where to mount guages? pros + cons

[fiznat]

people who have their KA-Ts (or SR's even, I suppose) - where did you mount your guages/SAFC/Timer, etc inside the car? There are a couple of options I see for the guages- A Pillar, Cutting right into the dash, Inside the "pocket" thing on S13s.... What positions did you guys choose and why do you think that's the best option? Pics too, if you have em!

Guys who dont have it done yet but are planning are welcome to chime in also of course... I've been thinking about the best place for mine and I'd like to see what other people have come up with.

[huguetpj]

EGT, Fuel press and A/F on the A-pillar. Power Meter amd SBC id (boost gauge) under the radio. Turbo timer just above air conditioning controls

Sorry no pics, yet. Still looking for the web space

[Exar-Kun]

I'll be mounting my boost and fuel pressure gauge in the a-pillar, my S-AFC is under my radio, and the AVC-R will probably take the place of one of my vent...not sure.-chet

[fiznat]

yeaa the a pillar really is pretty nice, but arent you guys worried about cops taking notice, or worse, theives?

[fiznat]

I always thought guages right up in the dash were pretty messy... Ive seen a couple people's work and I didnt think I wanted that in my car- but take a look at this job:



If anyone knows how this guy did the install so cleanly, that might change my mind about the a-pillar....

EDIT: hmm how come the image wont show up in the post? I used the [img} tags...

[s86d]

thats a pretty good job on the mounting

[erich]

The dashboard is just some rigid foam with a plastic/vinyl coating. Take the dashboard off and scrape away (carefully!) the foam backing where you want the gagues to go. A PITA and delicate but not hard. I've had my dashboard off several times and there is a lot of room around that location.

[aleph1]

Boost- I am gonna have it just bolted onto the steering column plastic cover thing.

A/F Ratio (not the round autometer style, looking for one more like the Haltech, SDS, etc..a lil black box) Probably also mount on or near the steering column, like on the flat part infront of the gauge cluster..near the odometer...probably...

SAFC- Stereo pocket

Timer- glove compartment, dont really need to look at it much....

[Exar-Kun]

hey aleph1: does your totalled 240 have the little cover for the fuel/hatch pull? Mines gone...

if not, its cool. I just want the little cover on the metal handle.-cheton a side note: I thought about mointing a boost controller or mulit-gauge(like defi mulit link) on the top, kinda of angled behind the light cluster on trhe roof.... wiring would be a PITA though.

[spec-v5150]

I have my guages installed under the radio. BUt I am not too fond of it there. The triple DIN pod I bought has "steps" to it. So I cant see my boost gauge readings because i mounted it in the middle. I dont know. Basically I just waisted 20 bucks. I want a flat gauge pod. My othe stuff like Emanage, turbo timer, boost controller will go in the glove box eventually.

[TopStreet240]

I always thought guages right up in the dash were pretty messy... Ive seen a couple people's work and I didnt think I wanted that in my car- but take a look at this job:



If anyone knows how this guy did the install so cleanly, that might change my mind about the a-pillar....

EDIT: hmm how come the image wont show up in the post? I used the [img} tags...

I did the same thing on my car and it is really clean, you need to take out the heat vents that you dont use anymore and then make a fiberglass or plastic peice that matches the vents specs. then you make some holes and put it in, i will post pics on mine as soon as i can.

[egan]

well, i know in some of the wrc rally cars, they try to mount everything as low as possible (center of gravity). i plan to hit up the radio pocket, then getting crafty.

i know its dumb to not want an A pillar for that reason, but every little bit helps.

[BuudWeizErr]

[fiznat]

hey man arent they kinda hard to read there? They're so far from the windsheild and right behind the shifter there... I'd think youd have a lot of trouble in 1st, 3rd, and 5th gears. ...Or is it no problem?

[aleph1]

sorry to take up thread space, but...

chet your email is full, i cant send you a reply.

[Silent Drifter]

I plan on having boost, egt, A/F gauges in the A pillar. Volts, Oil Pressure, An some other gauge above the glove box. Like in the dash. I dont want the drivers side to be too cluddered. Plus Im not goin to pay real attention to them only sometimes so why put them in the way. Also does anyone know where to get a 3 pod A Pillar, Ive only found a 2 pod.

[aleph1]

A-pillar mounting gets your car stolen =)

Seriously, everyone can see it...even those you dont want, like cops and theives.

My setup is geared for less outside visibility, the AFC is the only thing that would be noticable in plain sight, but it will be covered by a plastic piece I am gonna make to cover the whole stereo area, so when I park I just slap that on so it looks like i have nothing there....or to some it will look like im covering something up, but who knows what it could be??? =) Other than that, my boost and a/f gauges are gonna be close to the cluster, which is harder to notice and the timer in the glovebox...so pretty stock looking...

[fiznat]

A-pillar mounting gets your car stolen =)

Is there any real evidence to this though? I mean, I guess it seams plausable - especially the cops thing, but has anyone actually found any statistic that says cars with A-Pillars get stolen more often? I'm not sayin you're wrong man - you're probably right - I'm just wondering how much it really, honestly, matters. Putting guages anywhere else is a real pain compared to the a-pillar-- they're harder to see, harder to install, sometimes you gotta cut up your dash, etc, etc.... I donno Im still undecided I guess.

[aleph1]

Nah, no statistics I know of...I was just trying to be a smartass =P

It seems logical to me though

[BuudWeizErr]

I always thought guages right up in the dash were pretty messy... Ive seen a couple people's work and I didnt think I wanted that in my car- but take a look at this job:



If anyone knows how this guy did the install so cleanly, that might change my mind about the a-pillar....

I wasn't sure at first, but that is my friends car. He goes by either SoFlaJDM or Naut1024 on forums/AIM if you want to talk to him.

hey man arent they kinda hard to read there? They're so far from the windsheild and right behind the shifter there... I'd think youd have a lot of trouble in 1st, 3rd, and 5th gears. ...Or is it no problem?

Nah, I don't have any problems at all. But Autometer makes some ABS Plastic angle cups that you could get. They are like 3 or 4 dollars a piece. I do actually want then just so they are pointed towards me instead of straight ahead, but it doesn't really matter.

My setup is geared for less outside visibility, the AFC is the only thing that would be noticable in plain sight, but it will be covered by a plastic piece I am gonna make to cover the whole stereo area, so when I park I just slap that on so it looks like i have nothing there....or to some it will look like im covering something up, but who knows what it could be??? =) Other than that, my boost and a/f gauges are gonna be close to the cluster, which is harder to notice and the timer in the glovebox...so pretty stock looking...

Kinda like my setup? http://www.sillbeer.com/gauges.php

[aleph1]

Exactly Bud.

[TopStreet240]

here is a pic of my gauge install. (sorry dirty!!!!)

[huguetpj]

Also does anyone know where to get a 3 pod A Pillar, Ive only found a 2 pod.

Nope... no 3 pod. Just buy a double and single. You need to trim the upper one a bit so the auto seat belt won't hit it.

[fiznat]

here is a pic of my gauge install. (sorry dirty!!!!)

yeah damn that doesnt look too bad at all.. do you mind loosing the vents though? I mean, in the summer doesnt it get kinda hot or in the winter kinda cold? I wanna put mine there, the only thing holding me back really is the loss of my vents...

[TopStreet240]

it wont be to bad I would think. The car has a lot of vents and i can give up a vent so that every ricer under the sun will not race me.:rolleyes

[BadMojo]

here is a pic of my gauge install. (sorry dirty!!!!)

That looks good...damn good! I would be worried about thieves instantly noticing an A pillar pod, and mounting gauges down near the radio takes them out of your line of sight while you're driving.

Conveniently, the trim around my vents is already broken. Perfect excuse to put some gauges in there!

[andrave]

I moved the AC controls to below the radio since they aren't that important as far as visibility is concerned, and I made a litle fiberglass piece to house the gauges above the radio. Its pretty cool, it looks stock too. I don't have pics of it installed but there is a pic of the gauges in the bezel on my site. this way they are above the radio, easy to see, but I didn't have to cut or put them in my line of sight (don't like A pillar or dash, they block my view around curves and look too conspicuous.

[BadMojo]

I moved the AC controls to below the radio since they aren't that important as far as visibility is concerned, and I made a litle fiberglass piece to house the gauges above the radio.

How hard was it to move the AC controls? Was there much hacking, sawing, chopping involved?

I *would* love to see a picture of that.

[daniel240]

i dont know how the s13 is but i used the cigarette lighter plug hole to mount my boost gauge. i just had to do a small amount of trimming and it fit perfectly. i then moved the cigarette lighter plug inside my center console. heres a pic:

[drifts14x]

I'm putting my Apexi Rev/Speed Meter right in front of the stock Tach(HUD model), S-AFC in the radio pocket, and my boost and oil pressure gauges go on the A-pillar, turbo timer is going to pop out of the cigarette lighter hole (I bought the pen size turbo timer)