Custom Guage Pod How-To - 56k SAFE

[rizin]

Here is a pic of my homemade gadge pod for my 92' gt with 3sgte swap. Made with fiberglass repair kit.
Using beer cans as forms for fiberglass. Autometer mechanical boost gadge and AEM wideband AFR gadge.

[rizin]

Well I didn't take pictures when I made my pods so I will do the best I can to explain.

Things I used
1.Beer cans or if you don't drink soda cans will work
2.Fiberglass repair kit (walmart)
3.electrical tape
4.bondo
5.primer
6.black paint
7.sand paper

Now I used a can that was 2 7/16" diameter.


Then I wrapped the cans with electrical tape sticky side out and not tight. Did this so hopefully the can will slide out when I was done.


Then I cut the fiberglass cloth into strips about 4" wide and able to wrap twice around the can. Now I mixed enough resin and hardner to soak the
two peices of cloth. Then I soaked the first cloth and wrapped it around the can leaving about a 1/2 in. hanging over the can. Working the air bubbles
out of the fiberglass. Then after that is done fold the 1/2 in. twards the center of the can. Then let it dry over night.

I applied one coat of resin and hardner to them after they dried. Gives you something to sand on to make it smooth. Found that when you sand into
the cloth it takes quite a bit of primer and sanding to get smooth.

Now after they all dry sand smooth. ON the end of the can I sanded flat till I got the size of opening I wanted and a flat suface for the gadge. After
sanding smooth remove the can hopefully just pulling out. If the can doesn't come out like my second one just cut the can and peel out with needle nose
pliers. Then you are left with a fiberglass tube. Now you can mount a gadge anywhere with a little imagination.

I choose the plastic peice right infront of the gadges. I started by cutting the tubes like a L from the side view.then i had to figure out where would not
block my veiw of stock gadges and still let me tilt my steering wheel. and clear the insides of the dash. This all was trial and error fitting not for sure
how to explain the rest but here are picks to give you an idea how to do the rest of the pod.






Sorry about the quality of the pics but hopfully they help a little bit and I used JB weld to glue them in place and the bondo was to form the tubes to
the plastic dash peices with the rounded look.

If you have any questions I will try to answer them the best I can.

[Murgatroy]

Looks awesome mang!

Great job.

[Slider]

Looks great

[grayscale]

Wow, that's some great work, I really like the idea, job well done!

[METDeath]

Creative, and keeps people from trying to race you just because you have gauges!

Me likey... but I suck at fabricating, so I'm probably going to go with the whole A pillar gauge pod thing... and laugh at people trying to race a 90ish WHP (I'm guessing, never dyno'd) car...

[cms-gt4]

Looks good. I am thinking I will try something like it down the road.

[rizin]

Thanks guys now I have to see if I can make make something for a SAFC 2 to mount on the steering column plastic. Marios idea so I will have to post it when I do it.

[Shadowlife25]

I'm sure it will look great. I tried to photochop something up, but I suck at it so...

Here's my attempt. Issue is that I cant tilt forward and back in photoshop only side to side.
I think it would still have the same visibility if it was canted 20deg and thus still have a smallish footprint.

[celica9303]

Looks good I may get a spare trim piece and try this. Are the gauges 52mm or 60? What did you use to cut the trim panel? I only have 2 gauges I need for my car so far so this is an awesome idea.

[grayscale]

What did you use to cut the trim panel?

Good question, what did you use?

[rizin]

I dont have to many specialized tools. So I used a drill put the holes close together then broke it out then sanded it to size. You can see the drill holes on one of the veiws. I think 52mm can't remember.

[rizin]

Mario what do you think about this setup?

[rizin]

sorry forgot to say I have not glued anything or cut it so the harness can be tucked. At least you get the idea I hope.

[Shadowlife25]

I love it!

[rizin]

Here is a few more pics of the progress for safc or avc-r
Top view

Bottom view looks like crap but who will see that right

some what front view

all that is left is bondo sanding primer and paint. Hopefully will be able to bondo it tonight. Primer, paint tomorrow.

[rizin]

Well here is the progress that I made on the piece so far. Sorry Mario didnt get it sent off this weekend but here is a pic of it still have some sanding to do.

[Shadowlife25]

GENIUS !!!! I think it looks great Kendall. I see you got an extra *smidge* of room in there to accommodate the wire. Very nice.

[Ryan]

That looks really good man. I like it a lot. Very subtle, and quite functional.

[Uncrck2]

Looks clean but im not a fan the safc blocks the cluster to much.

[dups90gt]

Excellent work! i love it! hummm you got me thinking now...

[Shadowlife25]

Looks clean but im not a fan the safc blocks the cluster to much.

This is being built to MY spec. The design idea for the Apexi was mine. It does interfere a bit, as Kendall pointed out to me, but for my purposes, it is exactly what I need. So don't knock his work.

I can't wait to get that when I get home man!

Gimme a call for my shipping address.

[gerby77]

cool!!
Nice work, get this into production ;-)

[Uncrck2]

I said its clean meaning he does good work the idea is gay why would u want your gauges blocked put the safc under your radio or something.

[Colossus20v]

Guys, Keep it on topic and non-productive comments to yourself. It seems to be a special order than someone wants specifically. If you like it then great. If you dont, then dont worry about it and move on.

Rizin: Nice work. It looks good. Please post final shots of it. I like the creativity.