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Old 12-05-2011, 09:09 PM   #1
klarowe
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 284753
Join Date: Jun 2011
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: Colonie, NY
Vehicle:
2004 WRX STI
World Rally Blue

Default Custom gauge cluster idea... Yay or Nay???

So call me paranoid, but I like to see as much of the "parameters" of my engine as possible. I like to know if and when anything is out of the ordinary so that I can catch a potential problem before it becomes catastrophic. With that said, I currently have just the boost gauge, my aquamist meth flow gauge, and a useless innovate wideband gauge. But I would like to pick up an oil temp and oil pressure gauge at the very least in the near future. At that point I will have a total of 5 gauges. Right now my boost and aquamist gauges are in the instrument cluster dual pod and the wideband is just loose for now because I can't think of what I want to do. I'm not a huge fan of the instrument cluster pod.. I don't like the fitment of it, and I don't like how it sits.

On to the next part of this. As dumb as it sounds, I'm constantly using my center clock (the clock on my radio is tiny and I hate searching for it when I want to know the time. So I really don't want to go with a gauge cluster either. And my last prefabricated option is an a-pillar pod... which I can't stand either because you'll never find one that is a perfect match (color and texture) to the factory. So that leaves me with only one option... custom pod.

Here is where it gets interesting and where i need your opinions. I layed it out with just the wideband and it seems like it will be a perfect fit. With my current steering wheel setup, which is how I keep it all the time, the top of the steering wheel matches the curve of the dash above the cluster perfectly and is eye-line to the top of the dash. So I was thinking of doing a custom pod to hold however many gauges I chose along that top curve of the dash. With the quick fit-up I did with the single gauge it seems like the custom pod would cover up just enough of the view that the stock scoop does already... so there would be no loss of vision out the windshield. Another plus side to it would be that everything would be front and center and there wouldn't be any need to change my sight direction from directly in front of me. Which seems like it is a perfect setup.

So what are your opinions???
1) are having gauges rice??? I personally think they are useful and worth it, especially on a modified vehicle, but some people may not agree...
2) What are your thoughts on the custom pod idea and if anyone has something similar pictures would be great so I can possibly visualize it further than just setting a single gauge up there.

Thanks and sorry for the long post... lol
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