New Project: need input

[KeWLKaT]

Alright, some of you know my current gauge setup in my car. I'm starting to get sick of it. It looks too rice. A reminder:

http://dblast.lescigales.org/misc/int2.jpg

Now, here is what I want to do. I am going to relocate the HVAC (this time for real, doing it on the Victoriaville meet weekend) and slap it into the console.

Then, I will use the space created by removing the hvac and the cubby box under the radio, and fabricate a panel for my gauges. I have 4 right now, which is why I chose the configuration shown. If I ever want to add any, well, there are 2 empty spots ! :)

http://dblast.lescigales.org/misc/panelgauges.gif

Now... I don't know what kind of panel to use. Suggestions? ABS plastic? CF panel? Wood? I don't know? Fiberglass?

[04 elantra cvvt]

Trying to match the existing material is out of the question, so... I would go for something that will go with the rest of the interior. I would go with either a Carbon Fiber, or a gunmetal colored piece of aluminum that will match some of the buttons on your head unit.

[KeWLKaT]

Ok, just did some searching, I don't know if CF would be the best option since it looks hard to work with as far as making brackets for it and whatnot goes.

Aluminium..... Hmmm would be an option, I sincerely didn't think of using metal! And I could paint it flat black or something (given that I would not be able to find a matching <<gunmetalish>> color.

[jalmir]

I would go with a metal sheet that you can cover with black vinyl or CF overlay ... no wood, that will look odd IMO!

[KeWLKaT]

LOL I just said wood out of the blue like that :P

Also the car will look cleaner without those damn gauges there, ha.

[BlackElantraGT]

I don't know how well your fabrication skills are, but with me being a noob with something like this, if I were to tackle this project, aluminum would be the first thing I would try. Not only would it be easy to cut and bend, but you can also get sandpaper (of varying grits) and some polish to give it a more matte look instead of shiny aluminum.

[jalmir]

Also the car will look cleaner without those damn gauges there, ha.

Agree ... it's why I'm looking for that damn OEM tach! :mad:

[KeWLKaT]

I don't know how well your fabrication skills are, but with me being a noob with something like this, if I were to tackle this project, aluminum would be the first thing I would try. Not only would it be easy to cut and bend, but you can also get sandpaper (of varying grits) and some polish to give it a more matte look instead of shiny aluminum.

Good idea, man, keep em coming!! My fabbing skills are OK (since I study in mechanical engineering anyways ;)) so with time I hope i'll be able to make something nice.

[ghrpdx]

The A pillar gauges look fine, it's the gauge on top of the dash that looks out of place. I'd paint the A pillar gauge cluster gray to match the interior and find another location for the fourth gauge.

[evan938]

yeah, the pillar looks ok, but having one previously, i know its a ***** to try to look by it...it blocks your view quite a bit

the aluminum is a good idea...it IS easy to cut/work with...if you look @ my dell dj holder pics, it was done w/ aluminum (cant remember what size), but i was easily able to cut it with a dremmel and bend it how i needed. yours should be really easy to do...it would just be a piece as big as you need, get some holes drilled, mount w/ the screws for the HVAC, drill the holes for the gauges, and be set

i say lay some fabric over it, so when you put the gauges thru the holes, it will hold them in place a little firmer and pad it a little bit

[ArunSenior04]

Do they have doublin-din size guage holders? (Kinda like a universal Tib guages thing where it lets you use whatever guages you want..)

[evan938]

you know, i was looking at the sketch again, if it IS 5.5" exactly, and the gauges are 2 3/16, its gonna be hard to get them to fit in there and look nice without them being pressed up against each other...is that the ammount of space you measured or a guess??

[KeWLKaT]

no worries, that's the measurment i took of the gauges INCLUDING the border, and adding an extra 1/16 for space inbetween.

BTW arun, this is not double din man, look at your hvac and cubby hole again. ha.

[metalfetish]

or if you're ambitious, I think lightly contoured fg over a base material would look nice.

[mayollo072R]

no worries, that's the measurment i took of the gauges INCLUDING the border, and adding an extra 1/16 for space inbetween.

BTW arun, this is not double din man, look at your hvac and cubby hole again. ha.


Here is what I did. I bought carbon man f/g pod which you can paint match to the interior or exterior color of the car for the boost an oil pressure gauge and then I bought a tripple gauge aluminum plate wich has angles for each 2-1/16"gauge to install the voltimeter, egt and oil temp gauges. This plate can be installed below the cd player since it's meant fro cars with a double din space. It will be close in looks the KDM multigauge. Here is the piece http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290021109668&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_ReBay_Pr4_PcY_BIN_IT&refitem=290019346888&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&usedrule1=CategoryProximity&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget

Note: The 2-1/16 " diameter is for the inner part. The bezzel of my gauges is 2-3/16". All of the gauges are faze brand. If you want wait until I complete mine so I can post picks for you to see.

[DAILLESTWUN]

I like the pillar. Don't you think by relocating those gauges it might be a little too low. Could be a little dangerous while driving...

[hyunelan2]

I always thought something like this (for civic) would be nice:
http://froogle.google.com/froogle_image?q=http://dts.ystoretools.com/1093/images/full/ho20cimecldg.gif&size=4&dhm=fcd99554&hl=en

If I had to fit 4 gauges, I would do 2 on the A-pillar and 2 down there.


This is a neat concept too (also for a honduh)
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-5006790027353_1909_18575863

[evan938]

another cool one was the frog eye looking one that REAL sold for the GK tibs...THAT was nice

i say set something in the center of the dash like the WRXs

[KeWLKaT]

I just want something that looks for less ''attention" and looks a bit more stealth

[theWorst]

put it in the hvac..

or the vents.. LOL

i'd try using acrylic first..
cheap and REALLY easy to work with.. *just gotta get someone to cut the holes* lol

lightweight.. and can be sanded down in seconds to trim to fit.


if you don't plan on ever using your airbag on the passenger side..

take it out.. and brackets and either pneumatic lifts or springloaded...

push down and pop up !

[TNT4ME]

It would suggest a piece of plexiglass. Availible at a decent price at the hardware store. Holes are easy to cut, and a heat gun can "contour" it for you. Then you can get real inventive, drill small holes to give it a perforated look and light it with some LED's....

That would look HOT! :-)

[SilverElantra]

not to go off topic but mayollo072R where could i get more pics of ur car man it looks sick

[BlackElantraGT]

being that your turbo'd, i take it that these guages are vital to you, but is this something you glance at often? or every now and then during start up?

sammy put in his gauges on the front passenger side, but he said that they were more for cosmetics because it was too dangerous to drive and try to read the guages at the same time. It still looked really nice though in my opinion.

[KeWLKaT]

frankly the only gauge i really look at is the boost one when i drive hard.... aside from that, a regular glance to the other ones

[Cypher]

that 3 gauge thing looks like a good idea

[SuperGLS]

I agree, the A pillar gauges look good. The other one is out of position though.

Mike's Honda examples look good, but I don't know how easy they would be to replicate. Perhaps your original idea using aluminum is the best.

You are putting the HVAC in the center console like Sed did?

[KeWLKaT]

Yes, that's exactly what I have in mind. I will be doing the relocation next weekend like I said, at worse, if I change my mind, i can just hide the wires inside and put the HVAC back where it belongs ;)