Guages - column or a-pillar

[Mathew Clausen]

Trying to decide between column or a-pillar mount for the '03. I had a-pillar on my 01 and liked it - but am thinking the column mount would be even better. I have pictures of both - but just looking for some feedback. Anybody seen both yet? I will be installing 2 gauges (boost/pyro).



Thanks



Mathew

 

[David Muench]

IMHO, I tried the column mount on my 2001 and didn't like it. It just got in the way of too many indicators on the dash for my comfort. That and the Westach gauges in it hit the steering wheel (dunno if they fixed that in the 2003 column mount). I've got a 3 gauge pillar in my 2001, and if no one comes out with a 3 gauge dash mount soon for the '03, I may go pillar again.

 

[Fireman]

I've heard that the new A pillar mounts dn't fit very well. Does ayone out there have any firsthand experence?

Fireman

 

[Casey Balvert]

Does anyone know if a two inch guage will fit the Laramie cubby hole between the seat heat switches? I think the cubby is narrower than the SLT because of the different heater control layout. Better yet, anyone actually installed guages in a Laramie cubby and have picture? Cheers all.



Casey

 

[Prairie Dog]

Check out Big Mack's rig. He's got gages and a brake controller mounted in there, and it looks great.

 

[dan.poitras]

Originally posted by fireman56

I've heard that the new A pillar mounts dn't fit very well. Does ayone out there have any firsthand experence?



I just installed a 3 guage pillar mount from diesel power products

comes prepainted to your colour and is a good fit as far as I'm concerned. Also installed the espar today, a challenge compared to the 96.

 

[nickleinonen]

Originally posted by dan. poitras

Originally posted by fireman56

I've heard that the new A pillar mounts dn't fit very well. Does ayone out there have any firsthand experence?



I just installed a 3 guage pillar mount from diesel power products

comes prepainted to your colour and is a good fit as far as I'm concerned. Also installed the espar today, a challenge compared to the 96.

do you have any pictures of your gauges installed?

 

[dan.poitras]

Nick

Sorry but I don't have access to a digital camera but I took a second look at it and noticed you can see the back of the guages

from the outside of the windshield. so I guess the fit isn't as good as I thought it was. I guess I can black out the edge of the windshield when it warms up. It's -15C outside right now.

The espar is purring like a kitten

 

[Car_nut57]

Originally posted by fireman56

I've heard that the new A pillar mounts dn't fit very well. Does ayone out there have any firsthand experence?



Fireman

You are right about the fit. If you remove the factory pillar and install the pod you can see the back of the gauges through the winshield and it looks terrible. We have found that if you use the gauge pod as a cover rather than a replacement the installation looks much better. See the photo.

 

[AggieJustin]

As for being able to see the behind the pillar when looking from the front, I had a similar problem with my a-pillar in my '01.



What I did was add a second screw to the top to pull in that edge. I have one screw in the top on the edge closest to the door to hold the pillar up, then another screw on the top edge closest to the windshield. Depending on how much I tighten that screw I was able to pull that edge of the pillar up closer to the frame. Now the pillar is hidden behind the windshield edge, and also opened up more of my field of view.



Not sure if this will work on the '03s, but I figured I'd throw the idea out there.

 

[Fireman]

Good idea Car nut!



Fireman

 

[Steve G]

Originally posted by Car_nut57

You are right about the fit. If you remove the factory pillar and install the pod you can see the back of the gauges through the winshield and it looks terrible. We have found that if you use the gauge pod as a cover rather than a replacement the installation looks much better. See the photo.

Carnut forgive me, but I'm a little confused. Are you saying that the gauge pod fits over stock with the grab handle?



Steve

 

[Car_nut57]

Originally posted by Steve G

Carnut forgive me, but I'm a little confused. Are you saying that the gauge pod fits over stock with the grab handle?



Steve

Yes, we found that by cutting off the handle flush with the pillar surface the gauge pod fits better as a cover than it does on its own. If you have one of these pods in hand you will see that the edge towards the windshield flares out just a little which makes it fit just over the edge of the factory rubber seal tot he windshield. So when we paint the pod we also paint the edge and part of the back on the windshield side.



We have also put together detailed instructions for gauge installation for the 2003 trucks for fuel pressure, boost and Pyro. For those installing gauges light illumination can be gotten from the wiring harness off the back of the headlight switch. It is a bundle of several wires in a black mesh. The orange wire with the white tracer is the gauge illumination wire. I hope this information helps.

 

[Mathew Clausen]

I ended up going with the column mount from DD (Autometer). It fit pretty well except for some trimming required in the area going under the main dash bezel. There is a hump behind each gauge for wires to run, and it is too tall to fit under the bezel. Looks OK trimmed though.



The guage position does block some of the digital displays under the speedo and tack, but you can see the center warning light display without trouble.



Overall I am very happy with it. I will try to post some pics in the next couple of days.



Mathew

 

[jdh63]

Which Gauges

Mathew,



Did you buy the autometer pyro and boost gauges from DD to put in the column pod? I was thinking of buying the dual column pod from DD and installing the Westach combo boost/pyro and Westach trans temp gauge. Do you think there would be any interference between the steering wheel and the Westach gauges? Thanks for your help.

 

[Mathew Clausen]

I used Isspro EV gauges, and actually left the ~1/8" rubber spacer that they come with (spaces the gauge out a little) and still have good clearance to the wheel. Not sure of the Westach gauge thickness - but I think it would have to be very large to hit anything.



I'll get a picture and measurements tonight for clearance to the wheel.



Does anybody know if a blue bulb cover will make the backlight match the factory color. I used green and it doesn't match. The factory gauges actaully look aqua - maybe I can use a blue with a green if it doesn't get too dim?



Mathew

 

[jdh63]

Light

You could try a clear light bulb with a thin coat of navigation green model paint. That paint color looks close to the gauge back lighting. I don't know if it will work but it's a thought, FWIW.

Thanks for the info on the column pod. I think I am going to order the column pod and the Westach gauges. If they don't fit then I'll just get a pillar mount.

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

How about a A pillar pod for 2 guages that keeps the factory grab handle. That is what I really want to find. Not to crazy about the idea of cutting it off



Also anyone know of white face guages that are back lit through the #'s and light needle to resemble the stock guages?

 

[Car_nut57]

Originally posted by bgreener

How about a A pillar pod for 2 guages that keeps the factory grab handle. That is what I really want to find. Not to crazy about the idea of cutting it off



Also anyone know of white face guages that are back lit through the #'s and light needle to resemble the stock guages?

We have the 2-gauge pillar pods in stock and paint them the light Taupe to match the pillar color. The white face Di-Pricol gauges are the closest match we have seen to the 2003 factory gauges. the numers and hash marks are illuminated as well as the indicators needles which are orange.

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

Originally posted by Car_nut57

We have the 2-gauge pillar pods in stock and paint them the light Taupe to match the pillar color. The white face Di-Pricol gauges are the closest match we have seen to the 2003 factory gauges. the numers and hash marks are illuminated as well as the indicators needles which are orange.

Does the 2 gauge mount leave the grab handle then? Do you have any pictures of one installed?



I just been doin some searching for gauges. I can find all kinds of nice white faced back lit green with red pointers. Problem is that they are all metric for them darn nice burner cars, grrrrrrr.



I would really like to see a picture of one of the 2 pod pillar mounts installed if anyone has one, a picture is worth a thousand word ya know