

BTW - Alex is a real busy guy and sometimes misses emails, give him a call...he'll get you setup right away.

Just ordered a full set (gauge overlay, AC panel & headlight switch panel) from Alex. Super guy. Faxed him the info on what I wanted and he did a couple variations an emailed me the pics. He has to order the AC panel cover and everything will be here in 2-3 weeks. Can't wait to get them. I'll take some pics when they're on. Jesse, thanks for the pics of yours. I have been thinking about these for about 3 months and after seeing yours, my mind was made up. I just hope mine looks half as good as yours. AWESOME!

bwdakrt
2001 Dakota RT CC BW (1 of 1,671)

caulk04

01-22-2007, 11:56 PM

The gear indicator and odometer are blue, you just have to tell him what you want. He'll put any color film you want.

I gotta see pics of the headlight and AC panel done when you get yours, I wasn't too sure whether I wanted to do those too or not.... hmm. :jester:

bwdakrt

01-23-2007, 12:10 AM

realdeal7369

01-23-2007, 12:15 AM

figures they dont have something for the 1997's... :rant:

rebelfootball

01-23-2007, 12:40 AM

Gear indicators went to a digital display starting in '01.
Thats kinda weird then- mines an 00 with a digital gear indicator:huh:

00RedRT

01-23-2007, 12:52 AM

Thats kinda weird then- mines an 00 with a digital gear indicator:huh:

Interesting, well '00 was a transitional year. I have '99 injectors and O2 sensors on my truck. Definitely a funky year fo sho.

00RedRT

01-23-2007, 12:55 AM

figures they dont have something for the 1997's... :rant:

You can work with Alex man. He had nothing for 99-00 headlamp or A/C panels either till I sent him my stuff and now he offers those as templates.

phantomRT

01-23-2007, 12:59 AM

You can work with Alex man. He had nothing for 99-00 headlamp or A/C panels either till I sent him my stuff and now he offers those as templates.
I wonder if he could match my paint.... :drool:

00RedRT

01-23-2007, 01:00 AM

BTW, I've been getting several PMs on more pics of mine installed daytime and at evening with the cab lights on, so I'll save some time sending back the PMs and just post them up here...

http://www.madrt.com/images/darren/Gauges-Night2.jpg

http://www.madrt.com/images/darren/Gauges-Night3.jpg

rebelfootball

01-23-2007, 01:34 AM

Wow... :drool: :drool: :drool:

01SilverDak01

01-23-2007, 10:00 PM

I just placed a Call to Alex and ordered Mine! :woot: :onethumb:

I liked Jesse's so much I ordered the same design for my Silver 2001!

01SilverDak01

01-23-2007, 10:04 PM

Ohh yeah, I finally have an answer on the tires for my R/T wheels. Getting Cooper Discoverer S/T's tuesday morning...will install and take pics next weekend in case any of you are wondering.

You made a Great Choice on the Cooper Brand Tires! :onethumb:

I can't wait to see them installed on your Dakota!

RedDakRT

01-23-2007, 10:55 PM

Thats kinda weird then- mines an 00 with a digital gear indicator:huh:because yours has the 4.7 if it had a 5.9 or 3.9 it would have the cable one

00RedRT

01-23-2007, 11:31 PM

because yours has the 4.7 if it had a 5.9 or 3.9 it would have the cable one

Until '01 when the new interiors came out, then even the 3.9 & 5.9 have the digital gear indicator.

caulk04

01-24-2007, 12:41 AM

You made a Great Choice on the Cooper Brand Tires! :onethumb:

I can't wait to see them installed on your Dakota!

Copy cat!!! :nana: That's cool, did he tell you about cutting out the 'light box'? It's used for the 'shift' light on manual trucks, but will cause the Ram head in the tach to not light up right. I just pulled mine apart and cut the box out with a pair or dikes. As you can see, no shadow.

I got the tires picked up...holy cow are they good looking! :mullet: Gonna try to get my front brakes and the wheels on tomorrow before I leave for work. :woot: :woot:

01SilverDak01

01-24-2007, 01:16 AM

Copy cat!!! :nana: That's cool, did he tell you about cutting out the 'light box'? It's used for the 'shift' light on manual trucks, but will cause the Ram head in the tach to not light up right. I just pulled mine apart and cut the box out with a pair or dikes. As you can see, no shadow.

I got the tires picked up...holy cow are they good looking! :mullet: Gonna try to get my front brakes and the wheels on tomorrow before I leave for work. :woot: :woot:

No........ Alex didn't mention that, hmmmmmmmmm

any chance I could get you come down and give me a hand installing it and we'll shoot a few Pics of both Dakotas together!

It'll also give me a chance to Christen the New Garage with the first Mod of 2007!

Bryan

01-24-2007, 02:24 AM

Good lord does Alex do good work. Worth EVERY penny, plus more.

Showed up today, I had it installed it about an hour. I found the gauge readings for the calibration test to insure my needles are RIGHT, not just guessed into place. Gauge calibration (http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=dakotart&msg=38157.1&maxT=7) There is also one available for the 97-00 clusters.

Pics do little justice, its just plain awesome. The needle centers have been painted for some time, I used a silver paint marker found at Wal-Mart...matches perfectly.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h185/caulk04/DSC05563.jpg
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h185/caulk04/DSC05569.jpg
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h185/caulk04/DSC05566.jpg
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h185/caulk04/DSC05567.jpg

Ohh yeah, I finally have an answer on the tires for my R/T wheels. Getting Cooper Discoverer S/T's tuesday morning...will install and take pics next weekend in case any of you are wondering.

That is the sweetest guage cluster ever!
Do you have any pictures of it in the daylight, and not just night time with the flash?

caulk04

01-24-2007, 06:59 AM

No........ Alex didn't mention that, hmmmmmmmmm

any chance I could get you come down and give me a hand installing it and we'll shoot a few Pics of both Dakotas together!

It'll also give me a chance to Christen the New Garage with the first Mod of 2007!

It's really not hard at all...but I might be able to come down sometime. Probably a saturday, late morning/midday. Once the needles and stock applique are off, the clear plastic backing and gauges themselves separate from the circuit board (carefully!). Then you can chop the light box out, I didn't make it real pretty, but who's gonna see it. Its like 3/4" square and 2" high maybe...

As for daytime pics...I work midnights so I don't see a whole lot of natural light during the week. :jester: I'll try and snap some more pictures tomorrow or thursday, gonna get up early today so I can do my front brakes, install the new wheels and check out a front end noise (I think its my other wheel bearing dammit)/

caulk04

01-24-2007, 07:01 AM

Ohh yeah, you'll notice the two 'white' holes in my cluster...it seems that some clusters have the tach/speedo needle stops built in, mine were part of the stock applique that has to be removed. I have a couple chrome plated socket head cap screws that I'm gonna put in there to fill the holes, makeshift stops and add a little flair (not enough peices of 'flair' :jester: :slap:)