A-pillar vs. Dash Pod

[TKilgore]

I am trying to decide which one to get and have a few questions.

1. What has to be modified on the stock A-pillar cover to use the "replacement"?

2. Of those using the Dash Pod, where did you route the wires and hoses?

3. Are all the A-Pillar "replacements" on the market the same? If not, which one is the best?

Thanks
Tom

 

[Dieselnerd]

I use the dash pod although I think the pillar looks better. It wasn't widely available at the time I installed my pod. The hose is about the same size as the wires so there is no problem tucking them all around the edge of the dash, then under and through the firewall.

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Ron

'96 Club Cab 2500 4x4, 4:10LS, Camper/Tow package, Auto, TST 230/605, Cat Test Pipe, Cummins Chrome, Dowel pin fix, Mag-Hytec rear and trans covers, Boost, Pyro and trans gauges, Optima Red Tops, Rancho 9000's, All black. Tow 14k HitchHiker triple glide 5th Wheel. Also use 9. 5' Lance camper. NRA Life Member.

 

[hammong]

See the current thread in this group for some additional comments on my recent (yesterday) A-pillar installation.

Basically, the A-pillar dual-gauge replacement from Autometer, as obtained from Geno's, fit just fine and looks great! The instructions from Autometer say to destroy your factory pillar by cutting holes in it, or grinding off the tweeter mount if you have one. The supplement from Geno's listed an alternative method of mounting the pillar, and drilling a hole and inserting a single screw to secure the pillar. The second method worked good for me! I'm just going to paint the screw head black to match, and you'll hardly notice it.

Greg


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Y2K Dodge Cummins QC 2500 SLT Laramie 4x4 Long Bed, 4. 10/Auto, Forest Green/Driftwood, 265x75R16 Michelin LTX, 6 speaker CD, Camper/Tow/Plow Packages, Westin Black Nerfs, Mopar bedliner, Ultra bright diamondplate toolbox, K&N Filtercharger. Autometer EGT and Boost gauges with 2-gauge full pillar w/tweeter.
http://www.rints.com/hammond for photos!

 

[BarryG]

I also used the Autometer A pillar from Genos and installed it as a replacement. It came out great. Plenty of room for the wiring and switches if needed. I placed the screw between the top gauge mount and the middle gauge mount I put a spacer on the screw as well between the A pillar and the inside of the mount. So you really have to look to even see it and it is very solid. I have the agate interior, used DC's paint on it and no it is not a perfect match but I don't even notice the slight difference in color.

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2001. 5 2500HD, SLT, 4X4, QC, LB, Dark Garnet Red, Auto, 3:54's, LSD, Tow pkg, Camper pkg, Amsoil dual bypass w/billet adapter & SS lines, Amsoiled, Smittybuilt side bars, Mag-Hytec Trans pan & Diff cover, Line-X bedliner, Triple SPA's in the A pillar

 

[drag racer]

I have both the Auto Meter dual gage pillar and the dash pod, and am very happy with them. The wires for the pod can be totally hidden in the trough along the base of the dash/windshield interface (it helps even more to hide them if you have a dash mat). If you take the time to install them correctly and paint them with the factory matching interior paint, they almost look like a factory installed option (I've had several comments along those lines).

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'99 3500 QC, 4x2, AT, 4. 10 LSD Dana 80, towing/camping package, Mag-Hytec DD trans. pan and rear cover, Auto Meter gages w/ pillar and dash pod, Cobra CB, Air Lift SD air springs, Glasstite camper shell

 

[dresslered]

drag racer-
I have the same set-up as you (dash pod and double pillar). The paint that I got from the dealer matched the dash perfectly and I used it on the dash pod. However, the tan interior uses a lighter color on the pillars. There is no pain available for this color. What did you do?

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David Dressler
2001 Driftwood 3500 Quad Cab 4x4, 155 inch WB, HO Cummins ETH/DEE, SLT+, 3. 54 LSD, Camper Special, Trailer Tow, Heated Leather, Sliding Window, Jacob's E-Brake, Rhino Liner, VDO Vision (pyro, boost, engine + diff. temp. ), Autometer Ultra-Lite (electric fuel pressure, vacuum), Weather Guard Diamond Plate Saddle Box, Tork Lift camper tie-downs, Mag-Hytec, Mopar Tow Hooks, SmittyBilt Outland Sport Bumper Gaurd, 2-LO kit, AND functional Halo light!
Bigfoot 3000 10. 11 Slide-in Camper. "Do it in a Dually"

 

[Thomas]

David,

Try this number at your local Mopar parts counter:

04864437 - Camel

It matches my pillar perfectly.

The dash color is 05003524 - Dark Tan

 

[drag racer]

David,

I have the "agate" interior, and my dash and pillar are basically the same color, so I used the Mopar paint on both items.

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'99 3500 QC, 4x2, AT, 4. 10 LSD Dana 80, towing/camping package, Mag-Hytec DD trans. pan and rear cover, Auto Meter gages w/ pillar and dash pod, Cobra CB, Air Lift SD air springs, Glasstite camper shell

 

[TKilgore]

Thanks for the replies. I think I will start with the A-pillar and knowing me, will probably need the Dash Pod also (I like gauges!)
Tom

 

[Thomas]

David,

Trim code DZK9 here too. Window sticker lists interior color as Camel/Tan.


Thomas

 

[dresslered]

Thomas! Thank you kindly. You saved me a big headache. I just looked at my paint can and it is the 05003524AA (dark tan) that I used on the dash pod. I will now put in an order for the 04864437 (camel) for the pillar. Again, thanks a bunch,

David

P. S. Nice color scheme you got there!

 

[dresslered]

Hey thanks Thomas. One last item to mention is that my trim color is DZK9. Is this the same as yours?

David

 

[SteveE]

Originally posted by TVKilgore:
I am trying to decide which one to get and have a few questions.

1. What has to be modified on the stock A-pillar cover to use the "replacement"?
Small hole to put wires and boost line through.
Added rivnuts to A pillar to enable me to screw the Dual Pod Pillar Mount on.

2. Of those using the Dash Pod, where did you route the wires and hoses?
Behind the parking brake up to "A" pillar.

3. Are all the A-Pillar "replacements" on the market the same? If not, which one is the best?

Thanks
Tom

TST Di Pricol gauges and dual pod pillar mount.
Steve 2001. 5 ETH/DEE QC LB 4X4
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[This message has been edited by Stevee (edited 05-20-2001). ]

 

[DennyDay]

Question--- I've got a bullet mount for my pyro/boost and thinking about a pillar mount. I sat in a truck up in Conn. last week, didn't drive it, but I had a hard time refocusing from the road to the gages. Anybody had this problem? Maybe I need trifocals now!

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Denny
'99 2500 4X4 White short Q cab to much added to put here
On Order- Mom's Ram 2001 Qcab CTD with auto trans and all the bells and whistles

 

[Brandon]

click on sig and go to photo album, i have pics of both


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Danelle's Dodge

 

[rotohead]

Originally posted by C. D. Day:
Question--- ... . I had a hard time refocusing from the road to the gages. Anybody had this problem? Maybe I need trifocals now!

Mount the EGT gauge in the bottom hole, boost in the middle, A/T temp in top. Then practice alittle. Pilots learn to adjust their focus and to a certain extent you can get better at it. Also learn when to look and which reading is the most important at the time and learn to look at only that gauge then back to the road. I have a-pillar and mounted it with double-sided 3M tape. Has held very well for over a year.

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'98. 5 2500 QC ISB 4x4 SLT, Auto DTT TC & VB, JRE 4" exhaust w/5"Tip, DD II's w/Module&Elbow, VA box, Rancho 9000's w/in cab adjust, Mag-Hytec trans&diff covers, Jacobs E-Brake w/BD autoloc, trans temp, boost & EGT gauges, 2Low Kit, Air Horns, Catz MSX, Drawtite Front Hitch, Brite Box, Steel Horse Billet Grilles, AirBullDog hood induction system, Brandon's stainless steel fuel lines, Intake heater system saver

[This message has been edited by rotohead (edited 05-20-2001). ]