Pillar gauges
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: West Valley Utah
Pillar gauges
Those of you who have installed gauges in pillar mounts, which one did you buy and get good installation results.
I know there is not a specific type for our "old" trucks. Just wanted to know which one installs and looks good with the least modifications. I need to put in oil, water, pyrometer and boost gauge.
Thanks
I know there is not a specific type for our "old" trucks. Just wanted to know which one installs and looks good with the least modifications. I need to put in oil, water, pyrometer and boost gauge.
Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Good luck, the best I could find was a universal pod, 2 gauges.
I have seen a couple three gauge units for 87 and newer.
From what I can tell, the pillar cover on the 87 unit extends over the door to the rear.
I am not sure if you could modify it to fit an 86 or not.
I mounted a pillar pod, installed the boost and pyrometer in it.
Then I installed an under dash pod on top of my dash, water temp, oil pressure and volt gauge in it.
I have seen a couple three gauge units for 87 and newer.
From what I can tell, the pillar cover on the 87 unit extends over the door to the rear.
I am not sure if you could modify it to fit an 86 or not.
I mounted a pillar pod, installed the boost and pyrometer in it.
Then I installed an under dash pod on top of my dash, water temp, oil pressure and volt gauge in it.
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Cincinnati Ohio
Here is what I copied and pasted from when I did mine last month. With a good amount of patience, bondo, and fiberglass it can be done. I make mine for my 1985 with a pod that fits 92-97. I cut the top part on the pod off and the bottom off it.
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I got my pod almost done. This pod started out as a 92-97 Ford. I cut the top and bottom off the pod. I bought the pod from Glow Shift. (Good company to deal with.) The plastic isn't really the same measurements as my a pillar post so I had to do a little twisting to get it to fit on to my column trim. Since it was a little twisted using glue was out of option cause of the tension on it so I broke out my fiberglass and resin and Bondo and went to work. I did a few test fits today and the bottom pod clears the dash by like a quarter inch. I plan on having this thing finished by doing some more sanding and final touch up and a shot of paint. I will get more pictures once I get the pod installed on the truck.
This is how it started
NOW
Close up of how it fits together
Here is the pod installed and finished
-------------------------------------------------------------------
I got my pod almost done. This pod started out as a 92-97 Ford. I cut the top and bottom off the pod. I bought the pod from Glow Shift. (Good company to deal with.) The plastic isn't really the same measurements as my a pillar post so I had to do a little twisting to get it to fit on to my column trim. Since it was a little twisted using glue was out of option cause of the tension on it so I broke out my fiberglass and resin and Bondo and went to work. I did a few test fits today and the bottom pod clears the dash by like a quarter inch. I plan on having this thing finished by doing some more sanding and final touch up and a shot of paint. I will get more pictures once I get the pod installed on the truck.
This is how it started
NOW
Close up of how it fits together
Here is the pod installed and finished
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: West Valley Utah
Thanks for the info guys.
I have also been contemplating just making my own cluster to put in place of the OEM. Like a regular big truck dash with separate, individual gauges. The worst part would be getting the new speedometer calibrated.
Dave, I had to laugh at your last post. I could see Dave, sitting at the bench with gauges, bondo, fiberglass and tools on one side and stainless plates, batteries, wire, solder, several sizes of plastic pipe and different tools on the left side.
All that with one foot on the throttle moving dirt and a hand on the plow blade controls to move snow.
What the heck........you NEED one more project!!!!!
I have also been contemplating just making my own cluster to put in place of the OEM. Like a regular big truck dash with separate, individual gauges. The worst part would be getting the new speedometer calibrated.
Dave, I had to laugh at your last post. I could see Dave, sitting at the bench with gauges, bondo, fiberglass and tools on one side and stainless plates, batteries, wire, solder, several sizes of plastic pipe and different tools on the left side.
All that with one foot on the throttle moving dirt and a hand on the plow blade controls to move snow.
What the heck........you NEED one more project!!!!!
Last edited by mistakenID; Aug 3, 2008 at 05:50 AM. Reason: added info
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Right now I am so far behind it's not funny.
We are +8" above normal for precip this year which has everything in the dirt moving business way behind schedule locally.
Grass cutting, never ending job this summer.
Every time I look at my HHO generator, well I need to work on it, but the grass needs cut again.
And yes, I was just looking at the snow plow yesterday, it needs some work before snow flies, which will be here before we know it.
I am going to try and make Carlisle next weekend, but right now it is not looking like that will happen either if the forcast for the week turns out like they say it will.
I think I need three more projects.
We are +8" above normal for precip this year which has everything in the dirt moving business way behind schedule locally.
Grass cutting, never ending job this summer.
Every time I look at my HHO generator, well I need to work on it, but the grass needs cut again.
And yes, I was just looking at the snow plow yesterday, it needs some work before snow flies, which will be here before we know it.
I am going to try and make Carlisle next weekend, but right now it is not looking like that will happen either if the forcast for the week turns out like they say it will.
I think I need three more projects.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Pukalani, HI
[quote=rmalottwtes30;6410970]Here is what I copied and pasted from when I did mine last month. With a good amount of patience, bondo, and fiberglass it can be done. I make mine for my 1985 with a pod that fits 92-97. I cut the top part on the pod off and the bottom off it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
I used the same one for my Chevy. I also cut off the top and bottom, but as my trim is upholstered, I wanted to screw mine in place. So I broke out the heat gun and reformed the pod to fit. Takes some patience but once I paint it, it should look pretty good.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
I used the same one for my Chevy. I also cut off the top and bottom, but as my trim is upholstered, I wanted to screw mine in place. So I broke out the heat gun and reformed the pod to fit. Takes some patience but once I paint it, it should look pretty good.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 16
From: Nutter Fort, WV
As far as replacing the insturment cluster, I only use the speedo, tach and fuel gauge in my cluster.
The other gauges have been replaced by aftermarket that actually mean something when I read them.
A replacement speedo can be bought, rather expensive, but they are available.
A replacement tach that works with the stock pickup, maybe.
I don't remember who posted this, but it was a rather nice job.
No tach, but everthing else is there.
The other gauges have been replaced by aftermarket that actually mean something when I read them.
A replacement speedo can be bought, rather expensive, but they are available.
A replacement tach that works with the stock pickup, maybe.
I don't remember who posted this, but it was a rather nice job.
No tach, but everthing else is there.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,627
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From: West Valley Utah
When I said replace the cluster, I mean remove the dash assembly with the gauges and build my own.
I made one for my 74 CJ-5 out of stainless. Put a hinge on the bottom and thumb screws at the top so I could swing it down like a lot of the class 8 rigs have. It looked good. I polished the stainless and it could be pretty bright when the sun hit it just right.
I made one for my 74 CJ-5 out of stainless. Put a hinge on the bottom and thumb screws at the top so I could swing it down like a lot of the class 8 rigs have. It looked good. I polished the stainless and it could be pretty bright when the sun hit it just right.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,175
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From: Kent WA
I'm doing something similar to Dave S. I bought TWO of the universal dual gauge pods from eBay. I wanted to fit all 4 to the pillar, but it just isn't going to work. However, I cut one of them in two and will be fitting them up to form a 3 gauge pillar. Still have to figure out where to put the 4th gauge - probably my boost gauge since it is less critical to monitor than the temp, oil pressure, and EGT gauges. I may use the one "amputated" pod and make a dash-top or possibly headliner mount out of it...