Gauge Pod Ideas?

[LTZ ICE]

The dash tray would be perfect for sure! Gauges that are compact and visible would be ideal. I wonder if the gauges from the Camaro console would work. I like the digital Autometer gauges too. I'm sure it's just a matter of time before one hits the market from GM or someone else. opcorn:

 

[american_tuner]

I'm gonna go to Chevy dealership and see how much the tray will cost and u can dab one up from there

 

[firstorbit84]

Or, going for a record of three posts in a row, I saw this interesting accessory on ebay, for adding a 7" tablet, aftermarket Nav, custom gauge holder or whatever to your Sonic

GPS Dash Integral Radio Fascia Pearl Black for 11 12 13 Chevy Sonic 4D 5D | eBay

wow. that piece is awesome.

i wish they would just sell the top part alone for about half the price. I'd love to put a 7" screen to mirror my phone.

 

[Black Turbo LTZ]

Went out and bought some autometer angle rings so I can aim the gauges up and on an angle towards me..I may fiberglass them and make it all smooth and uniform then give her a light shot of the wrinkle paint...the spare ring will be for my boost gauge which is mounted up on the dash now.

 

[LTZ ICE]

Very nice...will you be able to fit three gauges in there?opcorn:

 

[Black Turbo LTZ]

The angle rings set comes with 3 rings so I installed one with my boost gauge in the dash(looks ten times better now) and I'm further modifying the current dual gauge pod in front of the shift console..I will be attempting the triple on top when I find a gauge pod thats close to size or that I can be slightly modified to fit and look nice. For now I'm done the center console pod(angle rings on ,gauges in ,peice painted and re-installed..pics to come)

 

[Black Turbo LTZ]

 

[RoXXXanne13]

I always knew that area below the a/c would be good!! y u no have write up?

 

[Black Turbo LTZ]

To be 100% honest its really very easy to do....
Materials
-Thin price of wood or plexiglass(your personal choice)
-2 gauges(of your choice)
-Autometer angle rings(if you choose to use them and they come with u-clamps to hold the gauge and ring into place)
-wiring
-electrical tape
-wire strippers
-dremel(for trimming)
-saw/sander(I used a bench saw and a bench sander to cut and trim, that is until the dremel was needed)
-VHT black Wrinkle paint(last coat can be misted on so it dulls and gives more OEM like texture to the piece)
-Drill
-2" or 2 1/4" hole saw with drill adaptor
-Drillbit big enough to drill holes on the underside of the console

Rock and Roll time....
-Take the peice or wood or plexiglass Cut and trim to size of the opening(not as hard as one would think when using clay to make the mold, or cardboard works also)
-Once that piece is complete and fits to your liking we move onto drilling out two 2 1/4 holes with a hole saw if you want to add the angle rings, other wise go with 2" holes.
-From there if you are working with the angle rings you will need to install the u clamp behing the gauges and the peice or wood/plexi to hold them and the rings in place. Then tape the gauges up since they are now tight and exactly where you want them...from there 3 coats of the wrinkle paint (misting the last one) And at this point you are at my first picture.
-What you don't see....Remove rubber pad from inside center console and drill small holes in the bottom to pass the wiring(done via the bottom so if the gauges are ever removed you will be able to slide your rubber peice back in and no one was the wiser.
-Run all the wiring under your dash to a power/ground/illumination wire of your choice(fog light switch is a good spot)
-Run the tubing or hoses or wiring to the source you need(vacuum line for boost, oil sender unit for pressure/temp, etc) go through the rubber grommet upper drivers side of the firewall.
-re-install center console and your good to go.

 

[Preloader]

I like it. So what are the 2 gauges? Oil press. and coolant temp?

I would love to retire my UG for real gauges, but I would need at least 3 to satisfy what my UG does for me.

1. Boost
2. Coolant temp
3. Intake air temp

Plus I'd like to also add:
4. Oil Pressure
5. EGT temp


EGT temp is going to be a definite for my turbo mod. I'd also really like to do a dedicated Boost gauge.

 

[Black Turbo LTZ]

I like it. So what are the 2 gauges? Oil press. and coolant temp?

I would love to retire my UG for real gauges, but I would need at least 3 to satisfy what my UG does for me.

1. Boost
2. Coolant temp
3. Intake air temp

Plus I'd like to also add:
4. Oil Pressure
5. EGT temp


EGT temp is going to be a definite for my turbo mod. I'd also really like to do a dedicated Boost gauge.

the 2 lower are Air fuel(came free with my boost, and its a rare cobalt series A/F thats backlit, the new ones aren't..) and the other is a Dpic gauge got it out of a deal with someone who owed me...

On that note I have another friend who is looking to unload 2 other cobalt series gauges(Oil temp and Oil pressure) dirt cheap but I'm kinda running out of room to be honest and coolant temp would be nice as well so it looks like I need to get on that triple gauge project...

And thinking of you based on the fact you had wanted to install a Tach..check this bad boy out 2" digi RPM with shift light

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[Preloader]

That's not bad.... But eventually, I'll ditch the tach and just get a shiftlight driver/controller.

 

[RoXXXanne13]

yea I think the UG is badass, very cool unit, but, for a number of reasons, id rather have a guage pod like this lol I am a sticker/guage whore

 

[Black Turbo LTZ]

yea I think the UG is badass, very cool unit, but, for a number of reasons, id rather have a guage pod like this lol I am a sticker/guage whore

I've always had a thing for all the gauges lit up at night...going through drive thru its nothing but compliments and then the(its a chevy what?) and its turbo...

 

[LTZ ICE]

Console Gauges

I like how your console gauges look. I am looking to do something just like that.
A place down the road wanted 4-5 hundred just to configure a fiberglass piece like the one you made out of wood and wrinkle paint. I think I'm going to follow your suggestions on the install. Looking to use Autometer Cobalt digital
water temp and oil pressure gauges. It is making the connections that I am a little hesitant about. Sure I will figure it out.
Thanks!

 

[SuperSonicRS]

wow. that piece is awesome.

I would be all over that if I could figure out how to run a dedicated tablet/screen using tourque or something equivalent of the old magdens

 

[firstorbit84]

I would be all over that if I could figure out how to run a dedicated tablet/screen using tourque or something equivalent of the old magdens

Shouldn't be that difficult. Just hardwire a 5v power supply from a cigarette lighter power adapter. Then just get the tablet to fit in the case, and maybe relocate the hardware buttons on the tablet.

Check out www.mp3car.com

 

[SuperSonicRS]

Thanks for the info, I've got all that. What I ment was that tablets usually take a while to boot up. I want something that is instant on and runs just the one program automatically when I crank up the car.

 

[firstorbit84]

It should be instant on if you just lock the screen. The tablet should be able to idle all night on battery power with no problem. Then just unlock the screen, and you're good to go.

I've done a full car PC before and boot up time was never an issue, even running windows XP. I usually sit and let the car warm up for a minute or so anyway while I adjust the windows, HVAC, etc.

 

[cookena69er2]

I found a really nice one

2012 14 Chevrolet Chevy Sonic Custom Dash Dual Gauge Pod New Zzperformance Item | eBay