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Is an A-pillar gauge pod in the way when you drive?

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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 11:46 AM
  #1  
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From: Ljungby, Sweden
Is an A-pillar gauge pod in the way when you drive?

I've made a search but couldnt find anything
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 11:48 AM
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Yes very much so.

I used to have one on my old FD, infact it was a dual gauge pod. Glad I don't have it on my current car at all.
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 11:56 AM
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Mine dosen't bother me at all.
I did modify/ trim the bottom of it so it sits about 2" lower on the pillar.

Last edited by maxpesce; Jan 21, 2003 at 12:13 PM.
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 11:58 AM
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I have a single pod and it doesn't bother me. I can't say whether the dual pod would however.
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 11:58 AM
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thanks then ill go with a custom centerconsole pod instead.

Thinking about putting three gauges under the stereo if it's wide enough.
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 12:00 PM
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many new cars a-pillars are sometimes in the way on intersections.
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 12:00 PM
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I have the dual A-pillar pod, and it doesn't bother my line of sight or vision. The only time it affects my driving is when I hit it with my hand when I'm turning the wheel.
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 12:01 PM
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There is actually a panel you can buy to put in that place. Do a search on Saab DIN panel.
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 12:03 PM
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Originally posted by Import Convert
There is actually a panel you can buy to put in that place. Do a search on Saab DIN panel.
Saab you say
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 12:06 PM
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Yessir
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 12:08 PM
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My dual a pillar pod doesn't bother my vision of the road.
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 12:11 PM
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From: Ljungby, Sweden
good thing that i know people that work at Saab here in sweden and i saw on a pic that the pod is actually made here aswell.
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 01:51 PM
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I was looking for the Saab panel, and it appears to be out of production. But Omori and others make panels that should fit (haven't tried one yet).

Back to the original question, I've had an A-pillar pod for years. Here's what I did to minimize visual blocking:
- remove A-pillar
- remove upholstery from A-pillar, leaving just the plastic
- trim the pod to the bare minimum needed to attach it to the A-pillar (lots of test fitting here)
- take pod & A-pillar to upholstery shop , where they attached the pod and recovered the resulting assembly with vinyl to match what was on the A-pillar

The result is that the pod sits closer to and is better integrated into the A-pillar, and is moved down a bit. It's much less of a visual blight that way. More importantly it does not block my vision nearly as much.
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 02:04 PM
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it doesnt take too long to get used to not seeing whats coming from the left side. its not that bad, all you have to do is move your head forawrd a bit. other then that i like my dual pod a-piller
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 02:09 PM
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Just trim the bottom of it so it sits even with the hood of the gauge cluster... i think thats what most people do...
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 02:22 PM
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I wouldn't be without the dual pod. In my first FD I used the dual along with a single to put 3 of the 2-1/16" gauges (temp, boost and afr) where I could see them without having to avert my eyes from the road. If it blocks your left to right vision at all it shouldn't matter since if you are looking to see possible dangers long before they are inevitable crashes. If the pod is blocking your last minute view of the inevitable crunch coming------- it was too late anyway so don't blame the pod.

Last edited by jeff48; Jan 21, 2003 at 02:28 PM.
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 02:37 PM
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Originally posted by artowar2
I was looking for the Saab panel, and it appears to be out of production. But Omori and others make panels that should fit (haven't tried one yet).

Back to the original question, I've had an A-pillar pod for years. Here's what I did to minimize visual blocking:
- remove A-pillar
- remove upholstery from A-pillar, leaving just the plastic
- trim the pod to the bare minimum needed to attach it to the A-pillar (lots of test fitting here)
- take pod & A-pillar to upholstery shop , where they attached the pod and recovered the resulting assembly with vinyl to match what was on the A-pillar

The result is that the pod sits closer to and is better integrated into the A-pillar, and is moved down a bit. It's much less of a visual blight that way. More importantly it does not block my vision nearly as much.
do you have any pics?
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 02:45 PM
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Never had a problem with mine
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 02:51 PM
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i use to have a single gauge on the a-pillar and did not think it was bad, untill I took it off. I think its much better without the gauge in the way there.

I then moved my 3 defi's down above the radio, it looked really cool, but it was a pain to always have to take your eyes off the road and look down. (similar setup to the saab panel they are talking about)

I now run the tripod deal with my defi's mounted where the center channel speaker was on the dash, they sit low enough not to block vision and are very easy to see.

It might just be a personal pref.

James,
93 mb
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 04:13 PM
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While I like to have those 2 gagues on the A-pillar right there to look at the pod does increase the size of the already large blind spot of the A-pillar. It is only reasonably noticeable when turning left (right for you RH units) on sweepers, I don't know whether to look out the side window or lean over to the passenger side and look out the windshield. I have to agree with Mako about the center pod though
BTW, there is a group buy going on right now on these too!

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...hreadid=149430

Regards,
Frank
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 04:53 PM
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I originally had a single gauge a pillar pod and trimmed the bottom off so that the pod itself sat flush with the top of the dash. This cleans the install up nicely IMO. Even so, it never had that clean, factory look.

I have since added the Tripower dual gauge pod to the center channel area and love it. It not only looks extremely clean, but since the gauges are nearer my line of sight and in the middle of the dash it is easy for me to steal a peak at the boost gauge while driving on the track. I find my eyes focus on it more quickly because I don't have to bring them so far into the car to look at the gauge.
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 05:25 PM
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The second gage in my A-pillar 2-gage pod can get in the way if you are loose with your hands on the wheel, imagine how people steer with the heel of their hand when they try to do a full turn of the wheel.

The 3-gage and 2-gage center channel pods are awesome!

http://hometown.aol.com/flyrx7/Rx7-Gauge-Pod.html

http://www.tripower.net/design/produ.../pod-home.html
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 06:36 PM
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One thing no one has mentioned is if you are not running a stock steering wheel. I have stock wheel, dual a-pillar pods and tripower center dual gauge pod. I have no problem with my a-pillar pods but when I drive my friends 3rdgen who has an aftermarket wheel and same a-pillar pod setup and I hit my hands on his gauge pods all the time. So the distance of the wheel in relation to the dash makes a big difference in comfort as far as this goes.

Another thing to mention about this - I never look at the gauges on my a-pillar and in fact dont think I even see them unless I purposely look for them, but I am always aware of the gauges in my tri-power but do not consider them obtrusive to my driving field of vision. I plan on keeping it the way I have it, but if someone twisted my arm and said you need to get rid of one or the other I would drop the a-pillar in a second.
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 08:17 PM
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One thing I noticed too, is that the A-pillar pod will fit just about anywhere on the A-pillar. I moved mine up toward the top just in case I wanted to put a single on the bottom. In this configuration (stock wheel) the bottom gauge is fairly close to the wheel, but I made sure to leave enough room. If you get an a-pillar pod just be sure to dry-fit it to make sure your hands won't hit it, especially in a panic situation.

Frank
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Old Jan 21, 2003 | 10:52 PM
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I have dual gauge pod with 60mm gauges and the stock steering wheel. It doesn't both me at all, but I think most of it is what you are used to anyway.
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