Finally completed my DIY truple gauge pod pillar. It took a lot longer than i wanted it to but with no garage, (most of my time hunched over the shower grinding/sanding as its been 30 degrees outside) and by no means being a professional or having a professional setup, what do expect?? It is by no means "perfect" or "red carpet" but im very satisfied with the results and outcome. I really wish i could of fit 4 gauge pods as i wanted to add an oil pressure gauge, but there just isnt enough room to fit 4 pods with the way the pods have to be positioned to be viewed straight on from the driver seat. It was even worse having to break apart the gauge pillar i already finished before just to add a fuel pressure gauge, but with dropping $6,000 in mods this winter, i want to know how shes running the best i can. Although u have the option to paint the pillars any color u desire, I chose to paint (or coat so to speak) the gauge pillar(s) with Dupli-Color "Bed Armor" to give it the slightly textured finish to match the dash of the car. Yes, i painted/coated the passenger side to match the driver side. "JR Industries" did an excellent job making gauge pillars for XF owners in the past, but unfortunately, that doesn't help us new XF owners as they no longer make them available. For those that choose to make their own gauge pillars, u need to have the following components, tools, and materials handy (not used in order of listing):

-OEM driver side pillar

-(up to) 3 gauge pods 2 1/16 in diameter

-1/2 drill bit (minimum) to drill holes in pillar for gauge wires to go through)

-Drill (cordless or corded)

-Hot glue gun (with several hot glue sticks)

-Shears (to trim and fit pod to sit correctly in desired position)

-"3M EZ Sand Flexible Parts Repair" (although pretty expensive at an average of $45 from Amazon, (it is wut it is) its an absolute MUST!! Regular Bondo WILL CRACK in a heart beat. Ask me how i know)

-Butane torch (to reheat hot glue to be smoothed out after pod is in desired location)

-Tablespoon (perfect for smoothing out and removing excess hot glue around pod contours)

-60 grit and 400 grit sand paper (start with 60 to get bulk, and finish with 400)

-Dremel (totally optional, but HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED as it will save u a huge amount of time sanding manually by hand)

-Putty knife (to spread out 3M flexible epoxy over pods)

-Air compressor (to remove all loose dust and contamenants from sanding/grinding)

-Dupli-Color Prep Spray

-Dupli-Color Primer Filler

-Dupli-Color Primer Adhesion Promoter

-Dupli-Color Bed Armor (or paint color of your choice)

-Patience

 

that look fantastic, I would love to attempt something like this but with one 1 pod i just need to see that boost gauge needle jumping.

 

Well heres the final product installed. Im not 100% happy with it as im slighty off perfection a few degrees. I would say im about 90% happy. But hey, i dont see anyone else making their own pillars lol.

 

I think it looks great. I know that was A LOT of work. Does your gauge lighting match the instrument panel lighting?

I bought a triple gauge pod last year but my project has been sitting on the back burner. You are inspiring me to get back into that project again.

 

Thanks RED DOG. I appreciate that. Yea, the gauges match (for the most part) the factory dash. Heres a pic of my completed pod i did last year before i had to tear it apart and add a 3rd gauge. It will light up exactly the same, just with 3 gauges. They are the "7 Color Series" gauges from GlowShift. U can change gauge 7 different colors with just a push of the button on the face of the gauge. As long as battery is always connected, the gauges have memory to keep the last color used before the vehicle was shut off.

 

Why the hell do all my pics upload sideways now??

 

Got the same problem...when you find the answer, please share it...Carl

 

Made a dual gauge pod for mine a couple months ago and just now getting the gauges put in. Anyone be able to explain the best way to run the wiring for a wideband and a boost. Both are glow shift gauges.

Or if anyone can direct me to the best location or direction to run the wires?

Thanks!

 

Take off the access panel on the drive side of the dash. Run the wires methodically in the pillar itself (so they dont get pinched in the mounting clips). The wires should then be routed through the gap of the dash and where the bottom of the pillar is. Reach through the dash (where u removed the access panel) and pull the slack of the wires through. Your ground wires can be grounded to 3 bolts that u can see inside the door jam. The rest of the wires can be routed back toward the firewall and pushed through the grommet that u will see. If its not already cut to feed wires through, make 2 cuts that looks like a "+" to feed the wires through the grommet. Looking under the hood, the grommet is located between the fuse box and the brake booster. Im assuming that u already welded your o2 sensor (that came with your wideband gauge) to your exhaust? Posted 2 pics below that i had in my phone from previous. All those wires from 3 gauges, i spliced them up to only have to utilize 2 fuse taps in my fuse box. Hope this points u in the right direction. Good luck

 

I saved your sideways pics to my PC
I then opened them on my PC and rotated them correctly and saved them
Then I went back into your posts and uploaded the pics again from my PC and then previewed the post and clicked the thumbnail pic to view full size
I then copied them full screen view and pasted them into the post
Hope this has helped

Gary

 

Thank you for the write up! Currently away from the home for 2 more weeks with work but will be gettin gon this when I get back! Yeah, I decided to add some parts that come with the bung for the wide band and another part with the boost attaachment point.

Thanks again!

 

does anyone have any idea where I might buy a srf6 gauge pod holder that fits pillar. I can't invest the time to make my own.

 

Did you hand shape the WHOLE pod or did you buy a universal 3 pod and add it onto the original "A" pillar ??

 

No one makes them hense why its a DIY project.

 

That didn't answer my question.
Did he make it from scratch or did he purchase a 3 pod piece and glue and mold it to the original A pillar. Sorry if I did not explain it correctly.