Looking to see what everyone has done for after market gauges in their first gen? New dash, new gauge cluster, pods, in the center console area. Let me see them!!! I need inspiration!

 

 

Similar interest here. I'm actually looking to make a new center console facade soon (po hacked up my current one). What process/how did you make the ones in that photo KC? They look really good.

OP, in terms of a new cluster, I don't believe there are many (if any) aftermarket units that are not 'custom'. That said, you can put LED's in the stock one and it can look pretty good that way. I installed LED's because the SA cluster doesn't have any face lights and is edge lit - made it a lot easier to read.

You can always add other free-standing gauges and put them wherever, like in those cuts outs KC made that look amazing.

 

I just installed some last weekend. I removed the stereo and replaced it with the gauges. I had to trim a little bit of material to make them fit.

 

The radio recessed area on this style is a perfect candidate for some 1/8 ABS textured plastic that is used in radio installs. It can be formed to fit right in that area and would look good.

 

How did you make these? Did you have them 3d printed? By hand?

 

These are laser cut out of high end Plexiglas that has a pattern on the back. I went to a local Marker Space and we designed it in a CAD program and cut them on their laser. I had several made.The Plexiglas wasn't cheap at over $100 for a 2x4 foot piece of each type.The gauge holes fit a 2" gauge and the radio opening holds a single DIN. I also had one made from the black ABS that you see in radio installs. Much cheaper.

 

I used the original panel that some owner before me hacked up to put a radio in it. I cut out cleaner rectangle and then made cut out a piece of ABS to fill it. I used CA adhesive to bond it and fill in the gaps. Then drilled holes for the different bits, sanded it and painted.

 

In the S2 cars the best spot to fit 3x 52mm gauges is in the center cubby.

I am running an AEM Wideband AFR, an Innovate oil temp/pressure and a water temp/volt gauge (Innovate MTX-D series).

Here were the basic steps:
-Enlarge opening in center console from the original storage cubby.
-Cut 1/8" ABS plastic rectangle to size and sand to fit for filler panel.
-Use 2" holesaw to cut holes most of the way through the filler panel. Don't drill all the way as the edges of the holes extend to the very edge of the filler panel.
-Bond in place with JB weld plastic bond.
-Complete hole saw cuts.
-Fill, sand etc ect.
-Paint in OEM looking gunmetal.


Finished product, minus Single DIN stereo! Almost looks OEM I think.



Finished with Momo Prototipo!

 

What did you use for paint? It looks like it has a nice texture to it.

 

I can’t remember what I used, but I believe it was some regular old spray paint. Probably rustolium. I would have primered it too

 

Haha, that's fine. I haven't looked around at all yet so I'm sure I'll find something similar - looks good regardless.

Your custom facade layout has made me want to create a low profile radio interface. As in an absolute minimum face area with a single 'line' display and Bluetooth, but nice and quality looking. I swear I've come up with too many ideas this last week... but if I ever do it, it'll be awesome, I hope. It'd be a lot of stuff to learn.

Anyway, thanks for indirectly sparking another goal of mine. My apologies op if it seems I was beginning to steal the thread; I'll take a seat now.