Just got an A-pillar guage cluster today and I was too eager to install it so I did. The instructions say to use the factory A-pillar and screw on the cluster onto that, I was wondering if I could get away without doing that. Dont really want to mess up the factory A-pillar.

I got the triple set, oil & tranny temp and vacuum. I have yet to install the sending units as I could not tell for certain which line was which. Asking for a little help on this one

Give me an old style chevy 350 (pre=computer) and I can rebuild it but im as useful as a monkey with his thumb up his @$$ when it comes to something this new. I am learning though.

If you done know by know, I have a 2008 RS4 tC.

Some of the mods i have done already include:

Blue (X2) Red (X2) led police strobe lights behind the grill (looks very legit)
Blue leds in the parking lights
Blue leds in the map lights
Blue led strip under the hood showing off the engine
White leds in the rear license plate
White leds for the cabin light when you open the door

Fujuita cai (black coated)
TRD exhaust
TRD dual pedestal spoiler
TRD foglights
Dr. Isotope Radiator Cooling Plate

1 Alpine E-12" Single-Voice-Coil 4-Ohm Subwoofer in a ported box
Kenwood 1000w amp
Rockford Fosgate 1 Farad cap
(all of this running from the factory wire harness-Premium Pioneer system with the little 6 inch sub, except the main power line from the battery)
Viper Alarm System (installed by fellow member steezie)
^^ flush mounted the blue led above the center ac vent, bright as hell

I got the car back in late April 08. Its so hard to stop. Im getting married in Oct 08 so I figured I should do this now since I know I might not be able to spend so much afterwards.

Future mods include:

H-tech springs
Dr. I short shifter
Window tint (too dam hot in TX)
gauge and hvac led conversion to blue
mobile hids - not too sure on what temp yet

AND IF THE FORUM MEMBERS DEMAND PICS, I WILL GIVE YOU PICS

once i charge my digi cam

 

yep PICS FTW

and police strobes... why?

 

 

you'll have a nice helluva time installing that a-pillar gauge pod with your SRS airbags..

the stock a-pillar won't come off very easily, and about 99% of the time, you'll break off what is supposed to be a one-time use clip.

that clip is what holds that a-pillar in during a crash when the curtain airbags deploy.. and keeps the a-pillar.. well, where it is.

 

Didn't know they made such parts???

 

Its the factory stuff, didnt really know if they are really TRD but since it came from the dealership, i gave it a shot

 

your right about it being hard but i was able to take it off within 10 minutes without breaking the one time clip. i just took it easy and didnt use more force than i needed to and it just popped off.

Iv read some of your other post about the A-pillar and i know your against it, but if i mount it on three points instead of the four, i think i should be ok. the two lower points and the one upper point about the air bag so it keeps the airbag free and clear when it deploys downward. there is very little overlap with the air bag and a-pillar imo.

 

yea i know but i havent used my camera since my vaca and the batts dead, im going to charge it today.

because i like to stand out from the crowd and it grabs a lot of peoples attention at shows and meets and because it is legal (if you are parked)

sorry for the multiple post, internet is being a little poop, f'en ATT

 

I put my 2 gauge pod up w/o the a-pilar at first, but this is done easily with the 05-06 tC or tCs w/o airbags in the a-pillar.

If you got yours from Auto Meter (dual/triple pod) you could use 3M tape near the top and if you need to at the bottom. As you will notice, the gauge pod should fit at the bottom just by pushing it in. For my tC, I drilled two holes only in the top next to the windshield and next to the door. The bottom two and middle are not needed since the pod will squeeze into the bottom with the a-pillar.

Be carefull with that airbag, its a little sensitive.

PS Gauges are pushed through the front, just twist as you go in. People I know try to force them through the back and pillar goes *crack* lol.

Brandon

 

I just tried it with the factory pillar, it was a tight squeeze to make it fit on the bottom. but it looks like it is warped a little because it pulls away at the top. thinking of using the 3M tape but not too sure if it will be able to hold it. but im guessing once i make it hold its shape, the sun will cook it into the right shape.

this is what i bought
http://www.glowshiftdirect.com/index...ROD&ProdID=502
they also have an ebay store which sells them cheaper. paid $130.

I try to keep my distance from the airbag, i dont need my needle nose pliers flying at me at 300 mph.

I cant understand why anyone would force it from the back. makes you wonder if they ever played with that toy where you have to put the shaped objects through the right hole.

thanks for the insight Brandon

 

Youre wlecome SATownScion

Mine was like that too, the warp effect, but it was fixed when I worked it out and back in the bottom a few times. The sun thing will take a while after you have it bolt up lol. Mine is from a different manufacturer so IDK if it'll be the same for you.

The 3M tape method is kinda easy, but you may have it pop/fall on you while driving especially if you hit a bump. Never happened to me, but I went ahead and drilled holes for safety. Mine would almost stay up w/o tape, got lucky with a perfectly formed/cut pillar.

The airbag will shoot those gauges at you too, I suggest you think about removing it, or unplugging the detonation wires and then removing it lol.

Yea, I dont know what they were on to force them in because it isnt easy to break that pillar like so.

I'll try to get pics up, but I dont plan on showing the cover only style since I'll have to remove the fasteners. Forgot to mention, the middle windshield section may buldge a few mm.

Brandon