Dual gauge Pillar Pod - Installed

[Logan]

Installed autometer's dual gauge pillar pod today. Words of wisdom include:

1. Buy yourself some Black Charcoal Interior Paint from your neighborhood Ford/Lincoln/Mercury parts counter. It'll take a day or two to get, but you really weren't thinking of mounting an unpainted pod were you!?!

2. Paint the pod AFTER you mount it on the pillar and then paint the ENTIRE pillar at the same time to get the paint match nice and tight...

3. For those curious, it's an Oil temp and Air/Fuel Gauge...Why? Ummmm... Cuz. :)

Pics!

http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=503/1DSC01079-med.jpg
http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=503/1DSC01084-med.jpg

[jgc61sr2002]

Logan - Excellent installation. The gauges look super.:D

[MI2QWK4U]

Looks great Logan, hope my effort turns out as well!

[TripleTransAm]

Awesome looking... so what's the install like? I was looking at the pillar yesterday wondering about what would be the best approach... lots of weatherstripping around there, I assume it's installed with the existing factory trim piece in place?

[martyo]

Logan:

When will the "How to" be posted?

[Bigdogjim]

Guess we could line up some "how to" class in Texas?
Something like a Saturday morning workshop?

That is if any of us can get up! :beer: :beer:

[Logan]

I really don't think a how to is necessary on this one... It's pretty straight forward. Just pull the weather stripping away from the A pillar, and you have a clear view of how the Pillar is attached, with two clips. Just yank the pillar off and modify.

[martyo]

Originally posted by Logan
I really don't think a how to is necessary on this one... It's pretty straight forward. Just pull the weather stripping away from the A pillar, and you have a clear view of how the Pillar is attached, with two clips. Just yank the pillar off and modify.

My issue is, how do you chase the wires down the pillar to their final destination. It would be a help to know when to zig and when to zag....

[Logan]

Actually, with the weather stripping pulled away, there's a lovely channel just behind it that you can snake all the wires down really easily then up underneath the dash. Zip ties are useful making sure everything stays where it should.

I usually route everything to the center gauge pod, as there are numerous switched ignition and interior lighting sources there.

To route wires to their senders in the engine bay and tranny, I drill a 3/4" hole through the transmission tunnel, slap a rubber grommet on there and route the wires through.

Again, lots of zip ties. Black zip ties preferably.

I guess I'll take some pictures of the install eh?

[joflewbyu2]

jealous jealous !1 never installed guages before. i'm excited !! need part #s and instructions.

[jefferson-mo]

Paint part number M4JZ-19M547-4149H:up:

[martyo]

Thanks Logan, that's the advice I was looking for!

[Zack]

im installing mine right now with boost and fuel pressure gauges. I should be done in a few hours. Supercharger ships today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Firedab]

Which supercharger did you choose and why? Curious really! Thanks

[MAD-3R]

He is installing the DR package.

[LincMercLover]

Is the A/F Gauge kinda digital? I like it! What's the part number, etc... on it?

[Logan]

Kinda sorta, yeah. It's an LED scale. Red for Lean, Yellow for Stoich, and Green for Rich. While driving and under various conditions it wanders and jumps around. Mostly useful during WOT runs. Some prefer an EGT gauge, but the A/F has more bling factor while accomplishing pretty much the same thing...

[Jeff]

I LOVE that guage pod! :up:

[Zack]

My gauge pod is installed too, but man was it a pain in the AZZ. To any doing the mod, I routed the wires a little differently than Logan, which I think is easier. Next to the computer (engine side) is another wire connection block you can remove. Remove it and push the other side through the firewall inside the car. Viewed from the engine side, there will be two, 'slots' one on top and one on bottom (closest to the EEC block) I enlarged the slot with a file (took 10 minutes) After you are done, the wires and tubing for the boost gauge fit nicely with no air gap either. Just a thought for anyone doing this to but I gotta warn you, wiring the gauges and routing the wires etc... is not fun. One more thing, I didnt use Ford dark charcoal paint. I bought rustoleum charcoal gray and sprayed 2 coats on. I followed it up with flat black from a good distance to get a thin top coat. It turned out really good.

[SergntMac]

Originally posted by Logan
Kinda sorta, yeah. It's an LED scale. Red for Lean, Yellow for Stoich, and Green for Rich. While driving and under various conditions it wanders and jumps around. Mostly useful during WOT runs. Some prefer an EGT gauge, but the A/F has more bling factor while accomplishing pretty much the same thing...

I own my first, ever, supercharged automobile, and I'm on a learning curve here...Learning a lot of 411, big time.

I've been lucky to have the best teachers available and I've learned a lot. I've been taught that for N/A engines, the AFR is critical. A lean condition under power can be expensive. Logan's AFR meter is a way to prevent that, and I believe the gauge is an important add-on for any N/A Marauder.

However, if you are supercharged, or, plan to be supercharged someday soon, your "IAT" is the temp you want to monitor.

IAT is your "Intake Air Temperature," and monitoring that will tell you if you are getting peak performance from your intercooler. Knowing this will help you tune your car for premium performance.

AutoMeter sells the gauge, it's called a "pyrometer." It comes with a sensor that can be inserted into any air path to measure that temperature. N/A should monitor the AFR. Supercharged should monitor the IAT. EGT works as a back up for either, allowing you to retro-calculate the numbers for fine tuning...IMHO.

Thanks, Logan, for the 411.

[darebren]

Just joined the dual A-Pillar pod club today. nice to be here. Install was pretty easy. I used Charcoal plastic spray paint, matches nice. Have trans temp and oil temp in pod.

Darn, now I like that Air/Fuel gauage Logan has, bling bling for sure. maybe I get a steering wheel pod next?

Anyone have any worries about wiring 2 new guages and a radar detector to those oem guage wiring harnesses? does not seem like too much load?

[Logan]

No, it isn't... I've got a hell of a lot more than that wired into the gauge harness... :) The gauges power and ground requirements are an extremely low amp load, so don't worry about it.

[Zack]

Originally posted by darebren
Just joined the dual A-Pillar pod club today. nice to be here. Install was pretty easy. I used Charcoal plastic spray paint, matches nice. Have trans temp and oil temp in pod.

Darn, now I like that Air/Fuel gauage Logan has, bling bling for sure. maybe I get a steering wheel pod next?

Anyone have any worries about wiring 2 new guages and a radar detector to those oem guage wiring harnesses? does not seem like too much load?

Wire the gauge lights into the cars headlight switch and the power wires for the gauges to a power wire under the dash (ignition on power)