My take on fitting gauges

Post 686639 by alcashj94 on 2014-02-02 23:02:07

OK, so it's not a very big project compared to a lot of the things on here but I recon it still counts! My son presented me with a boost gauge and oil pressure gauge at Christmas and I have finally got round to fitting them. Looked at a lot of solutions on various forums, don't like pods on the dash or A pillar and although I like the ones which have been built into the instrument surround I went for a simpler solution. I decided to take the cup holder out of the dash and use that space for the gauges, cup holder is held in with two clips and 20 mins bending various shaped pieces of metal strip to reach them resulted in getting it out without removing the aircon unit and radio - might have been quicker to do so! I made up a panel to fit the space and take the gauges from plastic sheet from the local model shop and then used the hoods as mountings to angle the gauges towards the driving seat. [ATTACH=CONFIG]23713[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]23714[/ATTACH] Got the wiring in today, both gauges have electronic senders so only one cable needed into the cabin, the sender for the boost is fitted in the space at one end of the fuse box in the engine bay. Still need to fit the oil sensor tee piece but put a temporary power feed on and both gauges boot up, boost works and oil shows 0 as expected without the thing screwed into the engine! Here is a shot of the installed panel, those silver rings will have to go and I might need to cut the taper mounts down as I feel they are too far out of the dash. [ATTACH=CONFIG]23715[/ATTACH] Hope to get a chance to finish it off next weekend.

Post 686643 by AndysR on 2014-02-02 23:11:06

Innovative, not seen them fitted there before :)

Post 686644 by t5 pete on 2014-02-02 23:11:41

Very cool nice idea on where to put them

Post 686645 by LiamT4 on 2014-02-02 23:13:30

Good idea, stick out a bit but i like them.

Post 686646 by Wobbly Dave on 2014-02-02 23:13:44

I too dislike A pillar mounted gauges - good innovation deserves respect. Great work!

Post 686647 by WOODY T5 on 2014-02-02 23:14:12

Nice work done look great

Post 686662 by V70 Graham on 2014-02-03 05:26:29

It does look good and as has been said a different place to fit them.....I think it works.

Post 686693 by MoleT-5R on 2014-02-03 09:17:14

1 pillar mounted gauge is ok afaik, but I would say that, great thinking to pop them into the cup holder space, nice work

Post 686700 by stribo on 2014-02-03 10:07:29

Liking that, very good idea.

Post 686703 by M-R-P on 2014-02-03 10:13:15

Good use of the cup holder space there, the holder is invariably knackered after a few years. Here's mine...

Post 686707 by jamesy12345 on 2014-02-03 10:23:44

Good ideas gents, I just looked at mine (S70) no cup holders in the dash :pants:.....missing the Volvo 480 Turbo boost gauge :(

Post 686708 by M-R-P on 2014-02-03 10:26:42

[QUOTE=jamesy12345;686707]Good ideas gents, I just looked at mine (S70) no cup holders in the dash :pants:.....missing the Volvo 480 Turbo boost gauge :([/QUOTE] Air vent? Alternatively, I've been looking at doing something similar to mine with the P1 speedo cowl for Graham's car. Watch this space... :)

Post 686709 by jamesy12345 on 2014-02-03 10:31:32

[QUOTE=M-R-P;686708]Air vent? Alternatively, I've been looking at doing something similar to mine with the P1 speedo cowl for Graham's car. Watch this space... :)[/QUOTE] Air vent if I really have to......not too fond of that, I don't think the A-pillar stuff would go well on mine either. On the right car it's OK but...... Yours looks good although the Shark would need a black dial. Watching :)

Post 686711 by M-R-P on 2014-02-03 10:32:59

Mine will be getting a black dial at some point, I don't have much faith in the gauge that's in there.

Post 686712 by jamesy12345 on 2014-02-03 10:38:12

[QUOTE=M-R-P;686711]Mine will be getting a black dial at some point, I don't have much faith in the gauge that's in there.[/QUOTE] There's plenty of space if I get rid of the standard radio! [ATTACH=CONFIG]23723[/ATTACH] No chance of that happening :) but not many other places....fussy fudger I am [ATTACH=CONFIG]23724[/ATTACH]

Post 686716 by V70 Graham on 2014-02-03 10:47:05

Dunno what all the fuss is about.....I don't have a boost gauge and have never bent a rod !

Post 686717 by jamesy12345 on 2014-02-03 10:50:32

[QUOTE=V70 Graham;686716]Dunno what all the fuss is about.....I don't have a boost gauge and have never bent a rod ![/QUOTE] I'm trying to find a photo of my 480 turbo gauge from when it went into the red all the time. When you have a boost gauge you end up watching more than the rev counter/speedo/road......

Post 686721 by t5 pete on 2014-02-03 11:29:37

[QUOTE=V70 Graham;686716]Dunno what all the fuss is about.....I don't have a boost gauge and have never bent a rod ![/QUOTE] Pmsl

Post 686722 by expolicev70t5 on 2014-02-03 11:42:02

[QUOTE=V70 Graham;686716]Dunno what all the fuss is about.....I don't have a boost gauge and have never bent a rod ![/QUOTE] Maybe that's the problem, you only bend rods when fitting a boost gauge, therefore if we all avoid boost gauges engines will remain intact :uglyhamme