Gauges In The Drinkholder

[DRR-24V]

I am not wild about the Pillar Mounts. I tried to put 3 gauges in the Drinkholder space and it is very tight. ! I am obviously doing something wrong. I copied the setup in an old TDR post. HELP!!

 

[DennyDay]

Tight ain't the correct word. I tried it on my '94 and figured they must have used gauges smaller than 2 inch. Gave up and mounted them on top of the dash, and put a switch panel where the cup holders were. I figured the only way was to cut some structure from the dash, and I wanted to put the cup holder back when I traded.

 

[DRR-24V]

That's what I went through. If I trimmed out enough plastic for them to fit then the cupholder (if reinstalled) would not have anything to anchor to. The US Gears dash mount is looking better and better. Thanks.

 

[Joe G.]

Denny,



Did you find some way to light up your switch panel? I put a switch panel there but can't find a lighting system that will work and not look like he11.

 

[DennyDay]

Joe G. Yes! sounds tough but it isn't



When I mounted the panel I had about 1/2 inch of space at the top between the switch plate and the dash bezel.

I took a piece of 1/8 inch X 1/2" X 1/2" aluminum angle about 4 inches long, two marker light bulbs (the kind that have the wire loop contacts) wired them in series, ( they lit at 1/2 brightness which is plenty) one wire to groung and one to the panel light fuse. I used a small wire tie to hold each bulb in place, and double face taped the angle to the top of the switch panel. This was just enough light to see switches, and find my coffee cup in the new floor mount cup holder.

 

[Joe G.]

Thanks, Denny.



That gives me a couple of ideas. There is a gap between the top of my panel and the bezel that can't be seen. I can rig a couple of those small bulbs to the dash so they are hidden by the bezel. My panel is rigged so I can unplug and remove it easily if I want to work on it so I would not want to mount the bulbs on it. Wiring them in series so there is only a dim glow! Good idea.

 

[DRR-24V]

Thanks guy's for your input. I gave up and ordered the US Gear Dash Pod today. The price is right and it looks good. With it mounted with velcro I can remove it if I have to.

 

[DieselB59]

I know I'm jumping into this a little late in the topic, but my friend works at a Dodge dealer and he took his 2001 automatic equipped truck and put a stickshift floor console in it and bought a trim panel and used it to fill in the hole, then mounted two gauges in it. It was really a great idea, gives the truck a professional, unique look.