If you don't have A/C you can put them in one of the unused vent positions. I have my oil pressure gauge set in the clock housing, volt and temp in the vent opening. Hanging them below the dash is common, but I find it a bit hard to read them way down there. I think it would be interesting to weld some 2" tubes to the A pillar and slip the gauges in there. I have an electronic gauge package that gives inside temp, outside temp, rpm, oil pressure, voltage, engine temp and time all on the same LCD display. Right now you have to push a button to see each function or let it cycle through rpm, volt, oil and engine temp. I'm hoping to have an electronics wiz design a display that will show all of the values and tuck that display in the clock. Gauges are something I spend way too much time thinking about. John
I'm working on putting a set of small gauges in the dash blank where the clock/tach would go. I have neither, so I will fab up a mount and face-plate. It will not look original, but with a face-plate for 3 gauge needles, it will look less obtrusive. Not the easiest way, but it will be cool, and easy to see.
I have had them in my car for about 2 years and of all the different setups I have had in the last 20 years on this car I like this the best. If I remember tonight I will try to take some pictures and post them. Mike
I would like to see this as well. I've seen them listed in a couple of catalogs, and in a couple of newer vehicles, but never in an older ride.
I will take some pics I have them in they look great the wiring sucked had to find a way to get them through the fire wall
I didn't know anyone else was aware of those pods. :TU: I bought the pod last year (listed for '70-'72 Chevelle), and I just installed the gauges into it, yesterday (but not ready to go in the car, yet), and I love it, already! I have extra A-Pillars that I'll be painting and modifying to pass the wires/lines through, so we're good to go! That looks awesome in your installed picture! :bglasses:
I used to have my temp and oil gauges mounted on top of my dash, covering the disintegrating center speaker grill holes. I got a big block of balsa wood and carved it down and hollowed it out. Looked like a wider version of the hood tach housing. Used a plastic gauge housing on the front to mount the bauges into, and ran the connections down through the dash, but I could have run them behind the dash if I hadn't already had a hole there. I mounted the whole thing at an angle, pointing at the driver. Wish I had some pictures, it didn't look all that bad, and had the gauges where they were really easy to see. But now I've got a new dashpad, and am going for the totally-stock-everything-hidden look...
Thanks for the pics Gary. Nice job on the install. Did you have to modify the A-piller cover, or just run the lines between the cover and the gauge pod?
You don't "have to" modify the A-pillar cover, but it hides the (oil and temp gauge) lines better if you do. If you don't really care if you can See the lines or not, then it's just your choice on how to run them (through the A-pillar, or just between the A-pillar and the Dash). o No: I prefer to keep everything as smooth as possible, visibly, which is why I mentioned modifying the A-pillars (just drilling a hole to run the lines is all, which will be 100% unseen, anyway, behind the pod!) :Smarty: :TU: Remember, the gauges are also "Backlit", so you'll need to run wires for the lighting, too, and make sure that you can install/remove it, if/when you need to change lightbulbs! What color "bulb covers" do any of you use for backlighting your gauges? I was thinking of using Blue or Red, for night driving (mostly what I do, anyway)!
I'm looking at an Auto Meter 10183 gauge pod............any reason why this wouldn't work on my new 68 GS400 convertible? I've already got the two Autometer gauges for it, electric water temp and oil pressure, just want to be sure this pod is going to work!!!!!
I bought the Autometer pod from Summit and installed both the temperature and oil pressure gauge today. Pretty uneventful except for the trip to the parts store for the oil pressure gauge sending unit socket. Yes, there is such a thing, and I'm still scratching my head about that one..........anyway, the only problem I have now is actually attaching the pod to the pillar post. I tried some velcro stick tape, but it doesn't want to stick very well to the pillar. Thought about maybe some really good double stick tape, then I thought maybe just run a few screws through it into the pillar itself? How did you guys go about mounting your pod to the pillar?
Oh, and one other queston. My A-pillar is in very good shape, hate to drill holes into it. Are all A-body pillars the same? I know the convertible pillars are different from the hardtops, I will start searching on eBay, what are the other A body covertibles from 68-72? Lemans, Cutlass, Skylark, what else am I leaving out??? Would like to find one to play with, modify, basically tear up and not have to worry too much about it! Any info would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
I was doing some research on the dual gauge pod and found this thread so I thought that I would ask a question here. First off, I originally only knew about the Kirbans dual gauge pod from another thread but then saw from this one that there is an Autometer one as well. Seems like the Autometer one might be a better fit as it is for the 1968-72 A-body. Anyway, my question is that I am going to install electric temperature and oil pressure gauges for a more reliable reading. I already have the indash rally gauge (with temp, oil, and fuel) and have the oil pressure sending unit and temperature sending unit installed. If I use electric gauges do I need to replace the sending units already installed or is it just a simple wire the new gauges into the old ones and would both the old and new temp and oil gauges work at the same time?
