[67drake]

Originally Posted by rwarnerjr

I used earth magnets and extreme velcro from Lowes, worked great plus easy to remove.

Just thinking out loud- Would magnets interfere with how an electrical gauge functions?

I had a few ideas of my own too,but I figure there has to be more creative ideas out there.

Great ideas and pics guys,Thanks!

[marxjunk]

prob wouldnt bother a mechanical gauge..but i would think it would screw up an electronic gauges..but im not an electrician

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by gto4evr

instg8ter - don't be rubbing in how simple it is to swap dash pads on a 66 -- this is the 70-72 forum so that's just plain mean!

Greg, where'd you get those pod cases? I like them! Mine's the standard cheap metal L bracket leaving the gauges exposed from the sides, yours looks way more finished with the covers like that.

Here's a direct link to the pods I wound up using. You can get them slanted to the right or the left. I used a right slant which put them towards me in their inverted mounting spot.

http://egauges.com/vdo_acce.asp?Subgroup=Custom_Console

[Greg Reid]

And as to the original poster...Here is a thread I started back when I was asking the same questions. I had forgotten how much info I got on this...
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...ghlight=gauges

[67drake]

Thanks for the link Greg,lots of good info there.
Has anybody used a pod similar to this for their gauges?-
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121238508635...84.m1438.l2649

The bracket with the 2 openings in it look nice and clean,but I figure while driving down the road the gauges would be easier to read if they were angled towards me. I figure maybe I could mount these upside down in the ashtray opening.

[rwarnerjr]

This is how I did mine.

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by rwarnerjr

This is how I did mine.

Nice work.

[67drake]

Greg,how do you like the VDO gauges? How long have you been using them?
I see they are a LOT cheaper than the Autometers I've been looking at. I usually don't cheap out on things,but the Autometers seem to be THE most expensive by far of the brands I've looked at. I was planning on going with the Autometer "Z" series as they are the lowest key ones they carry-all black except for the #'s on the face, no chrome trim either. I figure they would be stealth as I can get with my black dash and carpet.
At this point my plan (which can change at any time still!) is to take the ashtray out. I think I could mount a 1/16" thick or so piece of stock on the underside of where the ashtray opening is,after painting the exposed edge to match the dash. I would then have a stable flat surface to mount the swivel pods to. I probably would only have to drill 1 or 2 holes (which would be hidden),in addition to 2 existing holes to mount the plate/stock. I think I could go back to original easy enough,and you would never know the gauges had been there.
I have all winter to do this,so I'm just asking lots of questions and taking my time.

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by 67drake

Greg,how do you like the VDO gauges? How long have you been using them?

I've had them for a couple of years. My car has only been on the road for about 3~4 months of that time but has been started and run countless times in that period. They have been rock solid so far for me.

[rwarnerjr]

Thank you

[67drake]

I decided to pull the trigger and buy my set up. My wife said she would pop for the extra $$ to buy the Autometer gauges for my birthday present,so I went with the Autometers.
I did a lot of measuring yesterday,and actually made a mock up of the pods out of paper,and I think they will fit perfectly in the ashtray opening,and look like a clean installation. Nobody is going to be fooled into thinking it's original,but is should not be too noticeable. I should also be able to go back to original easily if I sell my car down the road.
Here is what I'm getting-
These of coarse will be mounted upside down
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121238508635...84.m1438.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/131020668434...84.m1438.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171163025165...84.m1438.l2649

I'll take a few pics when I put them in,as soon as the weather is warmer in a few months.
Thanks for all the tips guys!

[rwarnerjr]

Should look real nice when you get them done. Now I don't know how old you are but I am 65 so I went with the 2/58 inch gauges really does make a difference being a little bigger at my age.

[67drake]

I went with the 2 1/16" to make sure they would fit in the tight area.
I'm only 48,but I had cataract surgery about 2 years ago. I can see better now than I could in highschool! If my eyes were like they were before surgery I'd have to have 5" gauges.

[67drake]

Had a heatwave here over the weekend,so at 40 degrees I figure I'd go out in the garage and try mounting my gauges.
First I took the ashtray and bracket out,and made a new bracket out of 16 gauge sheet metal. I figure this will give a good flat surface for the gauge pods to mount to.


Then I mounted the gauge pod bases to the bracket,and used the original factory bracket mounting holes for the pods.


I mounted the bracket under the dash,then mounted the gauges to it. No time to do the wiring yet. I just wanted to see if my idea would work.




Sorry,pics didn't come out that good. I had the cover on the car,so the camera would not focus well.

[Greg Reid]

Looks great!

[67drake]

Thanks Greg!
It should give me a little peace of mind driving around in the future. I'm planning on taking my current 8.5 3.90 rear out this spring and dropping in an 8.5 3.08 or so rear. I want to get this GTO out on the road and take a few out of state trips this coming year,not as interested in beating up the local Mustang drivers!

[67drake]

Originally Posted by goatless

I mount mine in the cut out for the ashtray. Mounting them like this eliminates the ashtray, but it was the only place I could find where they'd be visible and I wouldn't have to make any holes in the dash.

BTW, thanks for that post.
I probably would not have done away with the ashtray if I did not see this photo of yours. Hard to see in my pics, but this is about the cleanest install I could come up with. I can change it back to "stock" in about 10 minutes,and no holes drilled in my dash!

[pggto]

They make a windshield pillar pod for A bodies, I've never seen one installed on a car. not sure I would like the tuner look, but its another option.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ATM-10183/?rtype=10

[67drake]

Originally Posted by pggto

They make a windshield pillar pod for A bodies, I've never seen one installed on a car. not sure I would like the tuner look, but its another option.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ATM-10183/?rtype=10

I looked at those too,but just like you said- too jap car looking for my taste.