So I wanted to get the Lo-Tek 3 pod-pillar, and get a voltmeter, tranny temp, and fuel pressure...(all electric)

I have questions:

1. Will swapping the new pillar (trim) for the old cause leaking? (I have T-tops.)

2. Where do the senders go? (be specific please)

3. Where can I get a "T" fitting that would fit the tranny cooling return line? (I guess that's what I plan on doing for a tranny temp sender.)

4. Do the autometer gauges light when you turn the lights on?

5. Has anyone used the Nordskog digital gauges? If so, was the voltage sensor calibrated to the nearest whole number or does it show decimals? (e.g., 16V vs. 15.8V)

6. How long should I expect to be working on this mod?

I haven't made any purchases, and I will buy based on what you guys tell me. I have been on these boards long enough to know the collective knowledge of this group is excellent... Please advise me accordingly!

Thanks,

Joe



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86 IROC TPI 305
700-R4 with Trans-go shift kit
K&N Air filters
Dyno-Max cat-back
Summit tranny cooler
CEI throttle enhancer chip
Gutted MAF

 

I can answer your 1st question. The trim piece has nothing to do with your weather seal, leaks will not be a concern.

 

1) No, the trim doesn't actually seal anything. The rubber piece inside is mostly to cover up the metal underneath, and keep out dust and wind than to seal against water.

2) The voltmeter gets it's signal from any 12v source, preferably the (+) terminal of the battery or alternator.
The tranny temp gets it's signal from a seperate sender that's sometimes installed inline in one of the cooler lines, or screwed into a bung that's welded (or brazed) onto the oil pan.
The fuel pressure gauge gets it's signal from a sender that's installed in the fuel line to the motor. Usually at the front of the motor where the metal line turns to rubber, or at the fuel filter.

3) Any hardware or auto parts store.

4) Some do, some don't. Be sure to ask your sales rep. The ones I've used in the past didn't.

5) All my gauges are Nord-Skog. The voltage gauges are to the nearest tenth, and are accurate (compared against my military issue digital voltmeter).

6) Give yourself about three or four hours, most of which will be running wires.

Hope I answered what you were looking for. Good luck, and email me if you need anything else. l8r



------------------
1989 Rally Sport
1986 ASC McLaren Z28 convertable SE #41

 

Jza-

What color gauges did you get? red or green?
What color would you recommend? I personally like the Nordskog gauges myself.

Joe


------------------
86 IROC TPI 305
700-R4 with Trans-go shift kit
K&N Air filters
Dyno-Max cat-back
Summit tranny cooler
CEI throttle enhancer chip
Gutted MAF

 

I went with red. I'd recommend whichever color goes best with your car and whatever else is already on it. Green looks better inside cars with a cool external paint color. Red looks good with warmer paint jobs. Both look fine with white or black. Consider the color of the face of your radio as well (if it's aftermarket or will soon be).

 

I was looking at the Lotek 3 pod pillar... I have a black interior, but is it *satin* black or *gloss* black?

Also, what's involved with swapping the old pillar plastic for the new Lotek plastic pod-holder?



------------------
86 IROC TPI 305
700-R4 with Trans-go shift kit
K&N Air filters
Dyno-Max cat-back
Summit tranny cooler
CEI throttle enhancer chip
Gutted MAF

 

Put mine on in '99, and love it. No leaks. I used Autometer Phantom series gauges and yes they light up with the rest of the gauges. My fuel pressure gauge sender is connected to my fuel rail. I chose other gauges for the other two. Couple of hours to install the pillar and gauges and hook up the lighting and run the wires. Additional time to hook up the senders and connect the wires. I had to weld in a nut to connect my sender to my oil pan for example. Here is my pic:



Additional pics on my website (link in sig).

------------------
IROCnRoll
'86 Camaro Sport Coupe and '88 IROC

 

htat looks really great blue 502. I bet that sterring wheel heats up a hell of a lot on a hot day. i plan on putting in a dual pod pillar. This gives me a great idea of how it outta look.

------------------
un4givin89



1989 Camaro Ralley Sport
305 TBI
ElderBrock Open Element
1 1/2 lowering springs

Project List:
Flowmaster Exhaust
New holley Fuel pump
Elderbrock Headers
Battery to Trunk
New Valve Covers
Windows tinted
Sound System

www.mikekey.net

 

Yeah, it gets hot, but since it has the half wrap leather, you can easily drive just touching that surface instead of the aluminum rear half until it cools back down. Of course up here in the NW, it probably isn't near as big of a problem as it would be in the southern states
I'm going to put a Colorado Customs flamed billet steering wheel into the 88 IROC I just bought!

 

Where do you get the Lotek pod from? Does anyone know a web page for the company?

I was origionally thinking of the one from www.guagepods.com but does any one know if this one is better??

Thanks for the help

Robert

 

I believe I got it at Lotek.com. They ship C.O.D. but it took about 3 weeks. I think my order was misplaced. As far as your other questions my experience has been

1. The pillar will not protect leaks. If you have a leak it will find your pillar pod and leak on the inside. Mine does and over the winter I am changing the weather stripping on the T Tops.
2. I have different guagues than you installed. I went with tach, water temp and oil pressure. I had it done at the Chevy dealer and they work great.
3. Don't know
4. I bought Autometer because they are the best and YES they light up at night. With the Tops off at night it looks so sweet. Auto meter include the color condoms for your bulbs in red or green. your choice.
5. Don't know
6. Too the dealer 2 days because he ran into several problems such as firewall entrance, adapters needed for temp guage, etc. DON'T RUSH THIS JOB OR YOU WILL BE UNHAPPY1

------------------
86 Camaro Black SS Coupe, T Tops, ASCD Daytona Twin Turbo hood, Flowmaster, Custom Paint, Dunlop Road Kings S/R tires, Wheel Country Directional Chrome Wheels,new charcoal & gray interior including seats and door panels, new carpet and headliner, complete front end suspension rebuild, new Valve seals, and more mods to come
'91 RS 5.0 TBI = Waiting to be modded, but has all of the toys inside.

http://www.angelfire.com/sports/niterider/86camaro.html
Morgan_Andre@hotmail.com

 

Does anyone have a web page for Lotek so I can see a close up of that guage pod? I was thinking about getting the one from www.guagepods.com However, does anyone know if one is better from the other?

 

i do belive thier address is lotek.com but not to sure? i will tell you this i just got mine in the mail two days ago i ordered the triple and about two days after i sent it in and the guy called me and told me that they no longer make the triple cause they had some prob with it so i told him just to give me the double and they refunded the diff. as for the fitment it fits perfect. but you could just order the ones from autometer for cheaper but if your like me and want it to look stock then go with lotek cause they give you the full pillar.

------------------
1988 Camaro RS T-Tops white. Was 2.8 now a mean 406 sbc
(mods)
750 Edelbrock carb
Performer RPM intake
Comp cams Magnum @.50 230-230 lift 480-480
Flowtech 1 3/4 headders with glasspacks for true duals and thats it for now
E.T. 1/4=?
will post when race season starts
2 10' Kicker comps
Kicker 500w amp
Pioneer head unit
2 Jensen 3-way 6x9

along the road
perfomer RPM heads?
NOS
pistons, rods
roller rockers
4.10 rear with posi
91-92 ground effects

 

Does anyone have or heard of the autometer air/fuel ratio gauge? I have it in mine car and it looks great, and is very usefull especially when jetting a carb, or adjusting fuel preasure and bigger injectors

------------------
1991 teal camaro RS rebuilt 96 350 marine motor, comp cam, accel ignition,8mm accel plugs and wires, hedman headers and y-pipe, and rear end with 4.10 gears. Stock 700r4, best 1/4 time 14.6

 

WWW.Gaugepods.com IS Lotek Engineering. But my link will work cuz i spelled gauge right. Sorry.

------------------
1989 IROC-Z 5.7L
NOS 5151 150HP kit
ProBuilt 700R4, PI Vigilante 2800 stall lockup
Baer Brakes 12" Sport System

 

I just received their 2 pillar pod in the mail today. I also didnt know whether unpainted gloss black or satin black was the match for the stock black pillar. I ordered the unpainted gloss black and it's a perfect match.

The only mods and my only very, very, small complaint is that you have to drill (2) 1/8" holes into the sheetmetal. The Lotek pod doesn't have the mounting tabs on the inside of it, so 2 supplied screws hold it in from the outside, one above each gauge on the flat part. They supply you with 2 black plastic covers to put over the screws. Those and the stock screw up near the t-top are what hold it in. It's not a big deal, it just deviates a little more from the "complete stock" look.

In the end, it's an EXCELLENT product looks wise. I will be installing it in the next couple of days with my fuel and nitrous pressure gauges, so I'll post back on how it fits. Is there enough interest in pics?

------------------
1989 IROC-Z 5.7L
NOS 5151 150HP kit
ProBuilt 700R4, PI Vigilante 2800 stall lockup
Baer Brakes 12" Sport System

[This message has been edited by Omar (edited September 23, 2001).]