My custom dash Gauge Pod---Pictures!

In Car Entertainment - NO SELLING OF I.C.E. PLEASE

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SwirlyE30
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Post Thu May 26, 2005 11:06 pm

I managed to get some pictures today (cheers Jamie325sport!!) of my 3 gauge, gauge pod that ive been making. I made it all up, only to realise that the diameter of the holes in the pod were too big for the dials, so i had to recut the tubing i used, then take a small piece out and rejoin it ,re-shape it again etc.Which was very frustraiting lol.


But it seems to have turned out pretty well.

The pictures dont show how it really is. The differnt shades/mixtures of fiberglass ,high build primer and filler make the surface look really confusing, so you cant actually see the light relflecting off the contours. But i can assure you, its all straight and symetricall!

The holes need a little more shapping, but their the right size now. Started working down grits and currently on a 400 dry to get the little burs out, then been giving it some 1200 wet to really flatten it down. Although it might not look it, its ass smooth as glass!


Only thing now is trying to decide how to finish it. Do i go matt black? Or do i try and find a texture paint, or textured finished to try and get it to match with the vinyl dash.Although that might ruin the shape of it.



Anyway, ill update you all with more pictures once the other gauges come and its finished! Shame i couldnt get any pictures in the car, fits in nice and snug

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Oh and just incase anyone wondered. Ive got Oil Pressure at the moment, going to also get Oil Temp, not sure on the other one. Volts maybe?
1986 Chevrolet Corvette. 330ftlb torque....V8s rule!
RevBillyG
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Post Thu May 26, 2005 11:59 pm

Looking very cool so far.

As for the 3rd guage, may I suggest a beaver detector? winkeye
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LOOPYLEE1965
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Post Fri May 27, 2005 12:08 am

RevBillyG wrote:Looking very cool so far.

As for the 3rd guage, may I suggest a beaver detector? winkeye
:lol: :lol:
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nav786
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Post Fri May 27, 2005 7:21 pm

looks cool mate, where are you gonna place it. just above ashtray? or heater vents?

OFF TOPIC - lovin the trainers mate, got the exact same pair. :cool:
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FOR SALE

SONY PSP'S £100
Karan
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Post Fri May 27, 2005 7:25 pm

pod l;ooks cool, u gonna get mechanical or electric gauges?


get water temp.....

i wanna get some dials too..... its a bit of a minefield though isnt it. :mad:

im gonna fit some trick switches too..... like one to change the temp at which my electric fan comes in, as theres 2 options on the temp sensor...


Karan
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Post Fri May 27, 2005 9:00 pm

Yeh mate im going for electrical. I havnt a clue how to wire it up, im gonna order the other ones soon. I was thinkng about getting water temp as the 3rd one, i was thinking, my onboard water temp dial is sh*t and eratic, so i might aswell put a nice good one in.


The pod wasnt too bad mate.Although the only problem i found, was the fiberglass didnt bond too well with the plastic A/C vent that i hollowed out. So it was a case of basically having to redo a lot of work. That plus having to make the side moldings look the same lol


Just spent some more time doing it , been wetsanding it and trying to smooth it all out.

Should look good when its done tho mate!
1986 Chevrolet Corvette. 330ftlb torque....V8s rule!
SwirlyE30
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Post Sat May 28, 2005 1:36 am

Nav mate, its the center heater vent.Basically the vent, ripped apart and re molded mate. The pictures make it all look a bit dodgy, ill try and get some better ones with the primer all on now.


Nice shoes aye! Good for driving!
1986 Chevrolet Corvette. 330ftlb torque....V8s rule!
Jon_Bmw
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Post Sat May 28, 2005 11:44 am

Looking good, it'll look much better once its all painted up too. Good effort with that.

I'm in need of an electrical oil pressure gauge but am struggling to get one for the money i want to pay, so give us a heads up if you see anything cheap :D
SwirlyE30
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Post Mon May 30, 2005 10:24 pm

Finished the pod, finally. Not 100% happy with it. Ive redone the finish so many times it got stupid tbh. Any mark, small bump i saw,i wet sanded back,re painted, laquered etc. If you look very closely you can see some imperfections, but at the end of the day, it serves a purpose, and its come out pretty well.

Just waiting on the other 2 gauges to arrive some time next week i hope, then ill go about wiring it up :S (or find someone to help me as i dont have a clue lol)

Image
1986 Chevrolet Corvette. 330ftlb torque....V8s rule!
tbmw
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Post Tue May 31, 2005 6:43 pm

what did you do with the ductin from behind the vent if you dont mind me asking?

does look sweet
Sjoerd320i
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Post Tue May 31, 2005 6:47 pm

lookin good mate :D
my question is, will you notice it that the vent's aren't there anymore?! and what have you done with duction behind there? :wink:

(maybe spray it a bit more in the collor of the dash?)
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SwirlyE30
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Post Tue May 31, 2005 7:04 pm

Cheers boys. Well i havnt done anything with the Vent duct as of yet, although im going to just basically block it off. I never use that setting, so a) im not going to miss not having it there, and b) i wont ever turn it on (only use the side vents) so i cant see many problems with the heat+gauges, or backpreasure by being blocked off.

Got the other 2 gauges (water temp, oil temp *Already got oil preasure* ) comming in a week or so hopefully.
1986 Chevrolet Corvette. 330ftlb torque....V8s rule!
Karan
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Post Sun Jun 05, 2005 1:55 pm

wheres that link for the info on wiring them up???? ive lost it
SwirlyE30
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Post Sun Jun 05, 2005 2:40 pm

Not sure mate. I havnt a clue how mine wire up. I got some senders/probes for them, but im gonna have to find someone to help me cos the instructions are wank lol.

Not sure where that info went :?
1986 Chevrolet Corvette. 330ftlb torque....V8s rule!
Karan
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Post Sun Jun 05, 2005 5:35 pm

ok its pretty simple just did mine now, just gotta order the t-piece for my audi senders. lemme know if u need help when u come to doing it
SwirlyE30
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Post Sun Jun 05, 2005 6:07 pm

Ok mate , cheers. Im not gonna bother at the moment, just going to leave them in there looking pretty, then when i get the new engine in ill do it, too much hassel to do it twice lol.

Wouldnt mind seeing a picture of yours if its all done mate!
1986 Chevrolet Corvette. 330ftlb torque....V8s rule!
SwirlyE30
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Post Sun Jun 05, 2005 6:37 pm

Heres some final pictures of the pod, with all gauges. I ended up getting two temperature ones, ones going to be oil, the other im gonna have as water. I cant trust my dash water temp, its dodgy as fcuk!

Image

Image
1986 Chevrolet Corvette. 330ftlb torque....V8s rule!
Karan
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Post Sun Jun 05, 2005 6:50 pm

looks sweet..... mine is the same as busters...i did it the same way as he did in the centre console
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Jamesb318is
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Post Mon Jun 06, 2005 9:16 pm

Gauges look tidy as mate, a good job well done!
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Karan
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Post Mon Jun 13, 2005 11:50 am

got mine in 2 weeks ago....quite happpy with them,,, akthough not as flash as the ones in the cntre vents LOL...visibility seems fine

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SwirlyE30
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Post Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:47 pm

Looking good mate! They all working fine and everything?
1986 Chevrolet Corvette. 330ftlb torque....V8s rule!
johnono
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Post Mon Jun 13, 2005 11:00 pm

good job sam, they look v.profesh mate :cool:
get em working! :D
SwirlyE30
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Post Mon Jun 13, 2005 11:03 pm

Cheers mate! The picutes do them justice i recon, if you get really close you can see a small 'seam' line where i had trouble bonding the plastic rings to the fiberglass. But i got to a point where i had redonet he finish so much i thought fcuk it!

Ive got an IS engine going in soon, so gonna wait and do them then mate. Not got a clue how to do it lol, but might as well wait, rather than doing them once then having to rip all the senders/wires out again!
1986 Chevrolet Corvette. 330ftlb torque....V8s rule!
johnono
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Post Mon Jun 13, 2005 11:06 pm

lol, :D fair play fella, have u got the lump or is it on requisition?
SwirlyE30
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Post Tue Jun 14, 2005 12:07 am

Paid the deposit mate. Going to Le mans to watch the racing for a week on wednesday, but when im back, its straight on the phone to Jonb and ill get the engine deleivery and paid for


This month is a nightmare mate, got a good deal on the engine and everything. But im looking to buy all new disks, pads, fluid for the front brakes, a sport 3:91 LSD, mtech2wheel, service items (plugs, oil) etc.


Not sure my misses is happy, it was our aniversary two weeks ago, i put it on hold as i said i was skint lol. ssshhh, no one tell her ive just bought an engine :P
1986 Chevrolet Corvette. 330ftlb torque....V8s rule!
johnono
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Post Tue Jun 14, 2005 12:13 am

take her to le mans! sheԚ´s going on holiday and you get to watch the racing! :wink:

have a goodun anyway bruvz :cool: