Towball covers used as guage pods

By the way, just did a search on yahoo and still can't work out what in the hell they are!

You mean I was right! I was just trying to be funny. I had a suspicion it was used for measuring something, like rain or something. Never went to university.

Yes D-Jack, you were right on the money with the guess. Basically as stated the cost of these are hugely expensive compared to the gauges themselves. So a bit of diy is in order.

here's another use for these tow ball covers: I cut the cup off the ends of three of them and used them in a home built rotating cup wind speed instrument. Its still spinning on my roof, 15 years later, amazing how well that black plastic stood up to the elements and beaks of nosy magpies.

Klaus

If you are refering to the cheap plastic carbon fibre look-a-like things, that are a bit on the large side. I don't have the room nor do i like the look of them. Plus they are limited to the angles and mounting positions that they can be mounted.
With this design it allows for more flexiblity.
SantaAus

No, I mean a dashpod.

[ View Image]Ignore the temp gauge, I didnt have the correct sender in at the time

Hello Truckster,
What are you measuring with these three gauges? My guess is engine temperature, boost pressure and ?? temperature for the third.

Also, what brand of dash pod is it?

Geoff.

Geoff.

EGT - very handy... Noting towing a trailer tonight thats 3ft higher than my truck, and couldn't see past it in my mirrors wide, going down the gippy hwy , temps were 500.. so I backed off.

Engine Temp (dont trust the nissan one)

Boost gauge just handy to know when I hit 13psi... :)

www.consoles.com is the brand - out of trading post.

Casnat,
I probably should have posted this on some sort of modified street car forum, but that takes extra effort. I would love to mount the gauges in the dash, but i run a 91 nissan terrano/pathfinder so room is very limited, so the only option is to dash mount them. Basically the comercial design is like a cup which has a ID of 50mm, with a mounting foot at the base.
SantaAus

Most dashpods outside the car are also illegal

oops that should be gauges not dashpods...

Hi santaAus,

I think there is a continuation of the problem that people can't understand what you are trying to achieve ... if you read your previous response it says "I would love to mount the gauges in the dash, but.... so the only option is to dash mount them". ?????

Trevor

Hi D-Jack

I also am dismayed (and I checked the dictionary on that) at the bad spelling sometimes on this forum. I immediately verified I hadn't got it wrong when I read your response..

I think a lot are like me and post late at night after "a few reds" so I tend to let them pass.

Trevor

Bradley,

Ive tried to find an 'A pillar pod' for my 80 series. The only two I could find were left hand drive from US and the 'universal' pillar pod from Supa Cheap, blooody ugly and HUGE. Do you know if the Supa Cheap ones would fit in an 80 series?

TIA
Tony J

not much at supercheap that isnt shiza, try a stockist of 'better' gear like autobarn, or some speed shops that deal with japanese gear.

Tried supercheap, repco, and other stores. Have seen monza ones and others and was sadly mistaken between looking at a picture in a brochure and when I had them in my hand. A 30cm long pod is bloody ridiculous for holding 3x 50mm gauges!
The 2-pod A-pillar ones I was quoted $190 from VDO- I have only come across one shop that could track them down. They are apparently suited for commodores, and I was told I'd have dramas mounting them on the 80's A pillar as it is narrower. After hearing the price of the pod, I passed it up.
The option I was looking at doing though was getting a cheap-ass set of 3 crap gauges from supercheap that come in their own housing and replace the gauges with some decent units. the price of this still comes in at less than buying a cheap pod kit.

Bradley,
As stated above they look damn ugly, plus they restrict the view somewhat. I ahve looked at several options, The main aim of this project is to mount the gauges on the dash to the right of the gauge cluster and have them angled back towards the driver. I have searched and tried the 3 gauge dash pods to be ugly and not have the ability to be angled back to the driver.
SantaAus

Splitfire make guage pods and bezel rings in about 10 different anodised or plated colours, but if you dont want to spring for such an item, then its either out with the bog and mdf to sculpt something to suit, or look at other options like the blitz range of stepper motor driven guages which are only 19mm thick and can be mounted flat on the dash surface. Top quality gear but you will pay for them, about $230 each guage.

But then again, most dashes have a lot of empty space behind the trim, you could grab a spare dash from a wrecker and get funky with the hole saw, to flush mount the guages.