How/where have you mounted extra gauges?

BenI · 03-24-2003, 12:54 PM

I am rebuilding my engine and am considering adding an extra 2-1/6" gauge or two. I have my eye on an oil pressure gauge and maybe an outside air temp gauge. I would like them to be easily visible and cannot mount them to my center console. I'm wondering what people have done to mount their gauges. I wonder if you can mount a gauge right behing the dash lip above the ashtray and still have it be attractive. What have you done? Thanks!

Ben

Paul_Heery · Paul_Heery's Garage

I just got a nice complement about this yesterday. I have two gauges mounted where the ashtray used to be. There are two (2) 2&1/16" VDO gauges mounted in a VDO 2 gauge bracket.

I'll see if I can take a pic a little later.

John Rogers · 03-24-2003, 01:19 PM

You can check out the picture at:http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/914_rogers_racing/DSC00019.JPG
which shows the gauges I have in my race car. As you noted the first two that were installed are in a bracket that takes the place of the ashtray. The top one was added (air/fuel) and right after I took this I found a neopreme 3x gauge holder from VDO that has the faces at an angle and put them all in line so I could see them easier. If you don't use the ashtray it's a good place to put them. Good luck

mikeferg75 · mikeferg75's Garage

Great another teener in Boulder!!! Ben I think you could fabricate a small mount and place the guages where you mentioned. I think it would look fine, and have seen similar done. Check out our local teener club under yahoo groups. type in colorado 914, great group of guys and we do some great drives. Ferg

03-24-2003, 01:55 PM

I don't have a radio in my car, but the DIN radio cutout will fit 3 VDO gauges. remove the lower dash, cut a piece of sheet metal to size (you will need to rasp out the upper right corner where the glove box lock is) place the metal in place and from the back of the dash trace the outline of the DIN cutout on your sheet metal. remove your sheet metal and mark your spots for the guages. I was lucky and got sheet metal just thick enough to match up with the rest of the dash - so when it is covered in vinyl (mine is just painted now) it will look seamless. Not as easy to see as John Rogers setup, but looks a little cleaner, I can take digital picks if you want.

HMeeder · HMeeder's Garage

Location wise this isn't the greatest. You have to take your eyes too far off the road for the info, but the install is clean and the interior doesn't get too chewed up. If you don't mind damaging the dash, I would think one of these VDO mounts flipped upside down and mounted to the top of the dashpad would be ideal. I think the mount was about $18.

HMeeder · HMeeder's Garage

StratPlayer · 03-24-2003, 04:41 PM

I used a gauge pod to mount a cyl. head temp gauge, 2 1/16". It fit on the drivers pillar like it was made for it.

Bleyseng · Bleyseng's Garage

I like using a 911 combo gauge to get the oil pressure and temp where I can see it.
Geoff

bravohotel · 03-24-2003, 07:36 PM

another take on the ashtray option

BH

joseph222 · joseph222's Garage

John Rogers - if you're still following this thread, how did you mount your shift light?
Joseph
75 2.0L AX

anthony · 03-24-2003, 08:43 PM

Quote:

I would like them to be easily visible and cannot mount them to my center console.

What people usually do is install a "combo" gauge that came in cars without a center console. The "combo" gauge has the temperature gauge where the big blinking brake light usually is. That way you can replace the temperature gauge in the console with the oil pressure gauge.

John Rogers · 03-24-2003, 08:48 PM

For the shift light, I used a couple of screws through the bracket into the dash. I did not worry about the material as I can get it recovered in TJ easily.

03-24-2003, 09:28 PM

Here's mine, agreed that this is not the best spot for an autoxer or racer. but good for the street. damn radio sucked anyway.

PCA7GGR · 03-25-2003, 07:02 AM

I mounted a VDO volt gauge and clock at the stock radio's location. The pre-formed mount is available at most speed shops that specialize in American Iron. The mount points the gauges towards the driver making them easy to check at a glance. Oil temp, oil pressure and fuel at via a triple gauge in the dash.

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by anthony
What people usually do is install a "combo" gauge that came in cars without a center console.

Actually, that's two-liter cars without center console. Or 914-6es. Hmm, I suppose those were two-liter 914s as well.

--DD

campbellcj · 03-25-2003, 08:39 AM

I also put 3 VDO gauges in the radio location. The setup looks very clean and "factory correct". (I recovered the new sheetmetal piece with basketweave vinyl). They are plenty visible for me -- it's a track car, so I quickly glance at the oil temp and pressure once a lap, at the most.

The ashtray location is another good spot (for 1 or 2 gauges), but I put my HotLap timer display unit there. The "small" HotLap unit fits almost perfectly up into the ashtray cutout.

BenI · 04-01-2003, 09:50 AM

Does anyone know the source for the gauge pod StratPlayer (pictured above) is using? I really like that setup but haven't found it pictured anywhere. lots of cool ideas-I like the radio location a lot but I must have a system and I think I am only adding one gauge.

StratPlayer · 05:19 PM

BenI
I got the gauge pod on ebay,, its the integra gauge pod, it fits the pillar nicely,, I think the cost of the single gauge pod holder was 20 bucks on ebay. Good luck. Also I tried a dual gauge pod and that fit nicely as well, only used the single caused all I need was 1 guage.