ive got an open space where the stock stereo was and the one i have in there now is smaller and leaves quite a bit ove open space. Ive wired a fuel cut switch and am ordering oil press and temp guages and was wondering if you guys could post pictures of how you set yours up?

also what material you used. i was thinking abs plastic or sheet metal but maybe itd be too tacky?

 

once in a while someone sells gauge panels, I made my own.

Was a piece of a boat, so it is balsa core with fiberglass that I painted with the same paint as the car. I made it where it removes with the radio chassis.
I originally offset it like the s4 radio was, always wanted to get a s5 chassis and center it up

 

on my coupe I did a plain jane panel from summit, was $17

 

interesting.. its very clean :]

 

As beautiful as Rob's installation is- the whole car is gorgeous- I think that's a terrible place for any sort of gauge that you actually want to track data from.
Completely out of the normal line of sight, those gauges will require a conscious effort to monitor.

A slow moving, relatively unimportant display...say, fuel level, would be OK though.

 

it takes a second to glance down at the temp gauge, I am not into the pillar gauges, and I think it takes about as much attention off the road as looking at the radio, a gps, or gauges lets say in the idiot light area. I would go so far as to say it takes about the same time as looking at the stock gauges, which still work in my car by the way, the aftermarket are just backups and contrary to what people repeat on this board are actually pretty accurate

to each their own, but I have never thought that taking a second to glance down. at them all that much of a bother.

 

Completely agree, I would know since thats where my gauges are mounted and I had to learn to read them from the drivers angle (as in learn what the true reading is, not what my eyes see because of angle). Luckily for me they beep and flash when engine goes above a certain water and oil temp, so they get your attention fast.

 

I guess after 10 years I am just used to them, as I would expect you would too after a week of driving the car with them


where would you rather the gauges or better yet what would you rather mount in that empty space?

I did always think a double din radio would be nice down there, maybe one day someone will make a simple one that can show engine information and be a functioning radio

 

I had mine in that location for nearly a year before finally realizing that I hated the placement.


IMO, gauge location, in order of desirability:

1. Stock cluster area

2. Warning light area




















3. Anywhere else.

 

if you are making a track car yes a different spot might be better

I still think it takes about as much time as looking at any other location the car, it aint like you are opening the glove box or center console and looking in, glance up at the idiot light area, or glance down at the radio area. race cars put gauges all in the center console, so its a matter of a few more inches