DIY - Steering column guage pod
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From: Irvine/Orange
DIY - Steering column guage pod
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I added this DIY in my greddy turbo install thread but thought it should belong here with its own thread as well for others looking for a possible gauge setup for non FI... enjoy!
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Started another project. Sadly I dont think I will be finished with it until the end of March. Anywho, I present the first unofficial steering column gauge pod!!!
I decided to go with PLX since Innovate's wideband kit was back ordered. Thankfully I'm glad I went this route since I can daisy chain a bunch of sensors to this one gauge. However, build quality is SEVERELY suffering. I have about 10 tiny dust specs in behind the gauge's glass. Also, my electronic boxes are supposed to be interlockable but are so far off spec that they'll never snap together. Nevertheless, when I turned on the gauge, OMG!!! The OLED is so BEAUTIFUL! The viewing angle is insane too. I can tilt it at any angle and as long as I can see the OLED screen, I will be able to read the gauge.
I couldn't find any gauge pod that would be suitable for my project so I picked up some lexan plastic/glass from my local Home Depot.
Using a 2" hole saw, I cut open an opening for the gauge. Once the hole is created, I placed the gauge inside and traced around the gauge for the outer trim ring.
After much cutting sanding etc... the final result. I left a tab at the end so I could secure it to the steering column plastic cover.
Now onto the column. This piece is a bit difficult to get too. All you need to do is remove the lower steering column cover by removing 3 philips screws. Then loosten (NOT REMOVE) two 12mm bolts that hold the steering column up. This will lower the steering column about 2cm which will allow you to pop off the upper column piece.
Cut a hole!
Test fitting
Test fitting
Overall I'm confident this will work. The placement is set to block anything in the gauge pods way except the speedo. If I want to see the check engine light, mileage, trip meter, I will have to lean to the side. Other than that, it should look nearly stock once done.
Update - 3-23-08
Today I got quite a bit done. The general shape is laid out. All that is left is filling and sanding which will take awhile since I'm going for perfection. To prove it, all measurements are actually done with a caliper and will be a mirror image in shape up to 0.5mm.
Here is the bezel glued to the steering column cover. Note that the bezel is now scratched and marred so the fiberglass can bond to it.
Some fiberglass mat cut out for the general shape of the gauge.
I didn't take a picture of the fiberglass part which sucks because it would've showed the general skeleton of the gauge pod.... nevertheless, hopefully you can get an idea how it looked with the filler on top of it.
Here it is sanded. Probably around 80% done as I still have a lot of filling and sanding to do. But at least from here, you can get a better idea what the final product will look like.
Black dots denote where additional sanding is needed.
Some writing to show where some filling is needed
More filling.
Thats it until next time
I added this DIY in my greddy turbo install thread but thought it should belong here with its own thread as well for others looking for a possible gauge setup for non FI... enjoy!
----
Started another project. Sadly I dont think I will be finished with it until the end of March. Anywho, I present the first unofficial steering column gauge pod!!!
I decided to go with PLX since Innovate's wideband kit was back ordered. Thankfully I'm glad I went this route since I can daisy chain a bunch of sensors to this one gauge. However, build quality is SEVERELY suffering. I have about 10 tiny dust specs in behind the gauge's glass. Also, my electronic boxes are supposed to be interlockable but are so far off spec that they'll never snap together. Nevertheless, when I turned on the gauge, OMG!!! The OLED is so BEAUTIFUL! The viewing angle is insane too. I can tilt it at any angle and as long as I can see the OLED screen, I will be able to read the gauge.
I couldn't find any gauge pod that would be suitable for my project so I picked up some lexan plastic/glass from my local Home Depot.
Using a 2" hole saw, I cut open an opening for the gauge. Once the hole is created, I placed the gauge inside and traced around the gauge for the outer trim ring.
After much cutting sanding etc... the final result. I left a tab at the end so I could secure it to the steering column plastic cover.
Now onto the column. This piece is a bit difficult to get too. All you need to do is remove the lower steering column cover by removing 3 philips screws. Then loosten (NOT REMOVE) two 12mm bolts that hold the steering column up. This will lower the steering column about 2cm which will allow you to pop off the upper column piece.
Cut a hole!
Test fitting
Test fitting
Overall I'm confident this will work. The placement is set to block anything in the gauge pods way except the speedo. If I want to see the check engine light, mileage, trip meter, I will have to lean to the side. Other than that, it should look nearly stock once done.
Update - 3-23-08
Today I got quite a bit done. The general shape is laid out. All that is left is filling and sanding which will take awhile since I'm going for perfection. To prove it, all measurements are actually done with a caliper and will be a mirror image in shape up to 0.5mm.
Here is the bezel glued to the steering column cover. Note that the bezel is now scratched and marred so the fiberglass can bond to it.
Some fiberglass mat cut out for the general shape of the gauge.
I didn't take a picture of the fiberglass part which sucks because it would've showed the general skeleton of the gauge pod.... nevertheless, hopefully you can get an idea how it looked with the filler on top of it.
Here it is sanded. Probably around 80% done as I still have a lot of filling and sanding to do. But at least from here, you can get a better idea what the final product will look like.
Black dots denote where additional sanding is needed.
Some writing to show where some filling is needed
More filling.
Thats it until next time
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