Alternative Gauge Install Location

[grabinov]

Alright,



This is my first post. How about an alternative way to mount three guages? This one is good for Auto trans Laramie folks with the electric 4wd shifter. This configuration leaves you with a big flat floor which is not good for anything but feet. I added the center floor console from the manual transmission truck, and mounted three gauges in it.



I had to modify the factory cup holder a little bit (OK, a bunch) and the console itself, but I was able to get a perfect fit like the one the manual trans model would have. Then I added a flat panel and covered it with leather, mounted the gauges and tightened it all down. You will see in the photo that I still haven't figured out what to do with the hole where the trans shifter boot goes, but I think I'm going to put another pocket there. (The brown wire that can be seen in the photo goes through the trans tunnel straight to the trans temp gauge. )



Now I have a place to put my cell phone and my keys, and a place for my gauges. Granted, I have to look down to see them, but I'm not drag racing the thing anyway. On the freeway in California (at 5mph) there is plenty of time to look around. We'll see if I still like it in 10,000 miles!

 

[StephenThomas]

Grabinov -- very nice job! The creativity that I find from some of you on this board never fails to amaze me. I have a Laramie and I just can't get myself to pull the trigger on my gauges yet. For some reason I just can't make up my mind on how I want them mounted. Now I have yet another option. Are those the new DiProcols??

 

[grabinov]

They are the new DiPricols, from DPP (www.dieselpowerproducts.com). The guys there were very helpful, and their kit comes with everything you need, right down to the wire connectors. They had good advice about tapping the manifold (tape the exhaust, get everything ready, drill and tap before it gets too hot).



I mounted the EGT on top, the Boost in the center (the easiest position to read) and the trans temp on the bottom. So far so good...

 

[SBashaw]

so what temp does you transmission run? mine never seems to get over 120* but so far its always been cold or rainning when I had a long drive.

 

[grabinov]

Same problem. It has been 45 - 55 degrees and pouring rain (in California believe it or not) since I got the thing installed. I have been wondering whether it's even working. It barely moves off the post.

 

[ThomasLawrence]

Same problem. It has been 45 - 55 degrees and pouring rain (in California believe it or not) since I got the thing installed. I have been wondering whether it's even working. It barely moves off the post.

Unscrew the fitting, make up a ground wire with a couple of alligator clips, ground the sender to the truck, and hold a heat gun or a hair dryer to it. That's how I verified mine was working properly. Of course, about 10 seconds of power-braking the transmission will show you if it's working or not, as well

 

[DF5152]

nice job i had though of this a while back and was going to use a cosole mount from autometer but have not gotten toit as of yet. what kind of modifications did u have tomake to the cup holder how much room is there under the guages how much room is there when u lower the bup holder how does the assembly mount to the floor?

 

[grabinov]

DF5152,



To the cup holder: If you pull off the plastic faceplate under the cup holder (it pulls right off) you'll see that the frame for the cup holder has a series of extrusions that extend toward the back of the truck. I had to shave these down. I suppose my cupholder has now lost some of its structural integrity - be careful with the Big Gulps.



To the Console: I had to cut back the end of the console so that it would extend around the factory cup holder. I'm not sure what is in place of the cup holder on the manual trans truck, but it must be a simpler part with fewer plastic supports. (See photo)



There is just enough room under the console to fit the gauges. The boost gauge with its plastic tubing which can't be kinked is the tightest fit. The factory cup holder still works fine, but it blocks one of the new console's cup holders when it is down. I now have four cup holders, but I can't use more than three at a time - (I'm not sure what future problems this may cause!) The console is screwed into the floor using the factory mounts for the console. I did have to cut one of them (toward the rear of the truck) shorter. The manual trans truck may not have carpet under the console so it requires a longer mount, but I was afraid to cut my carpet away!



ThomasLawrence: Thanks for the idea, I'll try it and see if that works. When I tried it in my shop before mounting it (dipped in a pot of boiling water), I didn't know that the gauge and the sender had too have a common ground.



Greg

 

[ThomasLawrence]

The boost gauge with its plastic tubing which can't be kinked is the tightest fit.

Couldn't you put a 90° elbow on the back of the gauge?



-Tom

 

[grabinov]

Genius. I never even thought of it!

 

[cannongeorge]

grabinov, thanks for a great idea!



I've ordered the new Autometer dash 3 gauge pod from Geno's, but I still need more room to mount additional gauges. Your solution may work out well.



The factory cup holder now seems a bit redundant; I need to mount a pair of radio faceplates, (VHF and UHF); anybody out there ever replaced the drop-down cup holder with a radio panel?

 

[Red Ramrod]

I did a similar type of mounting. I put (left to right) brake controller, front shock gauge, shock controls, rear shock gauge, air bag controls, rear air bag gauge. It all fit nicely without taking up much floor space.

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[Brian-NX9O]

Red Ramrod - Where did you get the lower surround piece that you mounted everything into?

 

[StephenThomas]

Red Ramrod..... nice job! Does that interfere with the opening/closing of the cupholders?

 

[Red Ramrod]

Stephen,



The gauges do not interfere with the cup holders. You just can not see the right two gauges with the cup holder down. It doesn't matter for me since they are suspension gauges.



Brian,



I bought mine from Lowe's Hardware for about $15 - some assembly required. First I made a template out of cardboard - separate pieces for the front and sides. Once happy with the fit I folded it taped the pieces together and folded out flat. Then traced this pattern onto a 1'x2' piece of 22ga sheet metal. Then cut it out and bent into shape. Made a few welds added bondo and paint. Instant gauge pod. Not all that difficult.



The angle of the gauges makes them easy to read with the cup holder up. The nice thing is you can just cut out whatever holes you want to mount about anything.

 

[FParlee]

Great ideas!

To both grabinov and red ramrod.



Both of those installs are sweet. I think you guys have just given me the answers to my guage problem



Thanks!



Fred

 

[SBashaw]

Redram,

Are your seat covers really ?RED ?

 

[Red Ramrod]

Originally posted by SBashaw

Redram,

Are your seat covers really ?RED ?

Yes, love'm or hate'm.

Pics are in my readers gallery in the interior photos gallery.