I know there's been a fair amount of interest in A pillar gauge pods for these trucks. I've been wanting to get some aftermarket gauges for my truck and think they'd go best on the A pillar. I've done a small amount of 'glass work (See this thread) and may attempt to make my own pod.

That being said, if I'm happy with my final product and y'all like the looks, I wouldn't mind making a few extras and selling them here. The price would be reasonable; just enough to recoup the costs of materials. They'll be made of fiberglass mat and Mas Epoxy. I've had good luck using plaster for the mold and petroleum jelly as a release agent.

So I just need some input from the FTE community:

1) Would you be interested in purchasing one?

2) How long should this thing be? Whole length of the pillar or just partial?

3) What size gauges? 2.5"?

4) Any mounting suggestions? It should be easy to mount while also being secure.

 

1.Yes
2. Whole length of pillar (to facilitate easy mounting, see #4)
3. Standard under dash size 3 pack (oil pressure, temp, volts) 2.5
4. A upper metal flat tab to go under the headliner/mount trim? And a way to secure it down in the pillar/dash corner.

Without screws put directly in the pillar? So you can install and remove to a different truck without any big sign of it being there?

Or a curved edge design to have it snap around the pillar?

Be ready to have a 1,2 or 3 gauge option......some folks might want less or more (diesel folks?)

Keep us posted and pics are worth a 1000 word reply.

 

I like the snap-on idea. I figure one side could hook onto the pinch-weld underneath the weatherstripping.

 

Id be interested in a 3 guage pod.

 

I think they would go over well. There has been discussion of this topic before many times and many people stated their interest, but nothing ever came about. I surely don't have the skill or time to try something like that and I wish I did because it would be something I'd sure try. I'd love to have a nice pillar setup. I have a custom gauge cluster I made because I couldn't stand looking down toward the floor at my gauges and with my kids in the truck in their car seats that made it worse. I want the gauges right in plain view where I can see them. I want to use my old school cluster again, but don't want to move my gauges much, so a pillar setup would be great. If this is something you end up doing, I'd sure be interested.

 

x2 on the 1 or 2 gauge option.
All I really want to see that I don't have is a tach.
And I'm not going to hack one in anywhere.

 

I may start with the one or two gauge setup. I was also considering doing one with a larger spot at the bottom for a small tach. Right now, my tach is attached to the steering column and it just doesn't look finished enough for me.

As for time, my spring break starts the end of next week. I'll try to at least have a plaster replica of the column cast by then.


EDIT: Aren't most of the under-dash gauges 2 inch?

 

That's exactly what I think. Thats why the pillar pod seams like the way to go.
I checked Summit out. They have tachs down to 2 1/16 but most small ones are 3 1/8

 

I should be able to come up with something so that multiple sizes can be fit. Probably just glass everything solid and then use a hole saw to cut the correct size hole. I'll leave the painting up to y'all, by the way.

If I feel like breaking out the sketchbook, I'll post up a concept drawing.

 

Ha
We're probably all so picky, we'd rather do it ourselves anyway.
Good luck.

 

That's what I figured. Thanks. Will post updates along the way.

Oh, and if someone could measure the depth of their gauges and the amount of room needed for wires, hoses, etc.

 

I would be interested in one, 2 or 3 gauge.

 

(Thinking out loud here)

Cover my A pillar in release agent, cover in plaster to make a negative. Let dry. Cover negative in release agent, fill with plaster to make a positive of the pillar. Let dry. Build up plaster on the plaster A pillar. Let dry. Carve into desired shape. Cover in release agent. Cover in plaster. Let dry.

And there's the mold for the gauge pods

 

I'd love to have a 3 guage pillar pod.

 

Anxiously waiting to see some pics!