Gauge Pods?!?

[Sportsguy83]

Originally Posted by F-T

have the protoype done, but production wont be for a few more months. just throwing the option out there... Its a matte black finish, standard 60 mm fit.. will be making RHD and LHD.
thread here
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23804


thanks for looking

Any idea on pricing, and ETA is more like March June?

[F-T]

Originally Posted by Sportsguy83

Any idea on pricing, and ETA is more like March June?

Pricing around 100 USD shipped, and were thinking around May.

[Sportsguy83]

Originally Posted by F-T

Pricing around 100 USD shipped, and were thinking around May.

Sounds good!

[crook]

Originally Posted by F-T

have the protoype done, but production wont be for a few more months. just throwing the option out there... Its a matte black finish, standard 60 mm fit.. will be making RHD and LHD.
thread here
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23804


thanks for looking

spewing was looking forward to this 1

[Dave-ROR]

I started checking basic locations.. my thoughts so far...

1. I dislike a pillar gauges. They are too visible to those outside the car and they obstruct some view out the windshield. Since I look around a lot on track/autocross I personally find them distracting.

2. I like the look of the center AC vent one by doggy, but dislike the lose of those AC vents. I live in Florida.. so that one is out for me.

3. The single pod on the left side by doggy, I like this location, but 3M may not be sufficient in a wreck compared to a solvent welded cup onto a securely attached piece of plastic, but still the location is great and it shouldn't interfere with the airbag. Sadly, it's only a single pod, I need oil temp and oil pressure.

4. When I looked to see if I could use the setup Prime did for their customer I discovered that the majority of the gauge would be blocked by the wheel, which wouldn't work for me Sucks cause that setup is clean!

So here's some pics of various thoughts, maybe we can discuss it and get a vendor onboard with making something.

First this is what I'm used to in my ITR:


I loved that setup because the gauges didn't really block anything, were not visible outside the car and allowed a quick glance in one area to show all the gauges for the car.

Sadly, our cluster design makes that impossible.. so...

Option 1: I thought about welding cups to the steering console cover:

Left side:


Right side:


Pros: easy to see with the other gauges.
Cons: blocks some of the OEM gauges. Speedo is worthless so who cares, coolant is more important but you can still see the hot side just fine but it might annoy some people. Space under the cover might be too limited, unknown until someone removes it to check.

Option 2: Next I thought about a double cup version of Doggy's single cup pod.


Pros: Gauges are easy to see but not super visible to others, wiring should be easy enough to do, gauges aren't too far away from the OEM gauges.
Cons: Mounting (without cutting the dash) results in a potentially unsecure installation in the case of a high speed crash. Since my car is tracked, this is a concern for me and I'd prefer a more secure mounting method. Looks a little unbalanced and might be just a tad bit too far for the left hand gauge to do a quick glance to check info on track.

Option 3: Finally I figured I could solve the mounting concern by solvent welding cups to the gauge hood.


With one gauge on each side it's balanced and stays close to the OEM gauges allowing a quick glance. Wiring would be super EASY although a longer jumper between my two defi gauges would be required (assuming I can't just lengthen them, I'm assuming they are just normal wires and nothing fancy). Like option 2, they aren't super visible to other drivers. The gauge hood is easy to remove also so install overall should be easy.
Cons: Nighttime visible concerns are possible (due to bright gauges). I hate that the advance CR gauges don't have a brightness control and am concerned that they would be too bright at night. The lighting can be disabled at night but that's still annoying. The Advance BF gauges have 5 levels of brightness but I really don't want to spend another $400 just for that, maybe I'd have to tint the gauges.. don't want to do that either though..

Thoughts? My favorite is option 3 right now.

[Pure Automotive]

What about an 04-05 STI style pod right on top of the steering column

[Celica00]

Originally Posted by Pure Automotive

What about an 04-05 STI style pod right on top of the steering column

that would work well w/ our cars as the left guage is next to useless w/ the digital readout in the middle

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Pure Automotive

What about an 04-05 STI style pod right on top of the steering column

That's one of the options I posted, the problem comes when you need two gauges, some people won't like losing sight of most of the coolant temp gauge.

[Pure Automotive]

Maybe if you use a small gauge? like the stock sti one

[doggy]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

I started checking basic locations.. my thoughts so far...

3. The single pod on the left side by doggy, I like this location, but 3M may not be sufficient in a wreck compared to a solvent welded cup onto a securely attached piece of plastic, but still the location is great and it shouldn't interfere with the airbag. Sadly, it's only a single pod, I need oil temp and oil pressure.

Had few other pods made the same way with 3M double side tape - and believe me - its HARD to remove it once needed - cuz on the whole perimeter under the pod - there's a special made pad to hold the tape - so it glues by WHOLE perimeter not just few strips...

As for 2 gauges - if there would be enough interest - I could make a double pod without any problems...

I thought about making 2 pods just like you want to mount your gauges (on both sides of speedo cover) but if you are sitting low - they interference with the view on both sides.... And personally - I found it uncomfortable with the 2 gauges sitting that high and right on the view angle... But for view angle - and visibility on gauges - its the best place... I guess all the preferences are personal option here

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

Option 2: Next I thought about a double cup version of Doggy's single cup pod.


Pros: Gauges are easy to see but not super visible to others, wiring should be easy enough to do, gauges aren't too far away from the OEM gauges.
Cons: Mounting (without cutting the dash) results in a potentially unsecure installation in the case of a high speed crash. Since my car is tracked, this is a concern for me and I'd prefer a more secure mounting method. Looks a little unbalanced and might be just a tad bit too far for the left hand gauge to do a quick glance to check info on track.

Option 3: Finally I figured I could solve the mounting concern by solvent welding cups to the gauge hood.


With one gauge on each side it's balanced and stays close to the OEM gauges allowing a quick glance. Wiring would be super EASY although a longer jumper between my two defi gauges would be required (assuming I can't just lengthen them, I'm assuming they are just normal wires and nothing fancy). Like option 2, they aren't super visible to other drivers. The gauge hood is easy to remove also so install overall should be easy.
Cons: Nighttime visible concerns are possible (due to bright gauges). I hate that the advance CR gauges don't have a brightness control and am concerned that they would be too bright at night. The lighting can be disabled at night but that's still annoying. The Advance BF gauges have 5 levels of brightness but I really don't want to spend another $400 just for that, maybe I'd have to tint the gauges.. don't want to do that either though..

Thoughts? My favorite is option 3 right now.

Either 2 or 3. I prefer to have my gauges in one so I only need one glance to get the information I want - so I prefer 2, but with 3 you're looking ahead anyway so if your gauges have features like audible warning/flashing it isn't a big deal.

[Sportsguy83]

Originally Posted by Pure Automotive

What about an 04-05 STI style pod right on top of the steering column

That looks good, and I only plan on running one gauge. Your OEM cluster solution is the best but I need to go sit in my car to make sure the steering wheel does not interfere.

I must say I am more comfortable with a solution that does not cut a dash piece. This suggestion seems to fit the bill.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by Pure Automotive

Maybe if you use a small gauge? like the stock sti one

Mine are 52mm, about as small as you'd want

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by doggy

Had few other pods made the same way with 3M double side tape - and believe me - its HARD to remove it once needed - cuz on the whole perimeter under the pod - there's a special made pad to hold the tape - so it glues by WHOLE perimeter not just few strips...

As for 2 gauges - if there would be enough interest - I could make a double pod without any problems...

I thought about making 2 pods just like you want to mount your gauges (on both sides of speedo cover) but if you are sitting low - they interference with the view on both sides.... And personally - I found it uncomfortable with the 2 gauges sitting that high and right on the view angle... But for view angle - and visibility on gauges - its the best place... I guess all the preferences are personal option here

I'm not that short so I didn't notice that