Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) gauge mounts for '98

[JHenry]

Did I buy the hardest truck to put gauges in? I don't care for the pillar mount or the dash mount, and the only mount for the steering column is a single gauge mount. #@$%! Looking at the fold-out cupholder and all the space it takes up for the lame purpose it serves, I wonder why some clever dude doesn't fabricate a combination gauge panel and cd/junk storage to fit in place of the cupholder. Does anyone have any other suggestions besides the 3 available mounts? Thanks, JH

 

[RStankevitz]

on here somewhere i have seen a picture of someones 94-98 and the gauges where in little custom pods right on the face of the round dash bottom right under the ashtray

 

[DonTX]

I wonder why you dislike pillar mounts? I was not in favor of them either, til I bought my truck with them there. I find it extremely pleasing to be able to glance at them without my eyes leaving the road.

 

[JHenry]

I wonder why you dislike pillar mounts? I was not in favor of them either, til I bought my truck with them there. I find it extremely pleasing to be able to glance at them without my eyes leaving the road.

Maybe you had the same aversion to them as I do. I started driving in the 50s, and for many years the windshield/door post was quite small. Now they are much larger, and it seems like it's easy to lose sight of another vehicle under certain conditions. Adding a gauge mount would seem like it would only make that condtion worse. I suppose I wil get used to it because that seems to be where it's heading.

 

[DonTX]

I too am very sensitive about anything blocking my vision, but for some reason they just don't seem to bother me, I feel no blind spot from them. As I age, I find that taking my eyes off the road and re focusing on the dash is a bigger distraction.

 

[JHenry]

I too am very sensitive about anything blocking my vision, but for some reason they just don't seem to bother me, I feel no blind spot from them. As I age, I find that taking my eyes off the road and re focusing on the dash is a bigger distraction.

I guess that's where it's headed, the pillar mount. The '98 has that huge space in the middle of the dash, under the radio/heater controls, that is dedicated to a fold-out cup holder. Storage of binoculars, camera, cds, etc. , is much more useful to me. But I guess it's only for a couple of years that the dash has that waste of space.

 

[Hammer]

Why not use the 3 gauge windshield mount then if you do not like the pillar gauge mount?. It mounts in the center of the dash at the windshield and is out of the sight line enough for visibility. Its available thru Geno's for our 98's... ... Andy



TRIPLE DASH POD ('98-'02 DODGE)-Dodge Cummins and Ford Power Stroke Diesel Truck Accessories - Geno's Garage

 

[BigPapa]

I know the dashes are different but I made my own mount. Nothing's impossible... ...

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Scott

 

[JHenry]

I know the dashes are different but I made my own mount. Nothing's impossible... ...

#ad




Scott

That arrangement looks really nice. I wish the '98 dash had more surface space like that.

 

[BigPapa]

Well I lost the 12V power outlet and the slide out cup holder. Sometimes you just have to make your own space.



Scott

 

[JHenry]

Well I lost the 12V power outlet and the slide out cup holder. Sometimes you just have to make your own space.



Scott

My '98 has the cupholder under the radio. This was what my original post was all about. It would seem like an enterprising individual with the right contacts could make a combination gauge mount/storage to go in the place of the cupholder in the '98.

 

[FrostG]

I have had the same reaction to the size of the pillar. However, I did use the 3 gauge pillar mount and feel that there is only a slight difference in the visibility over the original pillar. I started with a mechanical oil pressure gauge which I temporarily mounted in the ash tray space. Then I added the boost and EGT gauges and put them all on the pillar.



Gordon



98 12V mostly stock. 408000 miles.

 

[ScottLewis]

I modified the cupholder in my '98 to install 3 gauges. Sorry I don't have any pictures (or the truck anymore) to be able to give you specifics.



I fabricated a mount from a piece of metal to which a standard 3 gauge bracket was fastened. I had to trim the plastic around the actual cup holders and remove the hinged part that supports the cupholder in the open position so the door would close around the gauges. I had a small trash container that sat on the floor hump that supported the unit in open position.



You could still put cups in the holder in front of the gauges and when closed the gauges were concealed but the dash looked factory.



My complaint about the arrangement was that I had to take my focus away from the road to see the gauges.



Dan

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I have the A-pillar mount on my '96 and the dash pod Hammer posted on my '98. Overall I like the dash mount better. . . less obtrusive, better for sighting, and I don't hit my head on it (yes I don't know how, but I've managed to whack my forehead on my A-pillar gauges more than once!!!)

The dash mount wasn't too hard to install, I ended up dropping my steering column (5 minute job) and then removing all the screws along the dash base at the windshield, then tilted the dash back a couple inches. Routing cables was a breeze.

Dimmer lead - BOMBER Board

Vaughn

 

[ScottLewis]

I have the dash mount in my '06 and greatly prefer them to those I had in the cupholder of the '98. I find they don't obstruct visibility at all.



Dan

 

[DCreed]

have you looked at the overhead console type? These are from EGUAGES.

 

[JHenry]

I am going to try the pillar mount in order to get the gauges all functioning. I am still going to play with the idea of something built into the drop-down cup holder.

<a href=http://photos. imageevent.com/jerryinw500/jerryinw500firstalbum/websize/IMG_0905. JPG></a>

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

have you looked at the overhead console type? These are from EGUAGES.

When I go to eGauges they only show the overhead type for 3rd Gens. There's no place for a setup like that in 2nd Gens because the overhead console is in the way.

 

[DCreed]

that is correct, but he was looking for custom so...

 

[JHenry]

I want to thank everyone for their input on the gauge dilemma. I finally settled on the pillar mount from Geno's, adorned with pyrometer, trans. temp. , and fuel pressure. Well, the fuel pressure came with a white face, and I ordered them all in black, but it will go in when it gets here. It really isn't as imposing as I thought. And I'm glad to be able to have the pyro gauge at eye level (top). They are all easy to see and read. JH