A-pillar Pod Gauges

[BigDirtyJase]

Hey guys,

I'm just about to pick my S2 Stagea i just purchased this week. Now i don't the the single din 3 gauge cluster that some stageas have (don't even know if that's an optional extra) i was thinking about getting a 2 or 3 pod A-Pillar one. From what I've been told is that the R34 A-Pillar pods are the same for the S2 Stagea. Is that true??

Now preferably I would like to get the single din version, where can i buy the stock cluster or should i go all out and get the Defi Din Gauge setup

Edited January 6, 2008 by BigDirtyJase

[Xmetal]

Can't comment on the Nissan DIN gauges but the Defi DIN gauges are a much better option for your application since you'd prefer to avoid pillar-mounting gauges, the Defi DIN cluster doesn't need a control unit like the standard Defi gauges do and pillar-mounting gauges generally doesn't look too good from a Legal point of view as opposed to the DIN cluster.

My choice would be the Defi DIN cluster.

[GoldZilla]

The only problem with the Defi DIN cluster is that you can't choose which gauges are fitted in them, so I went to the hassle and expense of choosing my own gauges, the controller and making a holder for my Oil Temp, Exhaust Temp and Oil Pressure meters.

[BigDirtyJase]

The Defi gauges look awesome but I have to agree with Goldzilla you don't get a choice of gauges. I might just go get my own choice of gauges but i still want to mount it in the din slot (keep it clean and good in a legal standpoint)

What do you guys think about the JJR 3 Gauge Din Holder and has anyone installed it in their stagea? Is there anyone else that makes a din one

[rb26stagea]

Have you checked out mearcat's pods?

I have the single guage a-pillar holder installed, and it looks great because it's moulded. I'm also going to put the dual guage pod in (replaces the clock in the dash).

It's not a din-fit solution, but his stuff is quite good, and it's relatively cheap.

check him out: www.mearcat.com.au I think the website is. He is on these forums under the username mearcat as well...

[rubba]

I am about to go the a pillar mearcat setup, how have you run the boost line and wiring? Just from looking it seems like its placed over the top vent up in the corner which would be an ideal location to run the stuff through.

Question is how to get the stuff into the vent from below?

[rb26stagea]

I am about to go the a pillar mearcat setup, how have you run the boost line and wiring? Just from looking it seems like its placed over the top vent up in the corner which would be an ideal location to run the stuff through.

Question is how to get the stuff into the vent from below?

It definitely runs thru the vent but I copped out and had my mechanic install it, so I'm not too sure how he ran it behind the dash.

I seem to remember he had fiddled with the coin/storage compartment in the dash, underneath that vent, but that's all I know...

Hope that helps: sorry about the lack of detail!

[GoldZilla]

The Defi gauges look awesome but I have to agree with Goldzilla you don't get a choice of gauges. I might just go get my own choice of gauges but i still want to mount it in the din slot (keep it clean and good in a legal standpoint)

What do you guys think about the JJR 3 Gauge Din Holder and has anyone installed it in their stagea? Is there anyone else that makes a din one

Jase, the JJR DIN holder doesn't fit - I bought one for my car when I got my Defi's, and it's way too wide for the slot in the dash. I went and got a cut-off piece of polyethylene and drilled (and then filed) three holes into it for mine. It's not perfect, but it turned out alright.

As you can see, I put the Link Controller unit in the place of the ashtray, but haven't decided what else I'll put there (if anything) to fill the gap.

I also bought a single-gauge clock replacement pod from Mearcat for my boost gauge, and it looks great.

[rb26stagea]

Jase, the JJR DIN holder doesn't fit - I bought one for my car when I got my Defi's, and it's way too wide for the slot in the dash. I went and got a cut-off piece of polyethylene and drilled (and then filed) three holes into it for mine. It's not perfect, but it turned out alright.

As you can see, I put the Link Controller unit in the place of the ashtray, but haven't decided what else I'll put there (if anything) to fill the gap.

I also bought a single-gauge clock replacement pod from Mearcat for my boost gauge, and it looks great.

I have the double gusge one, which I'm yet to install: what's the reflection like? Is it an issue? I noticed the clock surround actually has a small lip to stop the clock reflecting on the windscreen, and the mearcat centre pod doesn't. This has been the only thing holding me back from putting mine in...

[GoldZilla]

It's actually not too bad, Micah, as far as I've noticed. I was tempted to get a gauge hood for it (the Defi one), but I figured I'd see how it was first and then decide if I'd need it. So far, so good.

[rubba]

You can actually buy little plastic visors from mearcat now, maybe that is something to look at getting if you are worried about reflection/sun fading the gauge face.

Gauge Visors – ABS plastic

Keeps sunlight off the gauge face. Easy install – simply slips over gauge body.

Available for 52mm & 60mm gauges.

[GoldZilla]

The Defi visor looks almost exactly like that too.

[MearCat]

The Defi visor looks almost exactly like that too.

Except that Defi charge 3 times as much as me

[BigDirtyJase]

Mearcat - does you a-pillar gauge cover the tweeter on the pillar

[rb26stagea]

Mearcat - does you a-pillar gauge cover the tweeter on the pillar

No, it doesn't: just the top corner vent: plenty of tweeter clearance

[BigDirtyJase]

Cool, I may have send Meercat a message for an a-pillar pod

I still want to put gauges in the din slot...what would be the best materials to use to build a din cluster (most likely I'm going to put 2 60mm gauges in there) and where can I buy it from

Edited January 11, 2008 by BigDirtyJase

[GoldZilla]

Cool, I may have send Meercat a message for an a-pillar pod

I still want to put gauges in the din slot...what would be the best materials to use to build a din cluster (most likely I'm going to put 2 60mm gauges in there) and where can I buy it from

Just go to a place that deals in and works with a lot of plastics, and just ask them if they've got any offcuts of black polyethylene roughly 180mm x 60mm x 10mm. You'll have to trim and file it down a bit, and getting a 52mm hole saw is impossible (I tried about 6 different places, they all had 51mm hole saws, so I had to get one of those and file down the rest of the size until the gauges fit in there). It's time consuming and not quite perfect, but you'll hardly notice afterwards because the outside silver lip of the gauges covers the rough areas.

Not sure if you'll fit 60mm gauges in a DIN slot, mine are 52mm units and they're pretty close to just fitting in between the stereo and A/C control units as you can see.

If you're in Sydney I can recommend a place on Victoria Avenue in Castle Hill in the industrial complex opposite Hunter Holden. I can't remember the name of the place, but I should have the business card for them here somewhere.

[rubba]

60mm won't fit, I was gonna temporarily put mine in between the climate control panel and my headunit but its too big.

[BigDirtyJase]

I was searching around the net for din templates and i found this one

it's a generic 3x 52mm Gauge DIN Insert from egauges.com (US Site) and the measurements are 190mm X 60mm (doesn't have the depth size but it looks like 10mm)

its only about $17AUD (before shipping) but to order it and ship it to Australia is a pain in the ass (they require additional identification) but I can send it to my cousin in the states who will then send it on to me

Would that fit in the Din Slot of the Stagea??

[GoldZilla]

You might get away with it, Jase, but like I mentioned, if you can get an off-cut from a plastics place close to you, it might cost you nothing but the time it takes for you to drill the holes. Or you could see how much they'd charge to do it for you.