Tipple Gauge Pod on top of the center dashboard

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Sat Mar 01, 2008 9:13 pm

I looked at the various options on where to mount the three gauge pod and chose to mount them on top of the center dashboard. Gauge arrangement is EGT on the left, Boost center, and Trans Temp on the right. As far as view obstruction goes, I can fully see the wiper blades in their park position.
I placed the EGT probe into the down pipe about 15 degrees into the bend coming out of the turbo, I know the EGT will have a lower reading than mounting the probe ahead of the turbo in the manifold, but I did not want to risk my turbo or have to take it off the manifold to keep the chips out. The leads from the probe were run in the wiring duct that goes across the back of the engine.
To get the boost pressure reading, I selected an unused 8mm threaded mounting hole on the top of the intake manifold, made a stainless steel banjo bolt to fit, and cleaned off the top of the mount hole so the copper washers would seal. Then I packed grease into the flutes of a twist drill and using steady pressure on a slow turning drill, drilled into the manifold. Grease in the twist drill flutes contained the long stringy chips and kept them from falling into the manifold. Next, I started the engine, revved it up to blow out anything left in the hole. Then, I slid a banjo fitting onto the banjo bolt having a copper washer, added another copper washer on the bottom side of the banjo fitting and bolted it on. To keep the boost inside until I hook up the boost gauge, I placed a cap used on injector return lines onto the banjo barbed fitting.

Photos with captions are at my Picasa site: http://picasaweb.google.com/warp2diesel ... QPstPJzTso

Copy my mount base if you wish, I have no plans to go into the manufacturing business.

More photos added 3/2/08

Steve :wink:

MACKJ · **Posted:** Sat Mar 01, 2008 10:50 pm

warp2diesel wrote:

Copy my mount base if you wish, I have no plans to go into the manufacturing business.
Steve :wink:

Not too bad at all...lucky you haven't patented it as this is exactly what I am working on now but with fibreglass. Pillar pods are illegal for road use in Oz.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:44 am

MACKJ wrote:

warp2diesel wrote:

Copy my mount base if you wish, I have no plans to go into the manufacturing business.
Steve :wink:

Not too bad at all...lucky you haven't patented it as this is exactly what I am working on now but with fibreglass. Pillar pods are illegal for road use in Oz.

Ya, but it would have to also file a patent in aus to have any ability to legally enforce it.

Pablo · **Joined:** Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:06 pm **Posts:** 1201

Illegal? Ouch. Of all the things...

Uffe · **Posted:** Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:19 am

Good place you have selected.

Now imagine you cannot add anything to the center because there is already something there. That is my problem currently. I have a navigation system in the way.

Where would you then add your stuff? I've thought about to the left of the driver just in front of the tweeter. There should be room for 2 gauges right?

Where did you buy your gauges and what did you pay for them?

How did you get the transmission temperature gauge sensor installed?

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:24 am

Very cool. How much $$ shipped to 93535?
What are your plans for getting the wiring, etc. to the sending units? Drilling any holes up on the dash?

I want the same kind of setup in the same location and have it on my to-do list but had not thought how I was going to go about it. Fiberglassing the same setup into that area and blending it all together would be sweet but i would probably put my eye out messing w/ fiberglass. I can't use the pillar pod setup any more as the grab handle has become my friend on my KJ now.

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:34 am

Uffe wrote:

Good place you have selected.

Now imagine you cannot add anything to the center because there is already something there. That is my problem currently. I have a navigation system in the way.

Where would you then add your stuff? I've thought about to the left of the driver just in front of the tweeter. There should be room for 2 gauges right?

Where did you buy your gauges and what did you pay for them?

How did you get the transmission temperature gauge sensor installed?

Two gauges would fit to the left, but I wanted them all on the top center. Three could go over the the top behind the steering wheel and has been done by others.

I bought the gauges from: http://www.glowshiftdirect.com/index.as ... ategory=20 and paid just under $200

I will install the trans temp sensor in the deep trans pan I ordered from: http://airram.com/product.php?productid=39 I will drill and tap my own temp sensor mounting hole, not to would be an insult to all the tools I own.

As you can see the temp outside was quite cold 15.8F (-9c) so I went for wood that could be worked on in both outside and inside. Fiberglass would work well and be easy to make multiple copies, but it likes to be at over 70f or 21c to work well.

Now I need to hook it all up.

Steve

nursecosmo · **Posted:** Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:46 am

Nice setup. I always love to see quality homemade mods because it shows that a person really cares for their vehicle. Good choice of gauges too. The only other one that I would like to have would be for fuel pressure behind the filter.

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:06 pm

Now that it is all hooked up. There are more photos that have been added showing power sourcing and wire routing.

http://picasaweb.google.com/warp2diesel ... QPstPJzTso

I will post the new PML 11039 extra deep pan when I get it installed, the PML pan shown in other photos is the 11034 deep pan.

I will also post the Low Fuel pressure switch and drawings for the adapter when I get it made and installed.

The extra red 14 gauge wire with a knot in it, is a pull wire so I can pull the SEGR wiring harness through when I get the circuit board finished and the time to install. For now, I unplugged the MAF and I am ignoring the check engine light

Note: Lubricating the wires help when you are trying to pull them through the fire wall grommet. I used left over electricians wire lubricant.

Steve

Uffe · **Posted:** Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:16 am

Very nice handywork steve! I wish I had the same setup as you. I want just the boost pressure and the EGT.

Can you be persuaded to make a guide using those nice pictures you've taken? There's not much work in making a guide for the tech section. If at all possible can you show me a picture of where you tapped into the exhaust to monitor your EGT?

Would it be possible to use a T-fitting and pull the boost pressure from the MAP sensor? I mean fit a T tube and put the MAP in one end and the boost pressure sender in the other?

Or even better, find out how to tap into the MAP signal and steal the information and plug that into the gauge directly

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Mon Mar 03, 2008 12:42 pm

L.O.S.T. members have the right to copy and further develop any of the mods I post.

Since this is a club activity, I avoid any employer related issues on any mods I develop.

If any one wants to manufacture and make multiple copies for sale, I recommend they work out a deal with the senior L.O.S.T. members and make a good faith donation to L.O.S.T.

These statements are to keep the Wolves, Over seas Sweat Shops, and Lawyers at bay. Any ethical manufacturer would be happy to make a donation and forgo the development and testing costs.

Steve / warp2diesel

More pics added: http://picasaweb.google.com/warp2diesel ... QPstPJzTso

Rayze78 · **Joined:** Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:41 pm **Posts:** 36

Cool design, nice work!

DocB · **Posted:** Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:13 am

Yes, nice job and very innovative.

Tipple Gauge Pod on top of the center dashboard

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