center vent dual-gauge.. where? [Merged 1-7]

[92LaserAWDTurbo]

Hey guys, I was just wondering if anyone's installed a gauge in their center vent space. I found on ExtremeMotorsports a pod that still allows you to have airflow and was considering going that direction. Is it very difficult?? Thanks for your help!

 

[KGB Pilot125]

I have metal one it sucks buy the 3 hole one and dont put a gauge in one of the holes. thats what I am going to do.

 

[92LaserAWDTurbo]

Okay, well what about pulling the tubing through? Was that difficult in comparison to an A Pillar?

 

[steve]

I made mine , It's not fancy but it works. What you have to watch for with a center vent panel is if the gauges clear the vent piping when they are installed. Pulling the wires and hoses wasn't a big deal and you can tap into the gauge lighting right below on the vent controls.

Steve

 

[DeathBeast]

I have the tripple gauge pod for the center vent.

It is this one:
Gauge Pod

It was really easy to install (2 screws), but it doesn't fit perfectly. Not bad tho'.

Getting the old vents out was the hardest part. As for air, I just don't turn on the air that goes through those vents. I'll choose one of the other options: floor, defrost... etc. (Usually just roll the windows down anyways, or defrost when it's cold.)

Wires all come up behind the stereo area, and into there no problem. Boost came through steering rubber area(cut a slit in it), and up though stereo area. (Not difficult.... if I can do it!)

Thanx,
DeathBeast

 

[UltraImports]

that gauge pod is killer. where did you get it from.

 

[KGB Pilot125]

machV sells that one and the 2 pod metal one

 

[jdmawd]

if this fits, anything will.

 

[ease]

I am most likely going to buy a gauge pod that fits in the center air vent from MachV Motorsports. The one that holds three gauges. My question is for anyone who has this gauge pod setup in a 1G DSM.

Do you like it?

Was it difficult to run the wires/Vacuum lines to and from the engine bay?

Thanks,

 

[v8 hunter]

i made this one

 

[v8 hunter]

Well guys im making another center piece for myself and i think EASE wnats one so whoever wants one, tell me because its alot easier to make a couple at one time then to go back and forth just making one, i can only see putting 2 guages or 1 gauge and AFC computer can fit also, you can probably fit 3 small gauges, all i would really need is what size gauges you have, its aluminum and it fits nice and snug, doesnt move or anything , i didnt glue or screw anything,just fits perfect. and only for 1g's because i got the base measurments from my car, and i have no clue how much to ask for the peice, i usually just use the huge peices of scrap aluminum siting around, i would charge next to nothing, i like helpin fellow DSMers out! i would only really charge for the labor getin dirty and stuff

 

[v8 hunter]

here is an idea of what setups i can make

 

[v8 hunter]

more info

 

[steve]

I made this one.

It's no harder to route the wires into the center than up into a pod, but I do miss having a vent. Using the AC can cause the gauges to fog and in the winter to get hot since some air always leaks past the doors used to control the active vents.

Most people go through the rubber boot around the steering column to run the wires. Just make a small hole for the wires.

Steve

 

[v8 hunter]

Originally posted by steve
I made this one.

It's no harder to route the wires into the center than up into a pod, but I do miss having a vent. Using the AC can cause the gauges to fog and in the winter to get hot since some air always leaks past the doors used to control the active vents.

Most people go through the rubber boot around the steering column to run the wires. Just make a small hole for the wires.

Steve

Yeah the only down fall to removing the vents for me is in winter, you got no top heat, but in summer i got no AC anyway so doesnt matter,i wish i had AC again...but i havent had any problems with my gauges foging up...but i never put the vents on the top setting though, especially with the heat on, i think it would probably ruin the guages, all that heat on the wires.

 

[FourteenSeven]

well, ive done a bit of searching, and not getting quite what i wanted..

what im looking for, is a place/website/person that makes the dual-gauge center vents for the 1g.. for a reasonable cost.
$30 for a cut piece of plastic, is (to me) not reasonable. (this seems to be about what all places ive seen charge for it)

the style i want, is the one theyve got at SBR..

i mean, i just may as well cut my own for about a buck.. but im lazy :: (well, lazy and poor. hehe)

anyone know of a place that sells em cheaper (same style, same quality) ? lemme know.

 

[Damn 2nd Gear]

the only way to go cheapere is to cut soe carddboard to fit, then once oyuget it how you like it get a sheet of plastic and makeit from that. 30$ is way too much imo

 

[FourteenSeven]

well SBR is fairly close for me, and i know some people that are pretty familiar with them, so im gonna see if i can swing a deal.
glad someone else agrees that $30 is too much for a little cut piece of plastic as well.

 

[STECARS]

well if you are a handy man. you can do it yourself. cutout scenter of center vent
1 leave .5 half inch all around .
2 get some fiberglass resin / dremil/aluminum foil
3 place a sheat of aluminum foil on flate surface
4 place center vent flat on aluminum foil/ face of centervent must be sanded flat
5 now mix resin with hardener
6 pour in
7 remove tin foil
8 make your cutout
9 sand a little
10 bondo
11 sand alot
12 primer/paint

I just did it for 2g. i got pics but dont know how to post.
but if you want pics i can email.
will post how to with pics in correct forum when complete

 

[FourteenSeven]

nother update..
well, i was on machv.com, and theyve got basically the same design (for $39 tho) and i noticed it said they make em from metal.. which is nice.. but i still fail to see why its costing that much (call me cheap, i dont care)

ive never done any type of 'glass work, so i dont even wanna bother trying now with the vent.
im too lazy to make my own out of plastic too :: so i guess im gonna end up buying it for $30 unless i can find it cheaper someplace else. im not really in a huge rush to get it done... so waiting for a special or ebay or a used one for sale is no biggie

 

[greenmachine97]

the ones on machv are great! i just installed some into my buddies car. and they look really good.
pay the extra 9 bucks for laser cut steel with a good finish on it!

 

[FourteenSeven]

itll be black, whichever one i get

 

[greenmachine97]

Originally posted by FourteenSeven
itll be black, whichever one i get

the machv one is black, iwas just saying that it fit in and looked almost OEM! it really fit and flowed very well, it is very classy looking. (Clean and straight)

 

[FourteenSeven]

Originally posted by greenmachine97
the machv one is black, iwas just saying that it fit in and looked almost OEM! it really fit and flowed very well, it is very classy looking. (Clean and straight)

yeah, all three places (SBR, straightlineperformance, and machv) offer the same bezel, and all in a choice of colors. SBR and StraightLinePerformance are $30, and the machv is $39.
glad to hear it fits well though.

im gonna re-think my gauge placement now tho. i think ill end up gettin one from SBR (slowboy racing) but.. we'll see.

thanks all for the replies. just sucks nobody knows a place to get the same one for cheaper

 

[dsmjay]

i bought mine off of dsmtrader. this guy has them laser cut and they are pretty nice. i paid like 18 bucks. he offer many differnt styles too.