iroc-z_23

iTrader: (1)

Custom made carbon fiber panel. I can fit one more on but that's as far as I got.

weswisehart

What's the side view look like? I have the exact radio as you.

iroc-z_23

iTrader: (1)

I'll have to get one tomorrow. It has inputs in the back so I didn't want to put it in a gauge pod where I couldn't access the back. I thought it would look rigged but it's actually not bad. I just made a switch panel for my nitrous in my ash tray I'll have to get a picture of that too

weswisehart

Sweet. Yea I also put rocking switches in my ash tray. 4 of them

iroc-z_23

iTrader: (1)

do you have pictures of them? i have mine in but im not going to snap pictures til im 100% done with it

weswisehart

Yea let me find them. I think I've posted them on here before. I'm sure I have them in photobucket.

Pocket

iTrader: (24)

Looks like you'd bang your knee on it

iroc-z_23

iTrader: (1)

Yep about what mine looks like just carbon fiber.. And the onlytime I've hit my knee on it was when I adjust myself in the seat but thats it. And I'm 6 foot with long legs.

Yahtzee

Looks cheesy to me

jstoltz

iTrader: (16)

I think I would just use a guage pod so you aren't using usable passenger room

iroc-z_23

iTrader: (1)

Like the title says, I've ran out of room for gauges. I have a 3 gauge a pillar. It's there to serve a purpose and isn't in the way, unless somebody has a better place to mount one that doesn't muff up original interior, I'm all ears

iroc-z_23

iTrader: (1)

Once I put my nitrous gauge on there too, I'm going to trim it some more.

Yahtzee

Under your center air vents with a individual pod is what I did.

iroc-z_23

iTrader: (1)

That looks alright I guess, but where are you running your wires?

Yahtzee

Looks 1000x better than a "custom" carbon fiber panel bolted to the outside of your Stereo bezel. IMO.

And my car has an ashtray courtesy light, I just removed it and ran the wires through that and down into the dash.

blackbmagic

The gauge isn't even centered on the nonuniform cut carbon fiber plate, its hanging off the side. The way Yahtzee has it is the way most people do it.

I give you props for the idea but there are better places for a carbon fiber plate than that.

Why are you asking him where his wires are run when yours are just hanging out the back. I sure he drilled a hole and snaked them through the dash because you can not see them..

Why don't you try running gauges, down the pillar. Looks clean and is functional. You wont have to look at your feet to see a gauge while you are driving. Just a suggestion.

iroc-z_23

iTrader: (1)

Well you can't see my wires and they are not hanging out the back. You guys have got to read. I have a tri-pod a pillar gauge pod and is filled up, it's not centered because there's going to be ANOTHER gauge AND THEN shaped. Guess I'll have to take another picture. I asked where he ran his wires because I didnt want to disturb the dash or muff it up. I don't want to drill holes and also there is not many choices to run wires out of the fire wall so I'm just wondering on other locations. What's the difference of looking down or looking way over to your right to read a gauge? Cuz I'm pretty sure your eyes are going to be off the road regardless. Plus I have to have 2 wires in the open for my inputs to a laptop on the Wideband. I'll have another pic up in a couple minutes a holes.

iroc-z_23

iTrader: (1)

Well you can't see my wires and they are not hanging out the back. You guys have got to read. I have a tri-pod a pillar gauge pod and is filled up, it's not centered because there's going to be ANOTHER gauge AND THEN shaped. Guess I'll have to take another picture. I asked where he ran his wires because I didnt want to disturb the dash or muff it up. I don't want to drill holes and also there is not many choices to run wires out of the fire wall so I'm just wondering on other locations. What's the difference of looking down or looking way over to your right to read a gauge? Cuz I'm pretty sure your eyes are going to be off the road regardless. Plus I have to have 2 wires in the open for my inputs to a laptop on the Wideband. I'll have another pic up in a couple minutes a holes.

blackbmagic

Unfortunately, our cars werent made to accept aftermarket gauges. So with any gauges added you will have to carefully cut into interior panels to hide the wires. Mounting, is also an issue, you can delete the radio and mount gauges there. Take the vent out and mount them in there...anyway you do it you will have to do something small to alter the interior.

When you just add a panel that doesn't flow, it looks like a hack-job. When you modify existing pieces it looks much more neat. No if, and or but.

I understand where you are coming from but our cars aren't exactly high priced exotic sports cars, they are not all that old either. Tastefully cutting into the interior isn't exactly going to be the worst thing in the world.

When you tell a fellow member his clean gauge mounting you guess is alright compared to your bubbly, non symmetric, 2 screws holding it on, wires out the back, carbon fiber gauge panel. You better bet you are going to stir the pot.

Its non the less a good idea and maybe not finished, but the way it sits in the first pic seems improvable by 110%. I would like to see it when its finished, it may be a copyable idea.

Also when you glance at your pillar gauges you can see taillights lighting up to warn you. When you are looking at your radio/feet you can not. The further up towards the window you mount constant important info gauges the better. Things like oil temp, trans temp, nitrous, fuel pressure, volts can be mounted further down. Gauges like oil pressure, water temp, boost/vacuum, A/F ratio, should be mounted as close to eye level as possible.

iroc-z_23

iTrader: (1)

you gave me an opinion I give you one of what I think of somebody else's idea. I don't think it looks much better than what I have started honestly

blackbmagic

Tuck the rest of the wires at least if you will be leaving just the one plug out. It might look better once its shaped hard to tell with the shape it is right now.

Its a nice idea, not sure it would work for me though. One kick to that and its cracking off for sure.

The CF looks a little out of place. Doesnt exactly match, are you planing to use more CF in the future?

iroc-z_23

iTrader: (1)

I would like to remove my air vents and somehow get gauges to fit nicely in there but I don't have that kind of time. I'd like to see pictures though if anybody has done that

iroc-z_23

iTrader: (1)

What does CF stand for? Once I find a way to tuck wires I think it will look okay, just not the best, but definitely something for somebody looking to get by. Where my leg is in the picture is where my leg normally sits. It's not in the way for me but I'm not heavy set or anything.I'll try and get my nitrous gauge in this week

blackbmagic

Its not really that difficult and would prob take less time than hacking up that peice of carbon fiber.

Cf would be carbon fiber.

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

It stands for what you used...Carbon Fiber.

iroc-z_23

iTrader: (1)

Lol well I was definitely thinking too hard on that one. I was thinking control feature as in my msd timing control. But idk I figured my shifter has carbon fiber on it, it's pretty forgiving on flexibility and can be put anywhere almost. Not sure how much more CF I will be using though

Yahtzee

Well you obviously have no problems with cutting holes in your interior. My opinion would be make a rectangular piece of CF and mount it under your center air vent and drill a small hole to run the wires.

Lutter31

Not a huge fan of the flip switch in the ashtray that prevents the door from closing. And if you don't want to disrupt the interior why is there a MSD box on one side and a rheostat on the other. I agree with the other guys, take your carbon fiber piece, put a small piece of angle something or other and attach it below the center vents.....

iroc-z_23

iTrader: (1)

What do I have a hole in on my interior? Anything that has something attached to it I have spares. My ash tray lid never stays down anyways so it wasn't a big deal to me it would just open anyways. I thought about just taking the lid off. It would close if I put a rocker switch to replace the flip switch but that's what 860 performance sent me with the bottle heater

iroc-z_23

iTrader: (1)

If I get enough ideas and a good start im up for making something that nobody else has made yet. Agreed that what I made isn't the best looking in the world, but it works for now until I get a good base for a new idea. Nitrous outlet sells a plate to go in the ash tray but they wanted 70 dollars for one and mine just costed time

Lutter31

Maybe its just the self diagnosed OCD/ADD in me, but I like stuff to be clean and look as though it could have been stock. As for the flip switch, they sell other rocker switches, and then you could hide them by closing the door. I'm glad you built your own switch plate rather than buying one.

Just because the headers I ordered came with bolts, doesn't mean I am going to use them. I am planning on ordering a set of Locking bolts so they don't back out on me.

iroc-z_23

iTrader: (1)

I'm aware they sell other rocker switches I also would like to have everything look stock and I KNOW CF is not going to make it look stock. But if somebody gives me ideas id love to give it a try and maybe go crazy with some fiberglass on the air vents

Yahtzee

Says the guy with a million aftermarket ignition boxes mounted all over the interior!

iroc-z_23

iTrader: (1)

Haha all over the interior you can spot ignition boxes? Pretty sure there's only one ignition box, try your math one more time. I've already started something else i seen from another user on here

VelocitySc0pez

where can I get a shift **** like that??? !!!!!!!!!

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BMM-81120/

iroc-z_23

iTrader: (1)

It's a b&m stealth ratchet shifter

cw3adkins

Did you make the CF panel out of raw materials or did you order a small sheet of it?

iroc-z_23

iTrader: (1)

Ordered a small sheet of it. Family business does signs and graphics and I happen to come acrossed some scrap

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

Previous owner did this... wish it wasn't there just so I could run 3 pods the way yahtzee did one day or hang a tach from the center vents, but I think it looks nice enough. I dont have a problem with it other than the fact that sets a theme that somewhat limits my options for gauge placement.

See the AFR gauge under the center vents?


These stay completely hidden normally:


And in case that first picture wasnt clear enough:



Also, I know the shifter boot is terrible. One of those things on the list.

napalm368

what is the ignition box used for? is it that box you have on the passenger side? I give you props for trying the carbon fiber piece out,,but honestly man,,you can just get a pod holder to mount on the dash or something if you are out of room.i would have to see it completed.

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

this is what my interior looks like. 3 piller pod. made my own plastic textured insert foor vents and did a radio delete for all my switches. I put 2 gauges in the Heater/ac control spot and I have two 2 5/8" fuel pressure gauges in the 4" cowl hood. All gauges are stewart warner performance with LED lighting, including 5" 160mph speedo and 5" 8K tach. Only gauge that isn't stewart warner is one of the 2 5/8" fuel pressure gauges for my NOS system, its a liquid filled auto meter with LED lighting.

pic through the hatch you can see a little better. All gauges use an angle ring to face all the gauges at me. Through the dial lighting at night makes it look sick!

napalm368

haha! yess! thats awesome man! looks well organized with some bad assness!what is that big red box onyours used for? with the silver tubes coming out?(sorry,im just starting to get into working on these things)

impulse48

how hard was it to swap the shifter in and are you running the stock automatic transmission?

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

Thanks, its great looking at night and easy to read. The red box is my mallory 685 ignition box. Its in the cabin bc its not weather proof and It has pushbutton controls that allow me to change the start retard, Rev limiter, aux (NOS) rev limiter, RPM window switch (NOS and meth/water injection), High speed retard and has a boost reference port, also allows me to test my tach for accuracy. Everything with a push of 2 buttons and has a LED readout.

Silver tubes are not silver tubes, they are braided wire looms to cover the wires coming out of the box that go into the dash and then to the respected devices, coil, NOS, Meth/water injection etc.

Basically allows me to make all the changes from my seat with no fuss

customblackbird

iTrader: (15)

It wasn't too bad, I burnt 2 of the "relays" that B&M recommends for the neutral safety switch which left me stranded. I replaced the 10AMP 15$ relay with a 40amp relay and its been great ever since. Cutting the stock firebird console wasn't to hard but the console did and will crack over time bc you have to cut so much out for the plate. But the plate holds it together for the most part.

It was originally installed with a nasty 700r4 that I built behind a 383HSR but The car got jacked and they took the engine/trans and ECM,radiator, radio and speakers and hacked up my harness. Now with a different trans bracket Im running a ford C6 3 speed behind my 521 BBF and ford 8.8 rear. works like a charm bc the shifter can be used with just about every automatic just need to change the trans brackets.

wishoradream

I couldn't find a good place to mount the gauges I picked up, so I did this, not sure if anyone else would like the look, but it keeps me from looking down, I can just glance over and see them

http://imgur.com/dUv9Tu4