Todays Task :> Gauge install

First thread Ive started since joining this great forum !

 

I had been trying to decide where to place the boost gauge

I did use the search function (it worked!) and found some helpful info from SVXWRX about the A pillar (drivers side) as well as some others tips on routing the hose to the engine compartment.

 

I decided to mount the 60mm Greddy gauge on the lower part of the pillar, but mount it from behind the cover/through it.

I drove around for about 2 weeks with the gauge double sided taped to the A pillar area to make sure glare and reflections werent going to be a problem.

I did also recover the A pillars with black material (instead of tan) as I thought it made a cleaner look, and painted the gauge to match the dashboard.

 

items :>

60mm GReddy mech boost gauge (pearl white color)

3M spray adhesive

2yds black interior material from car upholstery shop ($10)

 

(Please forgive me the pics are ~1mb, but detailed!)

 

First pic is the A pillar, recovered showing the bracket I made and mounted through the cover, and the power/hose line hole.

http://www.shinersinc.com/legacy/A1.jpg

I just made a "U" bracket and made 2 slots in the A pillar cover for the bracket to pass through.

 

Second pic is a closeup of the material I used to recover, it closely matches the material on the doors/seats.

http://www.shinersinc.com/legacy/A3.jpg

 

Third pic is a closeup of the gauge, repainted in DupliColor metallic charcoal grey

http://www.shinersinc.com/legacy/GaugeBottom.jpg

(it also shows the stainless steel mounting band that I recovered in carbon look vinyl)

 

Fourth pic is a closeup of the gauge after painting, I took care to make sure the gauge face had clean lines/edges after I painted it.

http://www.shinersinc.com/legacy/GaugeCloseup.jpg

 

Last pic is the gauge, while sitting in the car, you can see the A pillars mounted as well, sorry for the shaky pic, Ill grab a better one.

http://www.shinersinc.com/legacy/SittingInCar.JPG

 

Some tips I can offer :>

routing the hose out the rubber thingy behind the hood release, into the fender and into the engine compartment, behind the battery, was pretty easy.

 

I used the disconnected DRL plug for switched power for the gauge

 

to release the A pillars, there is a metal pop in at the top, if you push a reg screwdriver IN, this releases it

I like that you recovered the a pillars- it annoys me that you order a car with black interior and they send one with a tan headliner/a pillars.

 

Post a pic of the final result?

it annoys me that you order a car with black interior and they send one with a tan headliner/a pillars.

 

also annoying is the easily scuffed up (and i imagine hard to clean) fabric crap they used on them.

I lent my camera to my buddy who was taking some pics some polishing he did on a motorcycle, soon as I get it back, Ill retake some interior pics.

Yeh, that material is easily torn/scuffed and gets dirty really easy, least this material has a nice backing, so its a tiny bit padded and looks 'smoother'

Can you give more details on how you did the fabric on the A pillars? Are you planning to do the B and C? Looks really good!

looks good, though I'm not so much a fan of white-faced gauges in our car. definitely take a few more interior shots. good job on your first thread!

WOW I want black pillars.... and my gauge is mounted there too nice.

The hardest part was removing the factory cloth, its on there pretty good.

Once you get one corner off, I just pulled it off like peeling a sticker sort of.

I cut the fabric about 4 inches larger, all around the piece, then I sprayed the back of the fabric and also the plastic cover with the adhesive, waited about 10 minutes and then stuck them together.

I started at the bottom area of the part, the curve at the end that goes close to the dash, then worked my way up.

- I only did the middle and sides, not the edges or corners.

after the middle and sides were done, then I trimmed the edgesto leave about 1-2 inches of fabric.

I sprayed more adhesive on the edges (both fabric and the part), waited about 10 min, then folded the fabric over the edges.

I figured if the adhesive ever started to let go,being folded over the edge and onto the inside, the car would hold the fabric in place as well.

For the corners I just went by trial and error..ie, cut a small part of the fabric on the corner, then dry fit it, then sprayed more adhesive, waited, folded, repeated the process a few times.

The drivers side took about 1 hour (did it twice, once the fabric was too short), the pass side took about 20 min (had practice!)

Im debating on the B and C pillars, I want to make sure that I wont get any wrinkles or folds in a bad spot

The upholstery place (Daves Upholstery in Watertown, CT) had an exact match for the fabric on the door panels, but the backing/padding was about 1/2 inch thick, the backing on this material was only about 3/32 , but the 'threading' was thicker, you dont notice it though once mounted.

Ill get some better pics up soon as I can.

Thanks !

On the DRL line, what wires did you use to power up the boost gauge? Also, could you take a picture of your engine bay to show how it is hooked up??? I just got my boost gauge, and I think I'll use the DRL cable as well.

 

Thanks!

isn't there an airbag in the a-pillar?

I used the outer 2 wires on the disconnected DRL plug, Ill get the wires during the day tomorrow.

The airbag is in the top of the pillar, the bottom 8-10 inches are free and clear

 

PS, theres a nice 'path' from the bottom of the A pillar, to behind the hood latch lever to route the wires/hoses.

Very cool install!!!

For the DRL use the far outer Black wire for ground, for Power use the opposite side in the same location across (I think its a green wire if I remember right). Just hooked mine up today.

That's what I was thinking

 

isn't there an airbag in the a-pillar?

I've thought about dying the fabric/plastic to black as I hate the tan- then I'd have to take the headliner out and do that too.

ScoobLife is correct, black is one connection, the other is green w/white stripe.

 

I checked the material I used, all it says on it is "AUNDE"

please repost these pics

i think this is gonna be a great product, but like wpgspecb said, do you mind reposting the pics? cause can't see them work yet

404 Not Found

 

You know me, I am all up for seeing gauges.

You guys bump a thread thats 2.5 year old and expect the pics to work?

I FAIL

 

[hides in corner]

yes, i have pics over 3 years old still hosted on forums through my website