Fitting 3 Gauges in the Center Cubby

GrooveStyle · 08-06-2013, 11:04 PM

Like many other folks going FI lately, I've been on the hunt to install 3 additional gauges. I purchased boost, oil pressure, and AFR gauges. I don't want to swap out the triple gauges on the dash, partly because I don't want to have to purchase a new oil temp gauge, and also because I like trying to look as stock as possible. If I could fit the gauges in the center cubby of my non-touring z and be able to close the door when I wanted to conceal it, that would be a plus, too.

Has anyone placed 3 Gauges in the center cubby yet? I've seen the double 60mm gauge cluster that you can puchase, but haven't seen anyone modify a cubby to fit 3 in there. I was playing around with two different configurations last night.

Option 1:
I traced the outline of the gauge faces for the diameters seen below. I would make a plate to retain the three gauges, and need to do some dremel-ing to the cubby

Option 2:
The gauges sit much closer together (I just placed them in there) but it would require less modification to the cubby. A full plate would also need to be made here.

Any thoughts regarding either one, or experience? Without seeing them fully seated, it's still hard to tell which is the right path, or if I should do something different altogether. I also am not sure if parallax could be an issue if the gauges are not directly facing towards you (they would be oriented flat with the cubby's face).

DIGItonium · 08-07-2013, 12:20 PM

Gut the entire cubby and fit in some acrylic piece over it. You can paint or vinyl wrap it. It should give you room to line them up.

kenchan · 08-07-2013, 01:00 PM

yah, or do wat thedreamer did and get a LCD and display it that way?

GrooveStyle · 08-07-2013, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIGItonium

Gut the entire cubby and fit in some acrylic piece over it. You can paint or vinyl wrap it. It should give you room to line them up.

Yeah, I think I'm leaning that way. It looks a lot better all lined up. Got a dremel in the mail. Next week I'll go to town on it. I'll post my progress as I go here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

yah, or do wat thedreamer did and get a LCD and display it that way?

I looked at the LCD displays, but I guess I liked the look of the gauges a little better. But definitely, a display looks nice in there.

Baer383 · 08-07-2013, 08:57 PM

Do it like this it is alot better.

theDreamer · 08-08-2013, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baer383

Do it like this it is alot better.

This is the way to go, and I believe there is a DIY now on how to do it without removing the entire dash. I am not a fan of the cubby door staying on if you add gauges because if you want to view the gauge the door just looks weird open like that while driving & out of place.

You can still do what I have done below with gauges, the main piece is the OEM dash piece (about 300-400 bucks) and then you can mount the gauges back a bit to look cleaner or flush.

kenchan · 08-08-2013, 11:37 AM

yah, i like the 3 mechanical gauges or thedreamer approach better.

6 gauges starts to look too busy...

kenchan · 08-08-2013, 11:39 AM

dreamer- you can probaby make a clean cut out of that empty console (where the factory nav dial goes) out of paper/foam sheet and wrap it with vinyl to have a nice flat appearance. unless you put your pens and pencils there...

theDreamer · 08-08-2013, 11:42 AM

Yeah I thought about changing it, but it works for now and most people think that is factory.
My actual issue I have that I want to fix (or change) is the lower HU dash piece. They fitted it lower than a normal HU so the CD/DVD can still be accessed which is why it looks shaved and has that extra piece on the side of the HU like it was stuck there.

kenchan · 08-08-2013, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theDreamer

Yeah I thought about changing it, but it works for now and most people think that is factory.
My actual issue I have that I want to fix (or change) is the lower HU dash piece. They fitted it lower than a normal HU so the CD/DVD can still be accessed which is why it looks shaved and has that extra piece on the side of the HU like it was stuck there.

is that the metra trim? i noticed evor or whoever that made their CF overlay had that thin verticle area on the sides. i was trying to figure out why and saw the metra bezel.

theDreamer · 08-08-2013, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

is that the metra trim? i noticed evor or whoever that made their CF overlay had that thin verticle area on the sides. i was trying to figure out why and saw the metra bezel.

Yeah, they used the Metra kit, I want to order the Scoshe (sp?) since it fits with aftermarket HU cleaner with no extra piece. I just need some time to pull out the dash to see if they did anything crazy behind it all so I am ready before hand.

kenchan · 08-08-2013, 12:14 PM

sounds good. I suppose you can spot bondo the metra, sand, and paint it matte black or vinyl to make it nice.

not that your setup doesnt look nice, something to think about.

GrooveStyle · 08-08-2013, 05:47 PM

Yeah, you guys are right... I think the right thing to do is follow suit and replace the triple gauges on the dash. I put in an order for an oil temp gauge and am gonna find a nifty place to stick the AFR instead.... ha. Thanks for the help!

kenchan · 08-08-2013, 08:49 PM

That's going to look

08-06-2013, 11:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
GrooveStyle Base Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Waterloo, Iowa Posts: 230 Drives: '12 370z GM 6MT Rep Power: 14	Fitting 3 Gauges in the Center Cubby Like many other folks going FI lately, I've been on the hunt to install 3 additional gauges. I purchased boost, oil pressure, and AFR gauges. I don't want to swap out the triple gauges on the dash, partly because I don't want to have to purchase a new oil temp gauge, and also because I like trying to look as stock as possible. If I could fit the gauges in the center cubby of my non-touring z and be able to close the door when I wanted to conceal it, that would be a plus, too. Has anyone placed 3 Gauges in the center cubby yet? I've seen the double 60mm gauge cluster that you can puchase, but haven't seen anyone modify a cubby to fit 3 in there. I was playing around with two different configurations last night. Option 1: I traced the outline of the gauge faces for the diameters seen below. I would make a plate to retain the three gauges, and need to do some dremel-ing to the cubby Option 2: The gauges sit much closer together (I just placed them in there) but it would require less modification to the cubby. A full plate would also need to be made here. Any thoughts regarding either one, or experience? Without seeing them fully seated, it's still hard to tell which is the right path, or if I should do something different altogether. I also am not sure if parallax could be an issue if the gauges are not directly facing towards you (they would be oriented flat with the cubby's face).

08-07-2013, 12:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 43	Gut the entire cubby and fit in some acrylic piece over it. You can paint or vinyl wrap it. It should give you room to line them up. XwChriswX and kenchan like this. __________________

08-07-2013, 08:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
Baer383 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lawrenceville,Ga Posts: 4,293 Drives: My foot up your azz Rep Power: 30	Do it like this it is alot better. kenchan likes this. __________________ 2013 ZL1 754 rwhp 747 rwtq

08-08-2013, 11:42 AM	#9 (permalink)
theDreamer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 30,879 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 4211	Yeah I thought about changing it, but it works for now and most people think that is factory. My actual issue I have that I want to fix (or change) is the lower HU dash piece. They fitted it lower than a normal HU so the CD/DVD can still be accessed which is why it looks shaved and has that extra piece on the side of the HU like it was stuck there. __________________ theDreamer's Z // Fast Intentions // Uprev // GTM // HKS // TEIN theDreamer's Silvia // URAS // GREDDY Houston Zs // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

08-08-2013, 05:47 PM	#13 (permalink)
GrooveStyle Base Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Waterloo, Iowa Posts: 230 Drives: '12 370z GM 6MT Rep Power: 14	Yeah, you guys are right... I think the right thing to do is follow suit and replace the triple gauges on the dash. I put in an order for an oil temp gauge and am gonna find a nifty place to stick the AFR instead.... ha. Thanks for the help! kenchan likes this.

08-07-2013, 01:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	yah, or do wat thedreamer did and get a LCD and display it that way?

08-08-2013, 11:37 AM	#7 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	yah, i like the 3 mechanical gauges or thedreamer approach better. 6 gauges starts to look too busy...

08-08-2013, 11:39 AM	#8 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	dreamer- you can probaby make a clean cut out of that empty console (where the factory nav dial goes) out of paper/foam sheet and wrap it with vinyl to have a nice flat appearance. unless you put your pens and pencils there...

08-08-2013, 12:14 PM	#12 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	sounds good. I suppose you can spot bondo the metra, sand, and paint it matte black or vinyl to make it nice. not that your setup doesnt look nice, something to think about.

08-08-2013, 08:49 PM	#14 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	That's going to look

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