Custom A-Pillar gauge pod - lots of pictures
 

Here are some good finished pictures of my custom built A-Pillar gaugge pod. The only "off the shelf" parts used were a Nissan A-Pillar and Nissan silver gauge trim ring.

For those interested, I posted up some pictures of my gauge pod as I was making it in my build thread.

http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...psab027b54.jpg

http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9e40d9a8.jpg

http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...psaa9baae7.jpg

http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...psdde3e83c.jpg

Close up of the fit and finish,

http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7be611ad.jpg

http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...pse9669776.jpg

I need to remove the dash to replace the factory triple gauge with some Defi gauges, then I'll install this and post up installed pictures.

Here's another version. I added carbon fibre,

http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...ps534b339e.jpg

http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...ps952b1bf9.jpg

http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...psd50e27a2.jpg

Ok, I put the A-Pillar in place and took some proper pictures for those who wanted to see it installed.

http://i1283.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7bb5e961.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8091/8...4e3c87ce_z.jpg
IMG_8003 by J M Gale, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8374/8...9c20fcbe_z.jpg
IMG_8016 by J M Gale, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8052/8...1e0913d7_z.jpg
IMG_8030 by J M Gale, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8371/8...d547e8dc_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8089/8...1b319690_z.jpg
IMG_8036 by J M Gale, on Flickr


Dual gauge pod,

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8098/8...3b82fd55_c.jpg
IMG_8211 by J M Gale, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8235/8...e48680cc_c.jpg
IMG_8197 by J M Gale, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8526/8...6abf15ab_c.jpg
IMG_8200 by J M Gale, on Flickr

This is V.2 Premium Dual gauge pod that I recently made.

Here is how it looks through the windshield,

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3826/8...5567f661_c.jpg

A couple interior shots,

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8405/8...598d2e3f_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7457/8...a42b9046_c.jpg

Hybrid set-up. 52mm gauge top, 60mm boost controller bottom,

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n..._2905045_n.jpg

https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/...79626336_n.jpg

Looks great!

Wow very clean. Is this just for you or are you planning a small batch of them. ?

Looks great actually, but i cant seem to find a reason for another gauge. not yet anyways

clean as hell man great job!!!

great job !

Thanks!

As far as a building a small batch, I don't think there is enough demand. It's very pricey to build.

Looks fantastic! Well made piece :tup:

You are an automotive artist Mr. Force! :bowdown:

You may be surprised!

Seriously nice work dude. What would you typically charge to make one of these for someone?

Most excellent job. Looks as good as the best aftermarket parts and much better than the rest. Can't wait to see what it looks like when installed.

Thank you!

Wow! That is one awesome compliment! Thank you very much sir! :tiphat:

I really take pride in my work. I have high standards and I can't accept less than excellent especially when I have total control over the outcome. Thank you for the kind words. :tiphat:

Again, it's not cheap. The factory A-Pillar and factory Silver trim ring cost $100 alone, then you have fabrication material, finishing material, labour (I don't work for free) and shipping. Final price would also be dependant on the cost of being a vendor on this site (whatever that may be).

It might be worth it to a few guys to have a 100% custom built to spec piece for their car, and If enough guys are interested (really interested) I will talk to AK about the cost of being a vendor.

Wow, this is really quality work! Very impressed. I would be interested because I would like to (evenually) have a wideband O2/vac-boost gauge without being gaudy nor modding the stock gauges. With this, I could simply swap A-pillar trim.

I don't plan on installing a pillar gauge, but, if you do decide to make some, a two-gauge setup might be popular.

http://www.the370z.com/payments.php From $69 for one month to $690 per year.

that looks soooo clean almost factory looking, keep up the good work!!

Well if you could manage to make it work where a single pod was around 250+/- a few and a double pod 300+/- I would for sure be in on a limited number of these built now another question is could it be done for the same or a little bit more in red carbon I would love to have both of mine done to match my other red carbon pieces and my Nismo trim. But if not then no worries. Just love the quality of your work. :yum:

This is actually more work/effort than simply wrapping plastic pieces with carbon fibre, and those pieces are fairly expensive, and no, it's not totally justified because of the material (carbon fibre).

It would be tough to make a one size fits all gauge pod with this exact fit and finish because gauges in general are not all built to the same specifications. In comparison this gauge pod is similar to getting a high end suit custom tailored to fit you perfectly.

Money can be saved by repurposing the cars existing A-Pillar, that alone is a $70 savings.

I didn't think there would be any interest in this when I was making mine. People tend to look down upon A-Pillar gauge set-ups and it doesn't make sense for me to build a mould unless I know I'm making more than three or four pieces.


I forgot to mention I also dyed the gauge bezel satin black to match the other gauges (it was gloss black). Attention to detail :tup:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8224/8...d5e631a8_c.jpg
IMG_7729 by J M Gale, on Flickr

IMNSHO, your low mounted gauge is a big improvement over most of the pillar setups I've seen. Others are mounted high and in the way. Yours' is low and subtle. Probably easier to read, too.

Whatever you decide to do, I wish you luck. It looks like a great product.

Waiting with bated breath to see installed pics. :)

Yeah that vendor cost is whats going to be difficult. $690 a year for a one man operation for something this specific is completely overkill and would kill pretty much all of your profits. Hopefully AK will make some more customized vendorships on this forum. Cant expect you to pay the same amount as the big dogs that offer everything.

Well I love the placement of the gauge being lower and the color and the gauge. I really wish you could pm me a price for yours with gauge or a exact copy. But I know there are hoops to jump through first.

people tend to forget that

1. Its a custom HAND made item
2. You can easily tell the time and effort it took to make one as clean as that.
3. Have a bodyshop custom make one for you and see how much they charge you
4. Hand made + time + materials
5-10: Hand made + time + materials

^True that could be done by a body shop but I bet there quality will be no where near as clean and perfected. I get the time/labor/parts but I wouldn't be asking unless he said there's a small chance he might make more. But thanks for pointing out the obvious and adding your two cents.
Cheers!!

i really like the quality of work you put into this.

If you would be willing to make me one id gladly pay you up front. Let me know.

Looks gorgeous Jason!

What did you finish the pillar with? It looks so factory. Feel free to keep it a secret, I definitely understand.

Again, just incredible work.

Thanks for noticing :tup:

:tiphat:

Thanks Rob! :tup:

You do some truely remarkable things with your car. ::tup::


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Bravo!!! great job ill post some pic's of mine soon.

For anyone intersted, I got the ok from the site owner (AK370z) to sell a couple of these. PM for price.

I tried out adding carbon fibre,

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8223/8...75a73815_z.jpg
IMG_7971 by J M Gale, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8498/8...d7ecf3f6_z.jpg
IMG_7962 by J M Gale, on Flickr

:yum: nicely executed, mr. gale! :tup:

Thank you sir :tiphat:

Looks REALLY good. Can you do the gauge trim ring in cf? Would be incredible.

very nice! Looks OEM!

Any updates when you're gonna do the right side's A pillar? ;)

Just need someone to order one :p

Sweet. Waiting to see pic of it installed. I may be your first customer for left and right sides.
Would love to see what kind of stereo imaging I could get out of these with some Small midranges in there, or some lower frequency tweeters.
Really nice work on it....

Do you think there is enough room to do a triple?

I had a setup similar to what your describing when I was competing SQ in IASCA (different car). I also had some crazy time delay circuit going on as well.