Author Topic: Pillar gauges installed on 71 Cuda  (Read 4521 times)

Offline DocMel

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Pillar gauges installed on 71 Cuda
« on: November 16, 2014 - 04:41:43 PM »
Pillar gauges installed on 71 Cuda:

From Glow gauges:

1.  I ordered the three gauge pillar gauge mount:  $17.00.    While it is a universal pillar mount, it was cheap, so I went for it.   The Cuda pillar is so short, I had to cut back on one gauge pod: Only two gauges will fit (Next time I would order a two gauge pillar mount).  The fit looks great from the inside, but the fit as seen from the outside in thru the front window looks pretty sloppy:  But again, this is a "universal pillar mount" and I believe I can clean up that side with a little work

2.  VM, Oil P and Water Temp gauges used are also from Glow Gauge and fit perfect in the pillar mount, look great, wire up very easy, and come with all required sensors for my 440.  Gauges go for about $60.00 each

3.  I then ordered a single gauge pod (pretty cheap) for my oil pres gauge and fit it on my steering column

I love the gauges:  Small, easy to see (I got the red LED read outs), and they automatically/intentionally slightly dim when headlights are turned on and will dim further with stock dimmer




Offline roadman5312

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Re: Pillar gauges installed on 71 Cuda
« Reply #1 on: November 16, 2014 - 04:44:20 PM »
                                Looks great    :2thumbs:

Offline Fern

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Re: Pillar gauges installed on 71 Cuda
« Reply #2 on: November 16, 2014 - 05:06:42 PM »
I was thinking of doing the tach on the pillar, but no one makes the pod for a challenger and I gave up on the idea.
The newer cars seem to have larger posts than our cars do.
It would be great if someone found one that fit.

Any chance you could put up a pict of the outside of the pod, I'm curious to see how it looks from outside, since it looks so good from inside.

Offline brads70

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Re: Pillar gauges installed on 71 Cuda
« Reply #3 on: November 16, 2014 - 06:31:01 PM »
I was thinking of doing the tach on the pillar, but no one makes the pod for a challenger and I gave up on the idea.
The newer cars seem to have larger posts than our cars do.
It would be great if someone found one that fit.

Any chance you could put up a pict of the outside of the pod, I'm curious to see how it looks from outside, since it looks so good from inside.
:iagree: Some more close up pictures in better light would be great! :wave: :2thumbs:   Nice mod!
Brad
1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
Barrie,Ontario,Canada
Proud to own one of the best cars ever made!!!!!

My restoration thread 
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=59072.0
 My handling upgrade post
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=73985.0

Offline mr_340

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Re: Pillar gauges installed on 71 Cuda
« Reply #4 on: November 17, 2014 - 08:40:09 PM »
would love more pic's I've been thinkin' about doing the 2 gage pod on my challenger.

Offline DocMel

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Re: Pillar gauges installed on 71 Cuda
« Reply #5 on: November 18, 2014 - 09:08:50 AM »
Ill get a better pic in today

Offline burdar

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Re: Pillar gauges installed on 71 Cuda
« Reply #6 on: November 18, 2014 - 11:09:24 AM »
Post a picture of it from the outside too.  Maybe we can come up with something to make it look better from that angle.

Offline DocMel

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Re: Pillar gauges installed on 71 Cuda
« Reply #7 on: November 18, 2014 - 05:44:55 PM »
OK,  Some better pics

First, a couple of corrections 

Website that I got the gauges and universal pillar mount was from Glow Shift.   

Since room is limited, (there is only room for two pillar gauges, you can get the two pod pillar universal mount here 

http://www.glowshiftdirect.com/Universal-Dual-Gauge-A-Pillar-Pod.aspx

I had ordered the three gauge pillar mount hoping that there would be room for three.  But get the two mount univ pillar mount ($14.99):  Thats all that will fit

In one of the pics you will see the gap from the outside between the pillar and the gauge mount: Thats my bad.  I trimmed too much material away from the pod mount.  As you can see, the top gauge as seen from the window in, is flush with the pillar.  My bad trim job is noticed on the bottom gauge.   But I can get it to fit flush:  Ill remove the pillar as a unit, glue it flush, and once I put it back you wont be able to notice it .  You could avoid this extra step by taking your time in the initial fit :(   

Im also going to take a little plastic filler to hide some of the "lip" of material so it is blended in

The pillar pod mount is a tough, plastic moulded pice, but easily trimmed with a grinder or dremel.  The gauges fit nice and snug inside it

If I could do it again, I would first take out the pillar and mount the gauge pod on it off the car.  I would then trim any excess to fit, while at the same time ensuring there is enough clearance between the gauge pod, inside of the windshield and the top of the dash  (there is, but it could be easy to get the mounting angle wrong, so take your time)

The third gauge is a metal pod, with a slightly curved foot/base, that can either screw in or band to the steering column

The gauges are all the same, with red read-outs   Green are available as well. 

Offline burdar

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Re: Pillar gauges installed on 71 Cuda
« Reply #8 on: November 19, 2014 - 09:59:56 AM »
If you are feeling brave, you could use a heat gun to move the plastic over to take up the gap.  That's what I would do.  Then the glue won't have that pressure on it...trying to pull it apart.  Other then that, I think it looks really good.

Offline DocMel

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Re: Pillar gauges installed on 71 Cuda
« Reply #9 on: November 19, 2014 - 05:00:17 PM »
Good point.   I do have heat gun:  I believe the material at hand would allow for heat gun "repair"

At the most I could get a another two gauge mount from GS.  At less than $15.00 I could try the repair myself and then just get another should it not work