2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.
Sponsored by:

Anyone cut into their dash to mount a gauge?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-26-03, 12:41 PM
  #1  
Y00s a h000

Thread Starter
 
Ocelot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 1,913
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Anyone cut into their dash to mount a gauge?

Anyone have pics of where they have mounted their gauges? I'm looking for ideas because it seems that with the auto seatbelts you can't do a-pillar pods, and I don't want to buy one of those expensive ones over the dash that I don't like the look of anyways. I want to keep the clock/emergency light stuff clear though. I was thinking of just cutting a hole in a good place in the dash and cleaning it up a bit so it looks more OEM in there.
Old 12-26-03, 12:49 PM
  #2  
Eat Rice Don't Drive it.

iTrader: (3)
 
1987RX7guy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Laredo, Tx
Posts: 12,752
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
If your good at fiberglassing then you should be able to blend in anything you want in there. I don't know of a place you can just cut and drop in a guage tho.
Old 12-26-03, 01:11 PM
  #3  
Y00s a h000

Thread Starter
 
Ocelot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 1,913
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well i've never experimented with it, but can't you pretty much just build it up then sand it down to the shape you want? I'd probably practice a few times then do it, but if its just pretty much like that then I don't see it being too much of a problem after a bit of practice.
Old 12-26-03, 01:38 PM
  #4  
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary

iTrader: (1)
 
Turbonut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NJ
Posts: 3,965
Received 54 Likes on 44 Posts
Some have put the gauges where the equalizer resides. Depending on what radio you presently have, it may be an option. I know it's quite a distance, but hang and angle them under the dash below glove box. Not bad if they are the larger gauges. If you ripped out the a/c, create a panel and put them in the center outlet. Just depends on number of gauges and size.
Old 12-26-03, 03:52 PM
  #5  
Displacement > Boost

 
88IntegraLS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 3,503
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Here is a start on my home built center panel. It was a temporary deal that I want to redo. This pic is w/o the gauges in it (obviously). The final version will be fiberglass and angled to meet the base of the stickshift surround, and the top will be curved above the dashboard in a similar fashion as the instrument bezel.

Old 12-26-03, 04:45 PM
  #6  
den
Full Member

 
den's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: newcastle/england
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
3 52mm gauges fit perfectly where the central heater vents are :
i cut a template from alluminium and covered it with black pvc. as you can see in the pic the colour of the pvc is a bit lighter, i've manged to get some which matches the rest of the dash perfectly but havn't got arround to putting it on yet.
Old 12-27-03, 04:08 PM
  #7  
I'm a boost creep...

 
NZConvertible's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 15,608
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
What if you like ventilation?

Below the HVAC controls is the least compromising location. Put the gauges on top, single-DIN head unit below.
Old 12-27-03, 04:11 PM
  #8  
Senior Member

iTrader: (2)
 
Slacker7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 287
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
if you get some mounting cups from either vdo or autometer you can mount the gauges ontop of your gauge cluster
Old 12-27-03, 05:10 PM
  #9  
Rotary Freak

 
krazykoncepts's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Toronto
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
ya i dont get it you took out the vents but u still have the logicon??

by the way that looks REALLY good
Old 12-27-03, 05:12 PM
  #10  
Eat Rice Don't Drive it.

iTrader: (3)
 
1987RX7guy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Laredo, Tx
Posts: 12,752
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
there are other vents
Old 12-27-03, 05:20 PM
  #11  
Rotary Freak

 
krazykoncepts's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Toronto
Posts: 1,790
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
do u still get good ac though??
Old 12-27-03, 08:42 PM
  #12  
Senior Member

 
amused's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Red Sox Nation
Posts: 534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
who needs ac?
Old 12-27-03, 09:04 PM
  #13  
Y00s a h000

Thread Starter
 
Ocelot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 1,913
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
People who like not sweating and having their skin be stuck to the leather seats.
Old 12-27-03, 11:22 PM
  #14  
Senior Member

 
amused's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Red Sox Nation
Posts: 534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
well, what if you replace the seats? ;-)
Old 12-27-03, 11:51 PM
  #15  
Junior Member

 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: UT
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
looks awesome, but i would miss the vents, i like my AC
Old 12-28-03, 07:31 PM
  #16  
Eat, sleep, work, mod.

 
jon88se's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Long Island
Posts: 2,517
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
there are companies in japan that take out the clock/idiot light cluster and replace it with a 3 gauge pod...
Old 12-28-03, 09:18 PM
  #17  
den
Full Member

 
den's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: newcastle/england
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i dont have a.c, it hasn't reached above 30*c here for years now and i always have the heaters on, just set to the footwell and windscreen position instead.
Old 12-28-03, 09:22 PM
  #18  
Nurse I need 1300cc's NOW

 
alwayssideways's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Hartford
Posts: 1,261
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally posted by den
3 52mm gauges fit perfectly where the central heater vents are :
i cut a template from alluminium and covered it with black pvc. as you can see in the pic the colour of the pvc is a bit lighter, i've manged to get some which matches the rest of the dash perfectly but havn't got arround to putting it on yet.
thats very sexy!!!and clean
Old 12-28-03, 09:37 PM
  #19  
den
Full Member

 
den's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: newcastle/england
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
thx to be honest i think it looks too gheto at the moment, i'm hoping it will look stock to the untrained eye when i recover the template.
Old 12-28-03, 09:45 PM
  #20  
I'm a boost creep...

 
NZConvertible's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 15,608
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Originally posted by jon88se
there are companies in japan that take out the clock/idiot light cluster and replace it with a 3 gauge pod...
Leaving you with no warning lights, which isn't too clever.
Old 12-28-03, 09:57 PM
  #21  
on the road to insanity

iTrader: (7)
 
seveninphilly's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Bristol, PA
Posts: 586
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
not to beak ***** or any thing but they are IDIOT lights if they come on it's your fault and probably too late
Old 12-28-03, 11:09 PM
  #22  
Sam
big boost baby

 
Sam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Okinawa, Japan
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
very nice

__ DEN__Those gauges in place of the vents looks nice! How long did it take you to make one of those? also I have been looking for the 3-gauge pod insert where the idiot lights are placed. Corksport seems to be advertising them but you cant order them yet~~ anyone know where else you can buy this pod?
Old 12-29-03, 11:33 AM
  #23  
den
Full Member

 
den's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: newcastle/england
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
didnt take too long, just marked around the vents i took out then went at with the dremel. it took about a couple of hours altogeather.
Old 12-29-03, 11:37 AM
  #24  
i love assembly lube

 
allforjesus06's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: High Point, NC
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
hey, here's some molding im doing to my dash.



here you can see where i molded the cd changer control unit into the ash try flap. i took the cd changer control unit, and only used the front piece for the molding. all i have to do is screw in the back piece, put the **** in, and bam it's done. all i did was cut a hole out in the ash tray flap with a bandsaw and use bondo to fill the space. ive also got duct tape on the clear middle part where the lcd goes.


here i am molding the flap into the main part of this dash panel, the bondo cures blue. after this i sanded/added more coats of bondo/sanded.



here it is close to the final product, the paint is still wet.

This is my first post to the forums, so I hope i fit in and get along well. If you'd like to see my car, go to this link -> My CarDomain Page
Old 12-29-03, 11:42 AM
  #25  
Y00s a h000

Thread Starter
 
Ocelot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 1,913
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Is there enough space back there to fit the headunit? I definately want to see some pics of that when your done, looks like a sweet project.


Quick Reply: Anyone cut into their dash to mount a gauge?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:22 AM.