Gauge Relocation
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 850
Likes: 114
From: Virginia
Gauge Relocation
Hey guys, currently I have 3 gauges on the driver's side pillar. Been driving around with this setup for about 6 months. I like the gauges, but they get a bit bothersome at night (even dimmed down), and sometimes during the day as they add a bit of a blind spot. So now I'm looking at getting an under dash gauge pod (specifically this one:
) Here's the problem. I had a shop install the gauges for me, and while they did a good job, I don't think I have enough wire to stretch the gauges from their current location to under the dash. So, what would be the best way to get enough wire for the gauges to stretch over to under the dash? I'm thinking just get some wire that's the same gauge and solder it in to the existing wires for the gauges...can't be that easy though could it? Thanks guys
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 4,807
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From: Colorado Springs
I had the same issues with gauge brightness, go to Lowe’s or Home Depot back in hardware. Look in the hard to find drawers, look for a 2”. Rubber washers. Use one as a template for window tinting, and simply tint the gauges. It made a huge difference. Can’t help with the visibility issues...
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2017
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From: Muskogee, Ok
May want to look into your EGT gauge (assuming that's one of the 3) on mine it specifically says not to splice the probe's wires, have to buy a probe with longer leads. Mine were long enough to go to the pillar, would be plenty long enough to only go to the under dash area
Hotshot
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From: Puget Sound
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: San Diego, CA
My EGT gages came with just enough to reach my overhead pod above the rear view mirror.
As others have mentioned trace your EGT line to see if the shop coiled up the excess or if they cut the extra off. I'll also echo that if it reaches the pillar you should be able to feed the lines back down under the dash and route them to a pod down there.
The only issue you might have is how the dimmer was installed/wired. I know when I put mine in everything was wired to fit where the dimmer was and where the first gauge was that I connected it to. The good news is you can splice as much wire onto any line you want except the line from the EGT probe (some you might be able to but mostly you can't AFAIK).
As others have mentioned trace your EGT line to see if the shop coiled up the excess or if they cut the extra off. I'll also echo that if it reaches the pillar you should be able to feed the lines back down under the dash and route them to a pod down there.
The only issue you might have is how the dimmer was installed/wired. I know when I put mine in everything was wired to fit where the dimmer was and where the first gauge was that I connected it to. The good news is you can splice as much wire onto any line you want except the line from the EGT probe (some you might be able to but mostly you can't AFAIK).
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 850
Likes: 114
From: Virginia
So I dug into relocating the gauges this past weekend. EGT and Boost gauge have enough wire to reach, unfortunately, the trans temp gauge lacks about 3-4 inches due to what looks like three wires that control the lights on the gauges. There's a red, orange, and black wire that I'm gonna have to add probably 6-8 inches of wire just to be sure I have enough. I do have the egt and boost gauge all mounted up and so far I love this location a lot more than on the pillar. I knew the pillar added a bit of a blind spot, but didn't know just how much until I took the pillar pod off.
Also, anybody know if 99-01 trucks came from the factory with a grab handle pillar? I had to drill out the hole the shop drilled in order to get all the wires pulled out. And there's also 4 little holes in it from where the pillar pod was attached. I know that the 02-03 trucks had driver's side pillars with a grab handle, but not sure if it's a direct fit in my early 99. I would assume it is, but not 100% sure.
Also, anybody know if 99-01 trucks came from the factory with a grab handle pillar? I had to drill out the hole the shop drilled in order to get all the wires pulled out. And there's also 4 little holes in it from where the pillar pod was attached. I know that the 02-03 trucks had driver's side pillars with a grab handle, but not sure if it's a direct fit in my early 99. I would assume it is, but not 100% sure.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 850
Likes: 114
From: Virginia
Hole in stock pillar
What it currently looks like. Still debating on painting it to match rest of gray interior...
3 wires out front are the ones that need splicing. Judging from where they go, I think black is ground, and red or orange controls the lights, and the other one dims the lights.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 4,807
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From: Colorado Springs
The wiring is easy enough to test. Regarding the hole in the pillar, looks like someone tried drilling a large hole by drilling a bunch of small ones, just find a plug that’s larger, clean the hole up by drilling it larger, then just plug it. The plugs can be found at HD, Lowe’s in the drawers labeled hard to find.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,092
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From: San Diego, CA
There was a discussion about that not too long ago (don't recall if it was a stand-alone thread or a string of posts in a thread) and I'm pretty sure someone took their A pillar cover off and there weren't any mounts for the grab handle on the driver's side (it was a pre-2002 truck).
If you are just talking about taking a 2003 pillar cover and snapping it in place without mounting the handle to it then I think that might work but you would have two flat spot and 4 holes in the pillar cover staring at you.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 850
Likes: 114
From: Virginia
The passenger's side pillar does have a grab handle on it, and I would like one on the driver's side because I'm running a leveling kit and no running boards. I was thinking of finding a pillar with a grab handle on it and just snapping it in place.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 850
Likes: 114
From: Virginia
This is what my A-pillar looks like with the cover off. I see two holes that look like they’re about the right length apart for a handle, but I’m not sure how many bolts are used to hold the handle in place.