I know the Lotec gauge pod pillar is meant to replace the stock one but in doing some looking, I've found that some people are attaching it over top of the stock one.
I'm just kinda wondering what everyone's been doing and how they like it. For everyone that has one... did you replace your stock pillar or did you attach the Lotec pillar over top of it?
It seems to me that it will be easier to put it over top of the stock one since I'll keep the bottom trim and just screw it to the stock one. Has anyone had any issues doing it this way? Any disadvantages? Should I trim any parts of the stock one? Should I just cut off the bottom of the stock one and attach it to the Lotec?
What's the word, peoples!
Ok... so only one person I know of put it over (<a href="http://www.j-body.org/forums/read.php?f=45&i=56222&t=56222#56222">Shifted</a>
but it seems like it might be a good idea. Just wondering what others have done.
I was thinking of hacking up my stock one to remove the bottom part and attach it to the Lotec one but just using the whole thing looks like it might be easier.
I got a 3 pod one that only fits over the stock piece, came with 2 shotty a$$ screws. Im gonna end up cutting off the pods and then adhering them to the stock piece with Fusor.
I put mine in over the weekend and it slipped over the stocker nicely. i had to drill some holes in the stocker to route wires. they woulditn fit between the 2 properly. i was going to just use it in place of the stocker but it just didint fit right. going over was flawless. only problem is the lower screwhole is in a RETARDED location. i have my aem wideband in the lowest hole and i cant get the screw with the guage in place DOH! other then working around that it was good and the color was a dead on match!
99 Turbo Sunfire GT | Ram 2500 | International Rollback | Mr Hanky the Suburban
I attached mine to the stock pillar as well - looks great. Color blends in great and I don't think anyone could tell that the pillar now has 2 layers.
Yes, you will have to mark an area behind where each pod is so you can drill a 3/4" hole behind each to run wires. There are a ton of wires involved and you'll need every bit of room you can grab. You'll have a much easier time if you do what I did and hollow out a "trench" in the foam along the backside of the stock pillar to tuck the wires down into. Then simply attach the Lotek pod to the stock pillar using the 2 screws, pull all of the wires into a bundle (you'll want to label the ends first so they don't get mixed up), get them tucked behind the dash and give the whole thing a firm tap where each of the 3 clips are. Make sure you hit the top one especially hard since it does not seem to want to go back in!
You can email me with any questions if you like . I just did this last weekend and its still clear in my memory.
Steve
PS- I wouldn't glue the screw caps on like they say, because you're gonna have to pull the pod if you ever need to take your dash apart again!
I may just be really confused... but I reciently bought my Lotek gauge pod from Jason who says hes "only seen a full replacement." Oddly enough the peice he sent me came with holes predrilled into the peice, screws, and covers for the screws. I had no other choice but to mount it over the stock piece. No problems at all, looks fine, just had to cut off the backs of the screws.
Not the best picture, but you get the idea...
I was just informed that the piece I got was a complete replacement
The screws that came with it were made to screw into the metal behind the pillar. I still like the pod over the old one though. Looks good and you still get the long peice at the bottom.
The more I work with it, the more convinced I am that it really is meant to be joined to the stock piece and not screwed right into the metal pillar.
So that's my plan. Thanks for the input guys!!
Is it just me or are David's gauges kinda facing the window on a funny angle? I was looking into this pod and would like the gauges to point at my head (in the seat that is).
"If you aren't shifting, then you certainly aren't driving!"
You can attach it to the existing a-pillar, but thats not what I did. I took of the a-pillar, lined up the lotek pod, and drilled two holes for the screws.
I think it would look bulky with one overtop the 2nd. thats just my two cents...
double layers are for having sex with dirty girls, not a-pillars
That looks so gawdy^
Thats why Im cutting mine up and molding it as one.
It looks fine - don't let the haters get to you.
I know it looks. Its just the fact along the edge its not perfectly straight, but with the door closed you cant see it. whoop-de-doo, go cut some more cars in half z2flip4
I don't know if this is where this would go but... Where did you get the full pillar pod? All I could find is the crappy fitting 2 pod piece from APC or AutoMeter. Also will it fit a 03 Cavi? And does it come in a 2 pod? Thanks
newb question and i bet theres an install directions to do the wiring, but could someone instruct me or show me a link on how to install the wiring from the gauges(air/fule, water temp, and volt) to make them electronically work? like what wires to connect or splice or what not. im really interested in getting a 2-3 gauge pod for my car. im trying to get a heads up on what and how to install them when i do buy them, ie lotek or A+. thanks in advance guys. btw pics on the how to be a plus! *
*Devil Z*
I think those look really good! And so much better then those universal ones that jsut screw into the existing pilar in the middle somewhere.
Shoudl look hot in your car!
<img src="http://www.j-body.org/registry/thadog/MAT.jpg">
"Louis, you better watch who you call a child. Because if I'm a child,
that makes you a pedafile, and I'm not gonna stand here and argue
with a pervert" -- Peter Griffin
Yeah diito to what fst_99Z24 said, I really haven't seen instructions or anything that tells you how invovled hooking these up are.
Sticker guy - The full pillars are available for 95-02 & 03-05. They are available in graphite or black. Triple gauge pod only.
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Is it just me and my pod, but the gauges face more towards the window than in a good viewing area? (driver)
Mine is also placed over the stock and screwed into place into the metal pilar, it won`t budge.
Mine's in and looks good. It's over the stock pillar and you can't tell unless you're really looking for it. This makes it extremely convenient in that I can just pop it off like the stock one since it's still held on by the stock clips.
fst_99Z24: You'll want to ask those questions in another thread either here or in the electronics forum. There's a detailed thread here on how to hook up the AFR gauge, so just do a search. Volt gauge just needs to be connected to any 12V source. You can get a wiring diagram (Haynes manual has one) and a voltmeter and you can take one right from the little harness that plugs into the gauge cluster. That's where I got 12V for my AFR gauge. Not sure on the water temp gauge. I think you'll need to put in a sender for that one. Start another thread to find out more though.
Sticker Guy: Mine came from A-Plus. They're made by Lotek specifically for our cars.
Isaak wrote:Is it just me and my pod, but the gauges face more towards the window than in a good viewing area? (driver)
Mine is also placed over the stock and screwed into place into the metal pilar, it won`t budge.
I find that my lower two gauges are fine but my top one could be angled a little toward me. Only 5 degrees or so, but it's definitely pointing straight back rather than angled toward me. Autometer makes "angle rings" for this, though I'm not sure if they'll be useful in this application. For as little a solution as we need, it might be best to just fab up something ourselves.
Thanx! I'm ordering one in next couple of days. Still am perplexed about the MOMO Wheel not fitting on the steering column (see Momo Wheel thread) Thanks again...
Wild Weasel wrote:Isaak wrote:Is it just me and my pod, but the gauges face more towards the window than in a good viewing area? (driver)
Mine is also placed over the stock and screwed into place into the metal pilar, it won`t budge.
I find that my lower two gauges are fine but my top one could be angled a little toward me. Only 5 degrees or so, but it's definitely pointing straight back rather than angled toward me. Autometer makes "angle rings" for this, though I'm not sure if they'll be useful in this application. For as little a solution as we need, it might be best to just fab up something ourselves.
I cut off some of the top edge of the cover on the windshield side to angle it more towards the driver seat when I installed mine. I think it helped abit anyway.
stereophile wrote:
Have you got a better pic of that gauge pod you made for your door? I really like how that looks there.
This is the only one I have online right now. I have more at home and or I could take some. Let me know. Even if you wanted to meet up to look at it in person, thats cool
