Write-Up: A-Pillar Re-Upholstery & Guage Pods

I don't know. I've searched walmart and no luck for the correct color match. Gonna try a fabric store next. Finally got the glue off the pillar with an sos pad. It may scratch it, but I don't care since it's gonna get covered anyway.

Pics of my newly started dual pillar pod installation.

Lookin good. From the angle you have those pods, it appears that you won't be able to see them. That A-pillar trim is on a pretty good angle. Judging by that, they'll be pointing at the roof?

I've already done premounting to get them in the best place for me. I couldn't find any other gauge pod to fit any better, but with the way they angle they should be ok.

Couple of pics of the gauge pods in the car.



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I stand corrected. Spose I was lookin at it wrong when it was on the bench. Looks good man. It'll look even better when you re-wrap that A-pillar piece Do you have the P/N's of the pod(s) you used?

Ya I had to put it in after yo u said something. I kept staring at it wondering if I messed it up, lol.

The pods I used are for the last generation Camaro/Firebird and I just cut them down more and more till they looked about right. The pod part number from Summit is ATM-10210.

J. Chris Davis wrote:

Ya I had to put it in after yo u said something. I kept staring at it wondering if I messed it up, lol.

LOL sry bout that

J. Chris Davis wrote:

The pods I used are for the last generation Camaro/Firebird and I just cut them down more and more till they looked about right. The pod part number from Summit is ATM-10210.

Thx

No problem. I was due for another test fitting anyway, lol.

Ok, just got back with my newly upholstered pillars. I think they turned out great. Here are some pics.



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Dude, that looks sweet! I'm assuming you sent them to an interior joint to have them upholstered?

Yes I had a local upholster do them for me. Only cost $75 for both pillars.

Here's some pics of my interior with the new upholstered A-pillars with gauge pod.


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Couple of pics with them in the car and finished.

I had a buddy help me wire the electrical for my a-pillar gauges a few years ago. The gauges weren't bad but whatever. I have a mechanical boost gauge on top, interceptor gauge in the middle and electric tranny temp gauge at the bottom. The boost and trans temp gauges are both autometer z-series gauges with identical face patterns and bezels. The bottom gauge has always been the brightest in terms of light, whereas the (boost) gauge on top is dimmer... Recently, I noticed the top gauge flickers all the damn time.

So I guess the stupid (drunk) question is... I have a wiring issue from the source to the top (boost gauge) that's making the flickering? Or do you think this is something else? lol To sound even more stupid.... possibly because the lower gauge gets juice sooner, the other gauge has always been dimmer because of that? Does that make sense?

I like to throw the stupid questions out there to make y'all feel better about yourselves.

This is for my Regal, btw. Don't want to rub anyone the wrong way being a non Riv question...

Hoping to take that sucker apart tomorrow.. gut the wiring and re-do it all. I don't think it was the greatest job to begin with. :/

Rick,
It sounds like the light bulb for the upper gauge has a bad ground. That would explain why it was dimmer than the other gauge, all gauges being equal of course. And would explain the flicker or it just could be a bad bulb or bulb connection.

When you remove them verify the ground wire is good before spending time on the power wire. Just my guess.
Also the way the wires are run cannot / should not have an effect on the lower one being brighter all this time, it could just be the gauge itself.
You will know more when you remove the gauges and see how good or bad the wiring is.

I agree with Rick. Check any splices and connections carefully, a bad splice or loose connection could cause the resistence to rise significantly, making the bulb appear duller. It could also explain the flickering as the problem grows worse.

Chris, do you have a William Ryan home? I swear your house looks exactly like my parents' house that was recently built.

That gauge pillar is just awesome!

whats up with the vintage gas pump in the background of the photo?

The garage is where the car is parked. There's no house there. The gas pump is fiberglass.

Thanks for the insight guys. Rick was dead on but I also discovered a funny screw up on my end. I have the 5-point LED bulbs in these gauges to match factory lighting as close as possible. The bulb in the trans gauge was slightly different (no doubt a replacement on my end) and I never noticed that it was considerably brighter than the existing one in the boost gauge. So after re-wiring all the grounds and then replacing the bulb all the gauges match perfectly now with no flickering.

So you had a successful day working on the car.

Now you can come to my place and do some gauge install after making a custom pod for me. How does that sound for fun times.

I certainly owe you Rick but that whole custom a-pillar upholstry thing isn't my strong suit. lol

DEMonte1997 wrote:

I certainly owe you Rick but that whole custom a-pillar upholstry thing isn't my strong suit. lol

Obviously I was kidding, but I'll keep my thinking cap on, or this a dunce cap.

Hey Chris, did you basically get a solid 2 gauge holder, trim down the bottom and glue it to the pillar? I kinda want to do a 3 gauge deal myself.