hey ok i was looking at TIM BURGESS' camaro and i liked his idea of guages but i still want my lighter for a radar detector and it is a pain to get the plate off for me. ok i dont like the guage pod look unless they were molded in. i dont like the snap on section. and i was thinking. if i do take out my A/C why not have my guages in the middle vents. nothing else will be there and i only drive my car 6-7 months out of the year and i dont ever use the vents except for the floor or defrost how hard would it be to wire a few there. and where could i get a plate for that. i know i would have to measure it and cut it but that is easy. where do you find platic like the original pieces.
i was thinking of these gauges:
fuel / air ratio
fuel pressure
oil temp
boost guage (later after i get my SC)
and maybe a few diff. i know i could only get about 4 so i would have to choose what i need.

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1990 IROC-Z L98/G92 350 TPI
too much to list!!
5,507 IROC's; 2,415 5.7L IROC's Produced in 1990
Dare to be DIFFERENT,
DAILY DRIVER: 1991 S10 2.5L/5SPD WITH CAMARO RIMS
MUSTANGS...ONLY 4 LUGS....HAHA THAT IS HILARIOUS.

 

You can hard wire you radar detector into the accessory section in the fuse box. That will free up your ash tray area. There is a company that sells a molded version of the gauge pod, do a search.

I am not sure about taking out your climate control unit. It works by vacuum, not switches. The only switch in there is the blower. I am sure it is possible though.

 

ok you have a firebird so your lighter is in the tray. my lighter is on my dash assembly cover. i have a camaro. and what company makes the plastic. and i wasnt talking about taking out my climate controls. just the two vents in dash in the middle.
thanks

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1990 IROC-Z L98/G92 350 TPI- 700R4
Too much to list!!
5,507 IROC's; 2,415 5.7L IROC's Produced in 1990
Dare to be DIFFERENT,
DAILY DRIVER: 1991 S10 2.5L/5SPD WITH CAMARO RIMS
MUSTANGS...ONLY 4 LUGS....HAHA THAT IS HILARIOUS.

 

Here's a company that makes molded, but it looks like they only have them for T-Top cars? http://www.gaugepods.com/fbody.htm

 

i know that is why i complained. but has anyone else done this install? i cant wait to do it. thanks Jarrad

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1990 IROC-Z L98/G92 350 TPI- 700R4
Too much to list!!
5,507 IROC's; 2,415 5.7L IROC's Produced in 1990
Dare to be DIFFERENT,
DAILY DRIVER: 1991 S10 2.5L/5SPD WITH CAMARO RIMS
MUSTANGS...ONLY 4 LUGS....HAHA THAT IS HILARIOUS.

 

I am also working on this problem. I am in teh process of pulling out the vents. Block off the heater vent (so as not to send heat to the gauges), cut out the bottom of the plastic area and fab up a new bottom just a little lower. I am planning on putting (4) 2" Autometer Phantom gauges in this area. It appears like they will fit. It will be alot of work though.

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1986 IROC
New Crate 350 w/Vortec Heads, Edelbrock 2116 Vortec Manifold, Edelbrock Performer 2102 Cam, Edelbrock 1406 carb, Hedman shorty headers, Flowmaster Catback, Rebuilt 700r4 w/vette servo, etc..

 

if you cut out the bottom of the vents (back about 2" from the front) and angle a peice of plastic down (glue in some how) and make it a duct. that will always face down. then you can put the gauges in the vent area. it wont be that hard to wire. since if you take the dash off the whole thing is really accessible. i cant wait to get my car back and be able to work on it. i will do this right away since it will be easy and i will put a bunch of pics on the board for everyone.

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Jarrad
1990 IROC-Z L98 350 TPI
TH-700R4
G92- 7.5" 10 Bolt 3.23gears
Bright Red Hardtop/ Grey Custom Interior
5,507 IROC's; 2,415 5.7L IROC's Produced in 1990

DAILY DRIVER: 1991 S10 2.5L/5SPD WITH CAMARO RIMS

 

I have my car in pieces right now. I don't think it is as easy as you think. The gauges do not fit in the vent opening. This opening will have to be made larger (up/down). I am trying to find someone in the Detroit area to sell me some 1/8" black ABS plastic (more difficult than you would think). I will also have to fab a faceplate and am wanting to do something about covering the bottom of the gauges. Great idea about the venting hte ducts out the bottom. I am going to use that... Thanks.