I've got a bunch of gauges that I want to mount in the Miata, like so:
The problem is that the left two JDM YO! gauges basically are designed to be used in those push-fit cups rather than in a gauge mounting plate. Neither of them have the clips, although I guess I could spend some time to fab them. To make matters more interesting, there isn't a lot of space around the gauges, which might rule out the mounting clips anyway.
So far, I've come up with the following ideas to hold the gauges in the faceplate:
- Zip tie. Works, but the gauge slowly vibrates out of it
- Rubber band around the gauge, maybe in conjunction with the zip tie to prevent the zip tie from slowly moving down the gauge body
- Hot glue gun? Not sure that's a great idea
- Fuggedaboutit and buy some nice Stack gauges, double the value of the car by doing so
WWGRMD?
Thought about it, not enough space. The space mounting plate is really, really tight.
I just had another idea - maybe glue a thicker piece of rubber or stiff foam to the back of the mounting plate, then make a cut-out that would act as a push fit for the gauges?
If zip ties are vibrating loose you might have the same problem with that. You need big clamping force. Maybe steel cable ties?
The reason the zip ties are vibrating loose is because the gauge housings are nice and smooth. Maybe the combination of a big O-ring to dampen the vibration and (steel) zip/cable tie could work.
Get the Stack gauges. They're so nice
Stack is one of those brands that make my butt pucker at the price before I've even seen what it is.
Big oring maybe, with a dab of silicone to keep it from sliding on the gauge.
personally, when faced with the same problem, i built some quick and dirty mounting straps out of a coathanger bent around the studs. then the problem became that the gauge would rotate in the hole. a 3/4 wrap of duct tape around the gauge body fixed that and created a friction fit.
come to think of it, 2 wraps of duct tape and a friction fit is the ONLY retaining method i used on the autometers in the neon, as the frogeye pod didnt have room for any other retention device.
michael
I'm planning on trying some rubber sleeves like these
http://www.summitracing.com/search/product-line/seals-it-gauge-vibration-isolators
the paid-for "product reviews" of Street Rodder magazine said:
simply wet the rubber sleeve before slipping it between the gauge and dash panel. Once the rubber dries, the gauge will be held in tightly, while the rubber ring helps to isolate vibrations
When I get my dash built, I will try it.
Got a hot glue gun?
A couple of dabs on the back and you're golden. Fairly easy to remove if you need to in the future.
I don't think Stack gauges are THAT awful.
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/KeywordSearchCmd?Nty=0&catalogId=10002&Ntk=all&Jnar=0&Ne=1%2b2%2b3%2b13%2b1147708%2b1&langId=-1&storeId=10001&N=1010331&Ntt=stack
DaveEstey wrote:
I don't think Stack gauges are THAT awful.
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/KeywordSearchCmd?Nty=0&catalogId=10002&Ntk=all&Jnar=0&Ne=1%2b2%2b3%2b13%2b1147708%2b1&langId=-1&storeId=10001&N=1010331&Ntt=stack
bad link....probably a session ID
A Stack 3-gauge electrical set runs about $270 through Jeg's. They aren't unreasonably expensive.
I wrap mine with masking tape for a tighter fit.
JoeyM wrote:
I'm planning on trying some rubber sleeves like these
http://www.summitracing.com/search/product-line/seals-it-gauge-vibration-isolators
the paid-for "product reviews" of Street Rodder magazine said:
simply wet the rubber sleeve before slipping it between the gauge and dash panel. Once the rubber dries, the gauge will be held in tightly, while the rubber ring helps to isolate vibrations
When I get my dash built, I will try it.
I utilize the same thing as that rubber doo-dad but I just wrap some electrical tape and wedge it in there.
Swank Force One wrote:
A Stack 3-gauge electrical set runs about $270 through Jeg's. They aren't unreasonably expensive.
The ones I'm looking at with peak recall (so I don't have to stare at the while throwing the car around the local track) are running at around $270.
For one, that is.
@JoeyM, I'll have a look at the rubber sleeves, those look just like what the doctor ordered.
The brand name is Seals-it. You can buy directly from them
http://www.sealsit.com/gaugeisolators.asp
But it doesn't look like there's a significant savings over Summit. (I'd use Summit because I already have an account with them. Why put credit card info in the database of a company you will probably not need to purchase from again?)
Isn't that rubber do-dad just a trimmed version of what holds 2" marker lights in semi trailers? Would cost you $1.29 and a few minutes with an x-acto to try it.
My solution would be drop $13 on the autometer gauge angle rings to point them at the driver and carefully inspect the gauges that don't have mounting posts for where they can be drilled to use a sheet metal screw to hold the bracket on. Mount the brackets vertically if there still isn't room for them horizontally.
Use two tie wraps on each gauge instead of one. Rotate them so they're 180 degrees from each other.
I can't see the pic, bit electrical tape is usually my goto for something along those lines. If you need a little more, maybe you could cut a section out of an olt bike tube and stretch it around the gauge.
oldopelguy wrote:
Isn't that rubber do-dad just a trimmed version of what holds 2" marker lights in semi trailers? Would cost you $1.29 and a few minutes with an x-acto to try it.
ooooh! I didn't know that. Good tip. This is why GRM is awesome. I'll be checking a truck stop soon.....
