Ok well Ive been working on this for a while and progress has been slow so I decided to post my progress up here to get some motivation.
In current form its about ready for fiberglass and filler, but Ill keep the thread updated.
I started this because I needed a place for guages and I cant stand pillar pods. My goals to make it look as close to an oem look as possible but still be aggressive.
Here we go from the beginning...
Plexiglass has been cut and epoxied into the 12v DC outlet and filled. Also repaired some damage at the bottom of the bezel inside the gauge cluster area where someone pried the bezel out with a screw driver gouging it. Sanded all texture off, at this point waiting for guages to arrive so I can size the PVC pipe which will be the structural part of the gauge cluster.
Chose 2" PVC couplers to use to fabricate the guage pod. Mounted them on a piece of board with epoxy and set in desired position. Material has been removed from the bezel to accommodate the pods. Next the board will be shaped around the gauges, and the pods will be fixed to the bezel. (Thanks to Karo for the wideband! hells yaeh!)
Cut out the back of the bezel to accomodate the pods.
Mounted the pods at desired angle, started reliefing pods from bracket.
More to come....
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15.71 @ 87.9mph 9-17-05
very nice man. gave me the perfect ideas to start my gauge pod project! keep up the good work! it's gonna look sweet.
Desert Tuners
“When you come across a big kettle of crazy, it’s best not to stir it.”
i dont need that many gauges just yet
but i bet thats gonna look sweet
lookin real good man! Keep us posted!
Just putting my two sense in beause i know how fiberglass likes to lift off of plastic and shift in different temps but it might not be a bad idea to drill some 1/8 inch holes around the gauges and sandwhich the front and back. Just my two sense. And you could have just use fleece or matting cloth instead of ducttape, it would be alot stronger because it soaks the resin up.
what is the blue thing ? it looks like playdoh lol
Yeah I plan on drilling some holes before the resin goes on, Ill prep the surface good so there shouldnt be any problem with it not sticking, guess Ill find out sooner or later.
Here we are again, ready for the final filling after a rough out of the pods. A rasp works well for shaping.
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15.71 @ 87.9mph 9-17-05
Blue Splash :
I did not put filler over the duct tape, I taped the front and then filled it from the back first, then went back and filled in the rest of the front. The purpose of the filler is a backing for the fiberglass and also to lock in the pods..
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15.71 @ 87.9mph 9-17-05
where the hell did you get from? I could of sworn I had one laying around like that, and all of a sudden, poof! its gon. lol.
looking good man.
i have an idea for mine floating in my head, but i still have to go pick up a new one since i accidental grabbed the wrong year the first time i went. lol. but hell... it worked for you.
...
god thats looking really nice i wish i had one of those
1989 Turbo Trans Am #82, 2007 Cobalt SS G85
Thats gonna look badass! Primer it!
-Nate (ZeeTwankyFo)
i'll be the 3rd or 4th person to do this too
good job
I like it but whats with the big black ring around the gauges?
2012 HD VRSCF
2010 Ford Explorer
2006 Ford Ranger
2004 Chevy Cavalier
yeah man, looking good but im not really feeling the thick black rings... they look too big, stick out too much.... i dont know. sort of out of place.
either way... should look hot!! and props on the work!!
take care man
Black rings might not stay,or I might use something else. I want some sort of bezel to go around the gauges to make it look more factory rather than just have the guages stick out from the fiberglass. I might shape the rings a little and make a mold out of fiberglass then bond them to the bezel but ill need my other two guages first to make sure I get the diameter right.
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15.71 @ 87.9mph 9-17-05
there was someone on here that did that with left over intake piping or ehaust pipiing it look good, yours seems to be comeing out well also its amazing what some of the people on here can do.... I don't think i could do that if my life depended on it
<img src= "http://registry.gmenthusiast.com/images/will1026/thumbnail_oh%20my.jpg">
14.475@98.7124 at capitol raceway
Ok got a layer of glass down, before that I used an air compressor to clean out all the voids in the filler and then wiped it down good with acetone to make sure the resin would adhere.
I got a huge freakn' headach after being around the fumes for a half hour, so Im calling it quits for todaying and letting it setup good. Tomorrow Ill clean it all up and mix some pigment in resin and go over everthing to finish filling cloth and imperfections.
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15.71 @ 87.9mph 9-17-05
Getting closer, put on a second coat of glass tonight, tomorrow Ill sand some more and put on a final coat of glass before sanding again and then primer
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15.71 @ 87.9mph 9-17-05
What filler did you use (the blue)?
Looks great
, Is that a woodgrain look?!
