A-pillar 3 gauge pod group buy

[68Timber]

I emailed AutoMeter about them and was put in touch with the company that makes them for AutoMeter. They will make some with a minimum order of 30 as long as it is prepaid and a stock pillar is provided. I need one for my 85 so I am putting this together for 81-87 trucks. If someone would like to handle a 73-80 group purchase I will give you the contact info. The price will be $50 to $100 each, final pricing to be determined after a pillar is supplied and a prototype made. The time frame is three to four months.

Yes, this has been tried before. Last time the minimum order was 50. I think 30 orders is certainly possible.

I don't mean to be rude so don't take this the wrong way - do not commit unless you are 100% certain that you want one and are equally 100% sure you can and will pay for it. If that sounds like you, reply here and let me know.

EDIT: This is a 3 gauge pod for 2 1/16" gauges.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

for 100$ i think triple post equis gauges from schucks look like a good deal HAHA i would be curious about the final price though

[68Timber]

He told me most of their stuff was $40 to $50, I said expect $50 to $100 just so there are no surprises.

[rocking chevy]

whats different from the 73-80 and the 81-87 pillars?

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by rocking chevy

whats different from the 73-80 and the 81-87 pillars?

I'm not sure if there is a difference. The dashes are different so I wondered if maybe they are different at the base. I don't have two to compare.

[Captkaos]

Call them back and ask them if they will still make it if there are 2 severe undercuts on the part.

IF they say yes, send me the info.

I have been contracting companies to have these made over the past 10 years I have talked to every company that makes these. They all said they would make them until you send them the pillar and realize that there are WAY to many undercuts and the part would require custom molds or injection molding. I have sent pillar pods to Autometer twice the last time was about 4 years ago and they lost my molded piece. Since last year, I have been turned down by no less than 10 companys that do custom injection molding, fiberglass molding and thermal molding and NONE have been the pillar companies as I already went through all of them. This part cannot be simply vacuum formed.

This is my post where I have made these and have the angle and position sorted out to where the pod is usable and not just for show. The first batch I am working on will be a seperate pod that mounts to the existing one. Depending on how they go will dictate the full pillar.

73-87chevytrucks.com Pillar Post Post

This is the actual raw single pod in a truck:

[stroker87]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

Call them back and ask them if they will still make it if there are 2 severe undercuts on the part.

IF they say yes, send me the info.

I have been contracting companies to have these made over the past 10 years I have talked to every company that makes these. They all said they would make them until you send them the pillar and realize that there are WAY to many undercuts and the part would require custom molds or injection molding. I have sent pillar pods to Autometer twice the last time was about 4 years ago and they lost my molded piece. Since last year, I have been turned down by no less than 10 companys that do custom injection molding, fiberglass molding and thermal molding and NONE have been the pillar companies as I already went through all of them. This part cannot be simply vacuum formed.

This is my post where I have made these and have the angle and position sorted out to where the pod is usable and not just for show. The first batch I am working on will be a seperate pod that mounts to the existing one. Depending on how they go will dictate the full pillar.

73-87chevytrucks.com Pillar Post Post

This is the actual raw single pod in a truck:

I'm really liking those! I want one or two! let me know if your selling them

[Captkaos]

What is pictured is proof of concept, they are not currently available for purchase, yet. The link provided will have all of the updates added to it. Once they are available for purchase they will be listed on my site along with this one.

[68Timber]

Chris, AutoMeter put me in touch with gaugepods.com. I emailed them and got a response from Dennis at Lo-Tek. If this is a company you've dealt with, I can drop this. If not, I'll ask them about the undercuts and see where it goes.

[Captkaos]

I have talked to Low-Tek, they ARE (or at least WERE) guagepods.com. Call and ask again, maybe they can do it... Doubt it though as all their parts are vacuum formed with no undercuts.

Took me 3 months to get my pillars back from them, right before the finally shipped them they said "oh, you want those back?" Won't forget that conversation...

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

I have talked to Low-Tek, they ARE (or at least WERE) guagepods.com. Call and ask again, maybe they can do it... Doubt it though as all their parts are vacuum formed with no undercuts.

Took me 3 months to get my pillars back from them, right before the finally shipped them they said "oh, you want those back?" Won't forget that conversation...

I'll see what he says. I'd planned to ship one out of the junkyard but I can see where that would tick you off. If they don't make them I'll get in line for yours.

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

I have talked to Low-Tek, they ARE (or at least WERE) guagepods.com. Call and ask again, maybe they can do it... Doubt it though as all their parts are vacuum formed with no undercuts.

Took me 3 months to get my pillars back from them, right before the finally shipped them they said "oh, you want those back?" Won't forget that conversation...

His response to the query on undercuts:

The undercuts cannot be reproduced in a vacuum forming process. So, any undercut would be eliminated. If the undercuts are needed to cover something that will be a problem. If they are used solely to attached the trim piece to the a-pillar if may not be a problem. Our units are attached with screws.

Look to see if the undercuts are necessary. If not sure, email a few photos of the trim piece attached showing a couple different angles.

[Captkaos]

The lower section is different on the 73-80 vs 81-87.

[yousesteers]

If you do one I would take one I need a something for at least 3 guages.

[Dieselwrencher]

If you can actually get them made, I will get in line for 2. I as well tried to get some made, and had no dang luck at all.

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

If you can actually get them made, I will get in line for 2. I as well tried to get some made, and had no dang luck at all.

It was your thread that led to me emailing AutoMeter. As popular as the 73-87's have become it seems a little silly this isn't made yet. I thought of keeping this in your thread but didn't want to muddy the water.

[stroker87]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

As popular as the 73-87's have become it seems a little silly this isn't made yet.

yes its long over do!

I have some extra gauges in my truck that I never permanently mounted them have them on the dash for now since it will be replaced when i do the interior would love to have them in a pod on the pillar

[68Timber]

I know, seems stupid when it looks like plenty of folks are begging to buy these things.


I want one for my M1009, I looked at the traditional three gauge tab of exposed-back gauges that's always mounted under the lip of the dash over the tranny hump - volts, oil pres, and temp. A-pillar would be much better.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

It was your thread that led to me emailing AutoMeter. As popular as the 73-87's have become it seems a little silly this isn't made yet. I thought of keeping this in your thread but didn't want to muddy the water.

Feel free to use that thread to drum up orders. Either one of you, I don't care. I wasn't doing it to make any money. I just want the same product all of you want but can't seem to find a company to make them. That's crazy too! I even tried working with LMC but their special projects guy told me there wasn't enough interest for these for them to get into making them. I asked him if he had any clue of what the heck he was talking about and that was the end of the conversation.

[68Timber]

It is crazy - the aftermarket support for 67-72 trucks is good, but the squares seem to be the stepchild at times.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

It is crazy - the aftermarket support for 67-72 trucks is good, but the squares seem to be the stepchild at times.

funny which years went longer and sold better too? almost like its to much effort to come up with suspension mods or parts that are simple yet sought after

ive been looking into making 3 pod gauge pillars for a while by fiberglasing but if we can get a mass produced set and a good market by advertizing they should stick around for a while

[Captkaos]

If you are talking to me about making them I am going to get them made and actively working on it.
Posted via Mobile Device

[68Timber]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

If you are talking to me about making them I am going to get them made and actively working on it.
Posted via Mobile Device

The one you made looks fantastic. If you're in-process getting these made there is no reason for me to pursue this. What are you having made?

[rocking chevy]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

If you are talking to me about making them I am going to get them made and actively working on it.
Posted via Mobile Device

So are you getting ones made that will work with the 73-80 and the 81-87, or just the 81-87? Is it going to be the whole pillar, or just a piece that attaches to it? Is it going to have some kind of texture, so it looks close to the oem one?
If its going to be for the 73-80, be a whole pillar, and have texture, I'm pretty interested.

[Captkaos]

Then don't waste your time or effort, BRUISER the smallest length gauge body is wider than the pillar panel, and when you turn it, there is no way to remove the undercuts. For starters, the pillar itself has an under cut in it that cannot be removed the one made by the gauge adds to the complexity.

I spent 3 hours with the company last Friday trying to manipulate it to reduce the severity of the undercuts (they can't be removed) with 3 different gauges, and we decided to do a 2 piece mold.

I (73-87chevytrucks.com) am working on this actively, these will be produced, but it took this long to get a company willing to work with me.