Mounting Gauges

[07 Boss]

Besides the A-pillar and DDM radio panel, what other options are you guys using to mount gauges? Are there any other pod mounts made specifically for our cars? Has anyone ever actually drilled holes in the dash to fit a 2 1/16" gauge or two?
Thanks.

[TomatoSoup]

The DDM A-pillar mount and Radio slot mount are it from a non-destructive viewpoint.

Some folks have glassed pods on top of the steering column trim. Others have inserted them in the existing gauge cluster and covered up the idiot lights. Another option is to replace one (or more) of the air vents with a gauge.

There's no room anywhere in the dash to drill a 2" hole. It might look like there is, but there's always something behind in the way. (AFAICT)

[Carbon Sky]

Originally Posted by 07 Boss Besides the A-pillar and DDM radio panel, what other options are you guys using to mount gauges? Are there any other pod mounts made specifically for our cars? Has anyone ever actually drilled holes in the dash to fit a 2 1/16" gauge or two? Thanks.

On the solstice, the most common method has been the a-pillar, followed by deletion of an air-vent, and the DDM radio panel, and similar a distant 3rd. Seems most people want the double din.

If you're good with fiberglass, you can pretty much make whatever you want though.

I have a Sky, and for me, I wanted gauges above the center stack, and with our air vents the way they are, it was perfect for it.



I run a blue/red Prosport EVO digital sweeping with center digital boost gauge on the left, and oil pressure gauge on the right. I tend to run it as red most of the time unless the top is down in the day time. In that case, it's hard to see in red, and much easier to read in blue.

I have a concealed Beltronics STi Magnum mounted high in the middle. You can easily fit 3 x 2 1/16" gauges in the pod I mounted. I only needed 2. Plus since the detector is permanently mounted, and heat is a known issue with detectors, I mounted a cooling fan in there, so I didn't want a gauge down the middle.




Then made the pod out of 3 layers of fiberglass. The shelf for the detector also spans in the inside bracing it for even more strength. It's far stronger than the original black plastic piece it's bonded to.




I used body filler to smooth it out. Then painted it black before upholstering it in vinyl leather (figured real leather wouldn't hold up very well in constant sun exposure on the dash compared to the fake stuff with UV protectant on it).




I covered the front face with 3M carbon fiber.



Here's a night shot . . . only caveat is that I usually run the lights in red and not blue.

[BlueMotorsport]

that is bright as hell.

[Carbon Sky]

Originally Posted by BlueMotorsport that is bright as hell.

Ha, yah, totally overexposed. Picture was taken in a dark garage with no other lighting. In person it's not nearly as bright looking, plus you can adjust everything. I have the gauges on max brightness, and run the gauges red at night.

Here's a shot in the same garage with the headlights on, same brightness, gauges on red.



And I almost always have my screen on map, and at night, the map background is black, while right now, it has the bright blue warning screen that the PAC TR-7 allows over ride of video features and what not while the car is moving.

[07 Boss]

Nice work and thanks. I have a 3 guage pod from my other car that I might try and cut up and fab up something. The Solstice dash is a bit more rounded and I'm just not sure where I would want to mount anything to mess up the smooth line. Either that or go with the DDM radio panel. With the DDM panel I guess I would have to buy a different radio, huh?