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Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: Reed on September 16, 2008, 11:08:36 AM

Title: Gauge mounting recommendations
Post by: Reed on September 16, 2008, 11:08:36 AM
I plan on adding a tach, oil pressure gauge, water temp gauge, volt gauge, amp gauge, and vacuum gauge to my Pinto.  All of them will be 2 inch gauges.  I also need to keep the stereo where it is.  What I need are suggestions on how and where to mount all those gauges in such a cramped space.

Anyone willing to share pictures or suggestions of how and where they have mounted their gauges?  I am thinking about building a wood and fiberglass housing that will bolt to the top of the dash for good visibility.
Title: Re: Gauge mounting recommendations
Post by: dholvrsn on September 16, 2008, 12:12:54 PM
Mount the tach and vac on the column in a way the obscures the factory gauges as little as possible. Make a little panel and see how many guages that you can mount in the top of the underdash console.
Title: Re: Gauge mounting recommendations
Post by: Reed on September 16, 2008, 12:29:56 PM
Good idea, 'cept I don't have an underdash console.   :embarassed:
Title: Re: Gauge mounting recommendations
Post by: dholvrsn on September 16, 2008, 01:35:06 PM
That might make it even easier. Make a rectangular panel or box and mount your gauges under dash about four or five wide.
Title: Re: Gauge mounting recommendations
Post by: Reed on September 16, 2008, 01:36:25 PM
Hmmmmm.  I wanted to save room for A/C and I also was hoping to have the guages more visible.  Hmmmm.   I will keep that option in mind, thanks.
Title: Re: Gauge mounting recommendations
Post by: TIGGER on September 16, 2008, 01:52:38 PM
map351 makes a pillar pod.  I have one but have not installed it yet.  Nice piece.  Here is the link -> http://www.fordpinto.com/smf/index.php/topic,5667.0.html  This make free up some spare for three of your gauges.
Title: Re: Gauge mounting recommendations
Post by: Reed on September 16, 2008, 02:04:17 PM
Thanks.  That looks like a nice piece, I just can't afford it right now.   :P
Title: Re: Gauge mounting recommendations
Post by: dholvrsn on September 16, 2008, 07:22:42 PM
Well, If you had a console, here's what one looks like with three gauges. Plus a clock, equalizer, CB radio, and a cat hair in the scanner....

It's almost enough to make me nostalgic to be young and naive in the '80s. Except that it wasn't all that great....

How about drilling a bunch of holes in the flat depression on the right side of the heater controls?
Title: Re: Gauge mounting recommendations
Post by: Reed on September 16, 2008, 07:26:31 PM
Nice!  I wanted to keep the guages clustered around the driver for visibility, so putting them in a line by the passenger is out.   Great suggestions though.

And being a kid in the 80s was way better than being a kid now.  Metal detectors in schools, huge deficit, cell phones and computers.  Yuck!
Title: Re: Gauge mounting recommendations
Post by: 71pintoracer on September 21, 2008, 07:21:19 AM
I put mine in the panel like dholvrsn suggested, I like it. You can still see them good from the driver seat.
Title: Re: Gauge mounting recommendations
Post by: dholvrsn on September 21, 2008, 10:28:40 AM
I like your custom wood console.  :afro: Something to think about with my T-5 shifter in my Pinto interfering with the factory AC console. That type of console would also make a good place to stick all sorts of gauges.