1st Gen Gauge Pod Options - With pics!

[RSchwarzli]

As our trucks get older, more and more info and access to parts are lost.



As many people who are new to the 1st gen world are interested in the performance aspects of these old trucks, I thought it might be nice for them to see what gauge mount options are good for these trucks.



The following are the pods in my 1990:



A pillar:



The following A pillar pod consists of a single and a double. As there is no triple pod made for a first gen, I thought I would make my own.



I started with the dual pod on the bottom, sanded about a 1/16" of the plastic off the top to make it a flat surface, then took the single pod and took about 1/8" off the bottom so that it would fit under the trip. This is the result:



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Both of these pods are still available from places like Genos.











Dash Pods



This is the dash pod that was originally available through many distributors, but has since been discontinued. It came shaped to the dash specifically made for first gens, and was available as a 3, 4 or 5 pod unit. I believe these were made by US Gear and also by Banks.





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Also available, was a four pod unit. Thanks to JDiehl, I managed to get this one a few months ago as I needed room for more gauges! This has also been discontinued.





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Roof Pod



This is actually a 3rd gen roof pod that mounts over the rear view mirror. Please note this is NOT an easy install and requires extensive pod mods as well as headliner mods. The key to making this work is cutting approx 1" off both sides and then sculpting the sides to the same reverse curve the roof/headliner of the first gen is. The reason for cutting an approx 2x4" section of headliner and foam out is to create a indent for the back sides of the gauge. As the sides will be cut down so much, the back end of the gauge sticks out over the top edge line of the pod by about 3/4". Cutting the headliner solves this. To attach it to the roof, drill 4 holes in the bod bottom and get 4" long screws that go all the way through the pod and into the inner roof sheetmetal. Be careful, if you have clearance lights you may end up in that general area. Dont ask how I know this! Then just bolt it up. I ran the wires under the pass A pillar (drivers is full from the a pillar gauges) and then under the front headliner retainer trim. Budda bing! Its done!



Yes, the pod is available from Genos.



The start:

Notice autometer gauges do not fit!



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Some cutting:



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Test before paint:



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End result:





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To give an idea of what the A pillar and dash look like together, here is a shot:



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I will work on a shot of the roof pod, 4 dash, and a pillar all together now that it is all in.



For those that will ask, the gauges are as follows:



A pillar - trans temp, oil psi, coolant temp

Dash - tach, pryo, boost, exhaust back pressure

Roof - Diff temp, air tank PSI, Gear vendors temp

 

[JDiehl]

Looks great!



Thanks for posting

 

[RSchwarzli]

No. Thank YOU for the pod!

 

[RSchwarzli]

Here we go! Fresh off the pres... . err, I mean camera!



This is eye level of the driver and what is seen. Yes, you do sit high. I put in a 3" seat lift kit!



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[Bob Beauchaine]

You can also get more mileage out of a single guage by using a SPDT switch to read two sources. I've got one gauge that can read either the trans or the rear diff with the flip of a switch. I also added a volt gauge. I did this because this past summer my alternator went bad causing the loss of both batteries and a low voltage loss at the starter - causing it to have to be rebuilt. I don't know how long the alt was out and without the need for lights it took quite a while to run down my batteries. At least now I can be sure I'm getting 13. 5 - 14 volts at the battery. BTW that guage can read bat volts runnng or prior to start-up - SPDT sw.



Thanks for the pics and post Robert



Bob

 

[HHhuntitall]

Dang, now I got guage envy. First it was truck envy, then shop envy (just because you can actually walk around in yours!!!), and now, I got guage envy... . sheesh. I'm gonna have to get my backside to work... well, play. . whatever.



The overhead guages are a nice touch. That's well thought out, I like it. I made one years ago for a '92 I had out of oak, and ran some string lights down each side, guages above the mirror, and a CB just back of them..... I hated the dang thing. I'm too tall for anything to be hanging off the roof, I found it!! I'd have to have a sunroof if you raised my seat 3"!!! Good job, keep posting the pics!!

 

[Greenleaf]

You really need help my man. I believe you have a gauge fetish! Sakes alive... ... ... ... ... ...



edit; I just realized that you are missing a few... ... .



Power Steering Pressure

Power Steering Oil Temp

Engine Oil Temp

Tire PSI

 

[RSchwarzli]

You can also get more mileage out of a single guage by using a SPDT switch to read two sources. I've got one gauge that can read either the trans or the rear diff with the flip of a switch. I also added a volt gauge. I did this because this past summer my alternator went bad causing the loss of both batteries and a low voltage loss at the starter - causing it to have to be rebuilt. I don't know how long the alt was out and without the need for lights it took quite a while to run down my batteries. At least now I can be sure I'm getting 13. 5 - 14 volts at the battery. BTW that guage can read bat volts runnng or prior to start-up - SPDT sw.



Thanks for the pics and post Robert



Bob

Yes. that was another option I considered for the crew cab. As I have 22 or 23 gauges in there, I may run into needing that!

Dang, now I got guage envy. First it was truck envy, then shop envy (just because you can actually walk around in yours!!!), and now, I got guage envy... . sheesh. I'm gonna have to get my backside to work... well, play. . whatever.

LOL. The shop was a multi year build. As you can see, the funds still are not there to finish the walls. It was a little over budget so it never got finished. Oh well, one day! At least it has a roof on it!



As for gauge envy, that can be fixed with less funds than the shop!

The overhead guages are a nice touch. That's well thought out, I like it. I made one years ago for a '92 I had out of oak, and ran some string lights down each side, guages above the mirror, and a CB just back of them..... I hated the dang thing. I'm too tall for anything to be hanging off the roof, I found it!! I'd have to have a sunroof if you raised my seat 3"!!! Good job, keep posting the pics!!

Yeah, I was concerned with the hang down too. These are not bad. Nice and out of the way.



The lift. Yeah. There may be a small dent in the headliner. I am 6'2" but mostly leg. Needed to lift it to get away from the pedals. I have had to tell the occational passenger to shlump down though! :-laf

You really need help my man. I believe you have a gauge fetish! Sakes alive... ... ... ... ... ...



edit; I just realized that you are missing a few... ... .



Power Steering Pressure

Power Steering Oil Temp

Engine Oil Temp

Tire PSI

Yes! I do have a gauge fetish!



Engine oil temp will be the next one. Would like to know where that sits.



Tire psi, I already have started working on that for the crew cab with its trailer tire monitoring system. Might tie the truck into that as well.

 

[BBeckmann]

Hey could u r someone pm me where u get a tach signal on a 1st gen trk? The flywheel? And can i use just whatever tach i want?

 

[RSchwarzli]

Most aftermarket diesel tachs run either off the crank damper (magnetic, notch style, etc), or a few even run off of the alternator.



What type of tach you trying to use?

 

[Shadrach]

I'm sure you could modify this?

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or this?

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I've seen these modified for 1st gens

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There have been guys on here mounted 2 or 3 gauges in the spot where the

"wait to start " info is and moved the lights down to where the cargo light button is. I had three up in there on my 84 crew cab but it was 2WD and V8 powered so all I lost was the map light. Not as fancy as some but it worked for me.



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If you look closely you'll see that the radio is not stock. I bought it from the dealer new as a take out. It's an AM/FM/Cass/CD and is the same one in my 2000 Cherokee. I had to file the bezel at the top for the power and eject buttons, but that was easy. It bolted right in. I needed the proper plugs for the back, but got them from the self serve wreckers.



BTW Robert that is not a 1st gen rear view mirror in the picture. What's it from?



Shadrach

 

[RSchwarzli]

Nice pics of your gauges there sir!

Yes, those spots can be cut into the cargo light or where the power mirrors switch should go. Will get pics of that. I have more gauges there too!

That mirror is a compass, exterior temp, auto dimming unit. They were available through places like Cabellas, JC Whitney, Bass Pro Shops, etc. Have had this one in there for about 7 years and no issues other than my placement of the temp probe a little too close to the rad. Was in a snow storm the first year I had it and I was told it was 78 F outside the truck!

 

[HHhuntitall]

Isspro makes a vast number of guages in just about any setup and color you want. They'll even make custom colors, ranges, contrasts, whatever you want. They have quite a few alternator tachs: ISSPRO Product Categories



Secondly, they make a magnetic pickup tach, driven off magnets placed on the crank. They make one specifically for the Dodges. Here is their magnetic sending unit kit: ISSPRO Product Categories I have installed several of these on the older trucks, and they seem to be pretty reliable as long as you are certain to get the magnets stuck on a good surface, evenly. I even have two still in stock. One is planned for my '85 4x4 D350 short bed... ... . The Energizer Truck I call it. The project just keeps going and going and going..... and I don't have near the time Robert does in his!!!!



In recent days, I've seen the alternator tach drive, and I'm not sure which one I plan on using, now. I like both, but always like to have my signal from the crank. Paranoid I guess.

 

[RSchwarzli]

Here is the last pic. This is where the power mirror switch is normally!



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[BBeckmann]

Thanks for the replys and link 2 the isspro gauges wasn't sure whch one to use and didn't know if i could use a gas tach if hookt up to the alt.

 

[JLEONARD]

Here is the last pic.

You are now enetered into the Guiness book of world records for most add on gauges in a Dodge 1st gen.

 

[RSchwarzli]

Here is the last pic.

You are now enetered into the Guiness book of world records for most add on gauges in a Dodge 1st gen.

Wait till you see the crew cabs cockpit!:-laf

 

[MJLee]

Now heres a cockpit.....complete with altimeter:

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[RSchwarzli]

Lol. That's funny!

 

[HHhuntitall]

Hey, I like the heck out of that!! What is that? An old '70s truck? Big block RB, I hope!! That's a good start!! You still gotta ways to go... ...



Tachometer, hour meter, speedometer? Yep.

Fuel pressure, boost, volt meter? Yep.

Engine oil pressure, temperature? Yep.

transmission temp, water temp, exhaust temp? Yep

Rear axle temp? Yep, got two of those!:-laf

Air pressure? Sure, front tank, rear tank, or applied brake?

Outside air temp, cabin air temp? Sure!

Fuel guage? Yep, which tank? (Two circuit switch for that one!)

And with the clock, you'll know what time it is when you get pulled over!!

And you want to fly? Just keep ratcheting that long handle to your right..... The Troopers WILL notice when the Cat purrs by! I've helped several officers put new paper in their printers... .



Ok, so I cheated, but when you get another million on yours, you let me know!!