fiberglass+console+gauges?

Clip

The Magnificent Seven
Oct 16, 2005
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hey all, picked up the necessary materials after reading all i could find on fiberglassing.

i've got the general idea down, but i was wondering about taking the climate control, moving it down to the console and putting two or three gauges in there. that or using the cig lighter space and ash tray space. since ill be making a whole new cover for that part of the car, i figure it shouldn't be too hard to add a place for two gauges.

is it not this simple, and what gauges should i choose for a first attempt in an NA car. im going to aim for some that don't need extra sensors added to work. any ideas?
 

suprahero

naughty by nature
Staff member
Aug 26, 2005
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I drilled my cigarette lighter out with a hole saw, and installed a boost gauge there. It's real easy to see while driving. Looks pretty nice as well. Good luck with yours. I installed my avc-r where my ashtray was.............lol
 

Clip

The Magnificent Seven
Oct 16, 2005
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right, but what i was getting at was: making a whole new, smoother face to go with my head unit and climate control, and i had hoped to mount some gauges in the new piece.

which could i use without extra sensors? i know of the water temp (i guess). with egt, id have to have another sensor, what about air/fuel mix?

these gauges wouldn't have to give me the car's vitals, since this is just the first attempt and i wanna see if i can do it with some cheap autozone gauges, then move up to a full set of defi's.
 

Facime

Leather work expert
Jun 1, 2006
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for you new gauges I would recommend a real water temp (or stock gauge is basically an idiot light with a needle) a better oil pressure, and since your NA, what about an oil temp? if you go oil temp you can either have it read the engine, or the trans if your Automatic. For the oil Temp you would need to use the sender with it, but it shouldnt be that hard to install. If you really odnt want to install the sender, then yeah, maybe an A/F ratio
 

Clip

The Magnificent Seven
Oct 16, 2005
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i just didnt want to have to do any welding right off the bat. would i be able to tap into existing wires/sensors for a water temp gauge and an A/F gauge?
 

DaSuprawolf

Im SICK of N/A
Dec 29, 2005
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a narrow band A/F gauge does tap into the ecu but a narrow band is just a light show ive herd. it shows you nothing besides your o2 sensor is working.
 

Clip

The Magnificent Seven
Oct 16, 2005
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i know. wouldn't dream of keeping them on there. this is just a test run so i dont screw up some great gauges with shoddy fiberglass, right? kinda like getting a beater and learning how to jump drawbridges, or something along those lines.
 

figgie

Supramania Contributor
Mar 30, 2005
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Clip said:
taking the climate control, moving it down to the console and putting two or three gauges in there. that or using the cig lighter space and ash tray space. since ill be making a whole new cover for that part of the car, i figure it shouldn't be too hard to add a place for two gauges.

is it not this simple, and what gauges should i choose for a first attempt in an NA car. im going to aim for some that don't need extra sensors added to work. any ideas?

been done already by Ernest aka Ultra7M
 

MKIIINA

Destroyer of Turbos
Mar 30, 2005
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how bout this?
vbpgimage.php
 

Clip

The Magnificent Seven
Oct 16, 2005
2,738
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figgie said:
been done already by Ernest aka Ultra7M


thats where i got my idea from. so giving credit where credit is due: thanks for the idea, ernest!

anyway, MKIIINA, looking for something cleaner than that, more of a flush mount like in figgies link.
 

supraman7mgte

Shut up,bitch!!
Apr 1, 2005
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supra88boy said:
a narrow band A/F gauge does tap into the ecu but a narrow band is just a light show ive herd. it shows you nothing besides your o2 sensor is working.
i don't know how many ricers i've seen with the stoichmeter prominatley in thier cluster...yellow = speed!:aigo:
 

Clip

The Magnificent Seven
Oct 16, 2005
2,738
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sweet! i love yellow!

the only reason im doing this with a cheap a/f gauge and other cheap gauges is because I DONT WANT TO WASTE GOOD GAGUES. not because im cheap or i think that itll tell me anything too vital to my car's health. i just dont want to screw up the good gauges til i get better with the fiberglass