Has anyone successfully installed a gauge in the left side drivers ac vent? I'm thinking about installing my Innovate WB in there. I got the vent out (what a pain with the dash installed) but now need to do some customizing. Nasioc doesn't have much on the subject other than buying one already done.
Which gauge do you have?? I mounted my XD-16 on the rearview mirror. Works pretty well there, and is easy to keep an eye on.
Honestly it would be real easy....hole saw, a bezel that fits and a little adhesive/epoxy to hold it all in place....now finding where to drill in the venting system, well not sure on that.
Well I have the entire vent ball out so I guess it'll just be some creative drilling/cutting where the gauge slides in snug and then epoxy it to the surrounding plastic in a select few spots.
A dremel would probably even work, but the hole saw is going to be cleaner....just go slow and steady so as not to break anything or melt the surrounding plastic. If you have a variable speed drill, try to keep it on low-medium speed with a sharp hole saw.
theres a write up somewhere on nasioc found it: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1830048&highlight=vent+gauge
Yeah I found that one. My gague is 52 mm so its a bit different. My vent will still be functional. Thanks though!
shoegoo is your friend filler can be bicycle tube wrapped around and shoe goo it personal view - its not within field of view
I like the mirror idea someone posted earlier. If you can pull the LCD out of the gauge, and then stick it in the rear view (behind the mirror) BAM...will see it only when car's on. Bad ass install right there.
Will do. Planning on finishing the trimming and permanently mounting the gauge tonight. I did slip a little by accident and hit a spot I didn't want trimmed but I think you won't be able to tell.
What part of it Alex? A 60mm gauge will fill it up nicely. The inner circle of the vent If you look you will see a circular ring around the open/close thingy is almost a perfect fit for a 52 mm gauge. When I get the guts completely trimmed out I'll take some measurements for you if I think of it. As a matter of fact I have 60mm gauges so I can test fit one and show you pics if you would like.
I'd like to see it flush with the silver trim ring that sits around the vent on the dash. Wasn't there a shop selling a gauge/vent combo a while back for the Subaru? And no, it was not the Subiegal one.
Will you have any functionality out of that vent? That vent is extremely important for me with defrosting the Driver's Side Window. If there was a 60mm gauge there, the vent would no longer be functional as a window defroster. At least with the 52mm gauge, there is still enough vent open to pass air to defrost.
Guys I've got this done and it flat out rocks! However I don't have pics as bad things happened the next day and the car has been parked and unattended since. Next time I am at the car I will take some pics. Oh and the vent still works......heat was coming through just fine.
I have that guage mounted in the vent. Its actually like a 32mm, its tiny as hell, like the stock gauges. I just bought the vent kit off of ebay though so it was a perfect fit.
I was just joking dude. I don't really have a write up. Getting that vent out was a royal pain in the butt. Prolly easier to pull the entire dash.