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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Projects Posts (NOT VEHICLES) => Topic started by: esn83sierra on January 27, 2012, 11:57:02 am

Title: Custom A-Pillar guage pod build
Post by: esn83sierra on January 27, 2012, 11:57:02 am

Hi to all. This is my first post on this forum. I thought maybe yall be interested in my weekend project. I wired in a tach and had it mounted to the steering column, but it moved when I shifted. So I decided on a pillar gauge pod. I guess no one makes them so I'm making my own. Anyway here is what I have started. I took a pod made for an 88+ chevy and cut it to fit on my 83s pillar. Then I used two of the mounting tacs that came with it to temporarily hold it in place. I took blue painters tape and coverd the holes i cut in the pod and contoured them into the pillar. Then fiblerglassed the inside of the painters tape last night. When it dries I'll get some more pics to post.

So thats where I am with it as of now. When the fiberglass is set, I'm going to bondo it so it all looks like one piece. I think it's gonna look good. I'll keep updating as I make progress.

Title: Re: Custom A-Pillar guage pod biuld
Post by: slammed79 on January 27, 2012, 03:19:30 pm

Looking good so far. What size is that tach?

And welcome from Arizona

Title: Re: Custom A-Pillar guage pod biuld
Post by: bake74 on January 28, 2012, 07:29:50 am

     Welcome from California.  Capt. the owner of the site has been working on different pillar pods for our trucks, looks like you beat him to it. 
     It looks like it will work, post some pics when you are all done so we can see.

Title: Re: Custom A-Pillar guage pod biuld
Post by: esn83sierra on January 28, 2012, 04:18:43 pm

Well here is the fiber glass and bondo work. This took a long time to do.
Lots of sanding.

Title: Re: Custom A-Pillar guage pod biuld
Post by: esn83sierra on January 28, 2012, 04:21:04 pm

Here's another pic. I filled in the little holes you can see

Title: Re: Custom A-Pillar guage pod biuld
Post by: esn83sierra on January 28, 2012, 04:29:07 pm

Then used some rubberized undercoat( for the bottom of truck panels and frames) to give it a uniform texture. Similar to stock but not exact. This stuff took forever to dry.

Title: Re: Custom A-Pillar guage pod biuld
Post by: esn83sierra on January 28, 2012, 04:32:07 pm

Then I primed and painted. I also popped the the silver front off the guage and painted it to match.

Title: Re: Custom A-Pillar guage pod biuld
Post by: esn83sierra on January 28, 2012, 04:34:56 pm

While I was waiting for the paint to dry I re-routed all the wiring from the steering column to the pillar. This was a pita. There's only one small hole you can run them through once you get them there.

Title: Re: Custom A-Pillar guage pod biuld
Post by: esn83sierra on January 28, 2012, 04:51:41 pm

Then I put it all back together. Even though the tach and the pod are both 2 5/8 i had to wrap the tach with 3 layers of electric tape for a snug fit. I might go back and paint the front of the guage brown like the dashboard. I think that will look better. All in all I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out.

Title: Re: Custom A-Pillar guage pod biuld
Post by: zieg85 on January 28, 2012, 04:59:42 pm

That turned out great looking.  Thanks for sharing.

Title: Re: Custom A-Pillar guage pod build
Post by: bake74 on January 29, 2012, 07:48:01 am

     I think you should leave it the color of your doors (though now your door panels need to match the newness of the pillar pod  ;D), but in all a great job and addition to your truck.
     Thank you for the pics and sharing with us.

Title: Re: Custom A-Pillar guage pod build
Post by: esn83sierra on January 29, 2012, 07:15:21 pm

Thanks for the good feed back guys, glad yall like it. Its not that difficult to do, so I would say give it a go it you're interested. It just takes time and patience.

Title: Re: Custom A-Pillar guage pod build
Post by: DustyRusty on January 30, 2012, 06:00:35 pm

Welcome to the site from Alaska.  Nice work - it looks great.  Good photo documentation.

Rusty