A-pillar gauge pod

Post by **foggyjames** » 26 Dec 2005 01:11 am

I had to do something to keep me amused over Christmas...
Autometer Z Series boost gauge, and an Innovate XD-1 wideband AFR display.

cheers

James

Post by **5lab** » 26 Dec 2005 01:28 am

isnt having a turbo gauge, without having a turbo, a little.. chav??

did yer mum get you some blue neons for xmas??

Post by **foggyjames** » 26 Dec 2005 01:58 am

Tart

Who says I haven't got a turbo anyway?! Ok, so it ain't on the car yet....

Basically, I'm going turbo hopefully this year, but more to the point I'm making the pod for the wideband, and I'm only doing it once!

cheers

James

Post by **petefarrell360** » 26 Dec 2005 02:20 am

Hmmm, I remember seeing the makings of these Foggy! Overall effect looks good. Just out of interest how have you attached them, as me being me, and with a nice GLT, I hate putting screws into the dash or anywhere where it's going to show if it's removed?!? And how strong are they, and how did you strengthen the orginal material! Well, just watch that bigger blind spot now chap, the pillar is enough for me.
Pete

Post by **foggyjames** » 26 Dec 2005 03:48 am

Yawn. Just been out to the car for another play with it. Looking at those pics, they weren't where I wanted them to be, so I've moved the WB up (a little bit), and the boost gauge down a bit and back a load.

They're glued onto the pillar trim at present, but in order to 'sink' them as far into the pillar as I can, the trim will be cut out at the rear to enable access. Once I'm happy with the position, they'll be glassed into place, and smoothed. When that's done, I'm planning to cover the pillars in black automotive carpet, having also sound-deadened the crap out of that area.

The blind spot intrusion is actually very small - virtually zero in the case of the wideband gauge, as most of it is hidden in that dip. It's very hard to take a picture which gives the perspective properly, but rest assured it's not bad at all. That was a concern, hence the (drastic) modification from the original piece.

cheers

James

Post by **SteveP** » 26 Dec 2005 12:11 pm

Pimp! I love that A/F ratio gauge. The good thing with 300s is the very narrow pillar, so even if you did intrude into the blind spot area more significantly than you have done - it'd probably be no worse than modern thick pillared, sloping screen cars!

Post by **petefarrell360** » 26 Dec 2005 01:22 pm

Very true indeed, some modern cars are terrible for visibility, the Ford Puma is a fun car to drive, a bit go kart like, but such a pig to see out of! The A/F ratio gauge does fit in a dead area actually, as that'd nearly be in line with the bonnet at that level. I was tempted to put my tweeters there, but the backs of the door mirrors works so well when you have electric mirrors. Looking good mate, they fit in a lot better than most A pillar pods, that's for sure. The Gauge Guru goes one step furher.......
Pete

Post by **Chris_C** » 26 Dec 2005 01:23 pm

Hmmmm, that AFR gauge is superb.... but then, so is the price

Still want one though!

Looking good mate, going to take some work, but will be worth it! I still reckon you're only doing it because I had more gauges than the guru himself

Post by **foggyjames** » 26 Dec 2005 02:26 pm

Chris_C wrote:I still reckon you're only doing it because I had more gauges than the guru himself

Argh, you got me...

Yes, the price of the wideband is fantastic....people have bought very damn clean GLTs for less...but it will prove to be a very worthwhile tool. For those not familiar with it, it gives an actual numerical AFR read-out, rather than just a series of dancing lights which can only tell you if you're above or below 14.7 AFR

http://www.innovatemotorsports.com/xcar ... imageid=57

cheers

James

Post by **Ali** » 26 Dec 2005 02:38 pm

I got one ages ago in halfords discount £5 for a twin gauge a-pillar mount for a saxo/106 so trimmed it down a bit to fit but i've found it really spoils my vision can't see in curb on the inside of roundabouts etc, perhaps due to being sat lower with my seats,

cheers
Ali

Post by **foggyjames** » 26 Dec 2005 03:18 pm

I think we might have found the cause of the barmy accident rate in 106s / Saxos...the chavs can't see where they're going because of the worlds largest gauge pod

Mine was similarly oversized (albeit not quite as mental) until I took a saw to it...and you'd never guess I'd taken a saw to it, looking at it....

cheers

James

Post by **Chris_C** » 26 Dec 2005 03:25 pm

I've not quite sussed out where I'm putting my last 52mm (well... at the mo it's the last, wouldn't want to go over the top, although maybe if I see SPL in a 52mm format one day....) I'm not keen on the A pillar mount, expecially for just one, and I have a cunning plan for my A pillars too. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product now Fogs!

Post by **foggyjames** » 26 Dec 2005 03:34 pm

Chris_C wrote:maybe if I see SPL in a 52mm format one day

They measure that low?!

cheers

James

Post by **Fuse** » 26 Dec 2005 04:26 pm

http://koti.mbnet.fi/mtn/images/autot/G ... ittari.jpg
http://koti.mbnet.fi/mtn/images/autot/G ... atilat.jpg

I put mine in there.

It's not the best place what comes to visibility of the gauge but it'll do because there's no need to stare it continuously.

Oil pressure and A/F-ratio gauges are going in this when i'll get my A/F gauge..

Oil pressure gauge is kinda cheap Equus but it'll do well because oil pressure isn't displayed in as accurate scale as boost or A/F for example.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/mtn/images/autot/G ... kiinni.jpg

My boost gauge is a bit too accurate because it will display changes in current air pressure too...

That's because there's a calibration valve and when you set it to 0 in some weather and the ATM pressure varies a bit when the weather changes and it displays the variation..

Though it will set when you drive awhile.

Post by **5lab** » 26 Dec 2005 05:33 pm

why not just mount the gauges above the dash in a pod? where i sat in a 300 the bottom 5" or so of the screen was just behind the bonnet (due to being tall) - hence the stuffed cow..

didnt stop my vision at all