Gauge project referece photos

[Donny Carlson]

I am in the process of putting in an a pillar pod and the "third gauge" mod to the under dash trim piece. I ordered a new A pillar and trim piece instead of yanking out parts in my car. These photos are reference shots for those of you who are interested in doing these mods, but haven't removed any pieces. This'll give you an idea of what to expect...

[Donny Carlson]

third gauge modification...

[Donny Carlson]

Still third gauge pod mod...

[Donny Carlson]

Pillar pod - shots of the OEM pillar will be posted after it arrives

[Gunslinger]

Donny, I'm very interested in this. Keep me posted as to level of difficulty.

Can't wait to see it finished

[Ross]

Great pics! Thanks :up:

[Donny Carlson]

Summit Racing is amazing. I ordered this part on Monday afternoon, and it got to me by noon on Wednesday.

At the recommendation by Jason at Team Ford, I am installing a Nordskog digital water temp gauge to supplement the gauge in the dash. According to Jason, the dash gauge has a 20 degree error factor, so keeping an eye on an accurate coolant temp is a good idea, especially since I will soon be installing the Meziere pump. The pump may be getting power, but this gauge will let me know something is happening even if the pump is still powered and turning.

These shots show how easy it is to install the gauge with the enclosed clips. The angle ring comes with a template to trim the bracket for use with the ring.

[FordNut]

So did you get the A-pillar yet? And did you paint the pillar pod to match or leave it black? Pics, please!

[FiveO]

I did the A-pillar pod gauge install for my 99 SHO myself.

I didn't install the wiring for the gauges, just the gluing and painting of the pod to the A-pillar.

My SHO's dual pod gauge wasn't made for the SHO so it was tougher. I plan on doing my own dual pod gauge A-Pillar install on my MM and will, like Donny post pics; looks like he's doing it right!

I'm doing a boost and tranny temp on the A-pillar after the s/c install.

[Donny Carlson]

So did you get the A-pillar yet? And did you paint the pillar pod to match or leave it black? Pics, please!
Hmm, all the thumb nails have disappeard.

I ordered the pillar, but it has been on back order for weeks, and I am told it won't be in stock until the end of July. This will not do, because the install is next week. So, I yanked the pillar off my car. I managed to clean up some cables (using zip ties) that were running down the pillar for my cell phone hands free kit, XM satellite radio control unit, and power cable for the V1.

These shots show the clips on the retaining ring that hold the lighter, and the lighter, hole, etc.

[Donny Carlson]

Shots of the A pillar. This is extremely easy to remove - there's two metal clips that hold the plastic cover to the metal on the a pillar. These shots show the pillar cover, the clips. Also shown is a where the pillar pod naturally fits the pillar cover, and the opposite side showing where holes for wiring will need to be cut.

[Donny Carlson]

At this point I was going to finish prep, but my installer (Jason) wants to do the rest, including painting. I'll get shots showing how the pods look when he's done mounting the ring and the lighter/power point as well as the A pillar pod and painted everything.

One thing to note - the angle ring is flat on the bottom, but the trim piece curves away. I'm not sure how Jason is going to handle this (I've already cut the hole with a Dremel), but my guess is he's either going to modify the ring so it sits flush, or enlarge the opening so the ring fits into the opening. Stay tuned.

[FiveO]

Clicking on the X'ed out pics still brings 'em up.

Looking good though :up:

[djcwardog]

This looks like a great project! Where did you get the angled trim ring that you are having made to fit flush with the stock guage bezel over where the lighter used to be?

[FordNut]

Sure would be nice if there was a triple pod for the a-pillar!

[TAF]

Donny...we talked about everything else today...but, I forgot to tell you that this thread is one of the best tutorials for a mod ever put on this board. Great documentation with the pics, too. :up:

[Donny Carlson]

This looks like a great project! Where did you get the angled trim ring that you are having made to fit flush with the stock guage bezel over where the lighter used to be?
It's a standard Autometer part. Buy it from Summit Racing. Three to a blister pack, so there may be some kind soul out there who would offer you one of their extras. (I gave one Todd, the other met an unfortunate fate due to my ineptness)

[FiveO]

It's a standard Autometer part. Buy it from Summit Racing. Three to a blister pack, so there may be some kind soul out there who would offer you one of their extras. (I gave one Todd, the other met an unfortunate fate due to my ineptness)



Nothing wrong with that Donny....if you get it right the first time you should be doing it for a living!

[Donny Carlson]

This is the Dakota Digital trans temp gauge. Definitely different from Nordskogs, the attachment point for wiring appears to my eye to be better than Nordskog. The lense is definitely darker, and colored teal, as opposed to the green-yellow of my Nordskog gauges.

[Donny Carlson]

Here is the tire pressure/temperature monitoring system. It uses transmitters/sending units on each wheel each on a different channel, with a receiver, a display interface, and the display. The receiver has an audible tone that sound when tire pressures drop below a programmed setting, and the display will flash for whatever tire(s) are below range. The pressure accuracy is 2 psi, temperature accuracy is 2 degree F. The sending units only transmit when the car is in motion, 6mph or higher, or if the sending units detect tire pressure drops below 18psi when the car is stopped. The sending units will transmit data for 15 minutes to the display after the ignition is turned off. The control unit also allows you to attach an external warning light (say, an LED) or connect the unit to another audible warning (say a relay that would sound the car's warning chime, or whatever). The transmitters have batteries with 5 year life spans, the receiver draws power from the control unit. The user can progam warning limits with the button on the display, and you can reprogram the sending units position also with the buttion (say, if you changed tires and now a sending unit that was on the left front is now on the right front). Bands are large enough to acccomodate up ro 23" wheels.

[HookedOnCV]

This is the Dakota Digital trans temp gauge. Definitely different from Nordskogs, the attachment point for wiring appears to my eye to be better than Nordskog. The lense is definitely darker, and colored teal, as opposed to the green-yellow of my Nordskog gauges.

I sold my Crown Vic Sport console cubby and am replacing it with the Marauder gauge console. I picked up a used Dakota Digital fuel pressure gauge, and have decided to stick with them for my tach and trans temp in the gauge pod as well. I like the look more than the Nordskog, but they are more expensive. Hopefully you get what you pay for?

I have a digital dash on my Crown Vic (would have prefered analog) so the Dakota Digital gauges should match up pretty well.

Have you found anywhere to buy the gauges other than directly from Dakota Digital?

The tire pressure is pretty cool. Definitely a unique gauge, but at $400 ($100 per wheel) it is more than I want to spend. I'll just check air pressure with my tire pressure gauge when I am parked as part of my routine maintenance. ;)

[Donny Carlson]

I sold my Crown Vic Sport console cubby and am replacing it with the Marauder gauge console. I picked up a used Dakota Digital fuel pressure gauge, and have decided to stick with them for my tach and trans temp in the gauge pod as well. I like the look more than the Nordskog, but they are more expensive. Hopefully you get what you pay for?
I'll be running two Dakota Digital gauges in the pillar pod, three Nordskog's in the gauge console. Nordskog is a good gauge, and they come with lead wires, though not long enough to run to a sending unit. Good thing about the DD's are they match OEM digital colors.


Have you found anywhere to buy the gauges other than directly from Dakota Digital? ?
There are dealers who discount them lower than DD's web site. But then you add sales tax and some dealers tack on shipping, so you wind up close to the price from DD. I ordered from DD, no sales tax and low shipping cost. Also, since this was a new item (the tire pressure system), I wanted to deal directly with the sales and tech dept. instead of going through a dealer, who likely was clueless about the part.


The tire pressure is pretty cool. Definitely a unique gauge, but at $400 ($100 per wheel) it is more than I want to spend. I'll just check air pressure with my tire pressure gauge when I am parked as part of my routine maintenance. ;)
The TP monitoring system is not designed to be a subsitute for checking tire pressures by hand. In fact, you can't check pressure at rest unless it's within fifteen minutes of shutting off the ignition. The system is designed to >monitor< tire pressures AND temperatires while under way, just like oil pressure or trans temp or water temp is monitored while driving around. It's a early warning system that something is amiss, that you've got a puncture or your tire is overheating (which usually preceeds a blowout). I'd sure like to know this news early enough to avoid having to change a flat or deal with a blowout in traffic.

I agree the price is high, but you have four sending units, each a transmitter, a four channel receiver, a data interface, and a gauge that is a LED matrix display, not the standard LED digital display. The gauge shows four pressure or temperature readings, plus handles programming the system.

Also, the system allows you to monitor up to four additional tires (for dual rear wheels on trucks or for trailers). Any problems and it goes right to the problem tire and identifies it.

I thought about this a long time before taking the plunge, because of the cost. But, we monitor other "critical" systems, oil pressure/temp, trans temp, water pressure, volts, etc., to me, the tires are a critial system, too.

[Joe Walsh]

I bought the two hole pillar gauge plus the one hole pillar gauge for the MM. I have not mounted them yet so I don't know how well both will fit.

[TAF]

I bought the two hole pillar gauge plus the one hole pillar gauge for the MM. I have not mounted them yet so I don't know how well both will fit.
Joe,

Several folks here have done this. Below you'll see a pic of Logan's...maybe he or someone else here who has accomplished this will pipe up with some tips for you. :up:
http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/data/503/1DSC01727a.jpg

[MENINBLK]

Isn't there a replacement A-Pillar Gauge Pod moulding with the pods moulded in for the Marauder ?

I had purchased a 3 pod A-Pillar moulding for my Contour and all I had to do was swap out the moulding !
The whole moulding was only $45 and it came primed in a medium grey.

[martyo]

Isn't there a replacement A-Pillar Gauge Pod moulding with the pods moulded in for the Marauder ?

Wishful thinking Pete. No one makes this, which leads us to doing the Autometer bolt over thing a la Logan.

[Donny Carlson]

The install on the gauge project was today, and I am EXTREMELY pleased. It turned out better than I imagined.

The first shot is the modified gauge console, ring installed (Jason recessed it to line up with the other two) and hole cut for power point.

The second shot shows the console removed from my car with the Norskog's installed. The brackets are used to hold OEM connectors.

The next two shots are of the modified console, the final shot is the a pillar, holes cut and painted to match the pillar pod,

[Donny Carlson]

The first shot is the Autometer pillar pod, painted in Marauder charcoal interior color.

The next two shorts are tranmitters/sending units for the tire pressure/tempertaure monitoring system being installed on Marauder wheels.

The next shot is the installed A pillar pod with Transmission temp and tire pressure/temp monitoring gauges. The trans temp gauge needs to be programmed, it's now displaying centigrade.

The last shot is of the third gauge in the console, a Nordskog water temp gauge. The OEM gauge in the dash still works, but this Norkskog really is accurate... it shows rises in temp at WOT (the trans temp goes up, too) even though the dash gauge you can't tell has moved.

[TAF]

Donny...once again...probably one of the best, documented mod-threads ever.:rock:


PSSST...are you going to show them the "Transporter Beam", Scotty??!! :D