Pettit steering column gauge pod. Rip off?
 

Does anyone have experience with this gauge pod? How is it suppose to secure to the lower column cover? This doesn't seem to be worth $100 to me. Input please.

I have this unit. I used gasket maker to seal it to the bottom portion of the cover. It has never failed me after nearly 4 years of ownership.

Anyone else. I'm not satisfied with the silicone idea.

I don't think there are any manufacturers which make one that is compatible with the stock mounting points and are LHD. The RHD ones that are "JDM" need modification to fit. Not to mention, they are a few hundred dollars on ebay. Good luck trying to satisfy yourself.

Let me guess your steering wheel is held on with silicone also.

Hes trying to help you, its a accepted thing to use some sealer to hold it together.

That said mine fits extremely well and its very snug with nothing added whatsoever. Im very happy with mine.

The RE Amemiya one is $220 or so and includes a high quality gauge - not much more than a Pettit with an ugly Autometer. Some minor trimming required. However, you will need a RHD lower cover for a more finished appearance (as pictured in #3 and #4).


https://www.stanford.edu/~sunid/Pictures/REAmemiya1.JPG
https://www.stanford.edu/~sunid/Pictures/REAmemiya2.JPG
https://www.stanford.edu/~sunid/Pictures/REAmemiya3.JPG
https://www.stanford.edu/~sunid/Pictures/REAmemiya4.JPG

That seems a little rude. Not much help. I was trying to get multiple inputs on this subject.

So yours fits fine with nothing added. Is it a Pettit one? Mine seems to be way under engineering for the price.

Wow, thanks moconnor thats very helpful. Thank you.

That pretty much describes any Pettit item I have bought.

So do the stalks fit right if you use the RHD column cover?

So $220 isn't much different than $100?

The RE is nicer (I have it, got it used for $100), but $220 is a jack job.

No. The headlight / turn signal side doesn't doesn't work very well. You need to trim it to work with the USDM headlight stalk otherwise the high beam forward/back movement is restricted.

Guys, look, the Pettit and RE Amemiya pods are pretty similar, only the RE one sells for $220+. I paid $240 for mine back in 2000 kicking and screaming on what a rip-off it was. At that time their was no other alternative. Both pieces go together in a similar fashion and are nearly identical. Their used to be one other manufacturer making these who went to the trouble to modify their design around the turn signals for LHD FDs. That unit sold for something like $80, but unfortunately I think they no longer manufacture them. Sorry, can't recall the name of their website.

The pettit steering collum gauge pod is okay. I've been satisfied with the unit; however, in retrospect i would have gotten the tri-gauge pod that fits in the center speaker console.

The RX7 Store pod works with LHD without issues:

http://www.rx7store.net/product_p/column%20pod.htm

However, you'll have to deal with the fastening issue that the OP didn't want to deal with.

i have the pettit one. i found that it kept popping off so modified it. i used two screws, two rubber washers, and a rubber band (times 4, one for each corner)

i did this because i wanted the housing to be secure, but i want the option of removing it in case i need to get to the electronics in there (like if i decide to install a turbo timer)

here's an idea of what i did (photoshopped example)

https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1183047052

i'll take a real pic when i get home to FL tomorrow

I have owned mine (Pettit) since 1998. Fits good as far as lining up with the stock lower peice. My only complaint is the lose fit. Actually it is only a problem for extened periods at 1900-2100 RPM, wich is really only in 4th and 5th. I was going to try and rap some electrical tap around the stock plastic clips and hope that they ingage with the pettit peice a little tighter.

use the rtv
 

i have a pettit carbon gage pod bought in 1997
and yes i used black rtv to hold it
and no it has never come loose

The rx7 store pod is the pettit one. That's where I bought mine from. It came in a box shipped from pettit.

So how exactly is the piece a "rip-off"? No one else makes one that works with LHD, and the RHD ones are more than twice as much. Just asking how you feel ripped off. If you thought $100 was too much to pay for the part, you shouldn't have bought it.

Pettit is top notch in my book. They have came thru with all my needs. Jeff and cam are both FD member friendly.

The steering column gauge pod works fine for me and I've done nothing but just stick it on the top of the bottom part of the column assembly. No glue, RTV, nuttin'.

is it that hard to just cut out some of it to match? goodness. pettit does make great things for fd's but i do think they are overpriced

+1

This is pretty much been my experience for just about any custom/high performance/"race car" part I have ever bought from any source in the last 30 years.

Everything seems to need to be modified for correct fitment and/or operation.