I'm thinking about getting Prosport Gauges for my tC, and was wondering how easy of an install are they with the ATI gauge pod? My main concern is if there is how much drilling or cutting there is. I would prefer not to start cutting up my car if I can help it.

 

the only gauge pod the will pefectly fit is the creative compact one.....the pod itself comes predrilled..but all you have to do is line up ther pod along wth the OEM pillar and drill two holes in the oem one..but youl have to drill three more holes for the wires and stuff.....but any pod you buy you will have to drill holes but creative comapct obe wont need any modifactions to fit just drill some holes to screw in and wires thats it

 

It seems like the only way to get the wires down is to drill a hole in the top of the dash...OUCH!

You could go with a triple pod a-pillar, I know people don't like them because they stick out a little and still the fitment is a little off on them. To get it to fit as flush as possible, holes would need to be drilled in the a-pillar to run the wires to the gauges. Technically, screws already go into the stock a-pillar to hold the gauge pod on anyway. The a-pillar is much cheaper to replace than the entire top of your dash, if you get what 'm saying.

Then there are other custom fabrication for gauges that may take a little time and work. The easiest if you have a aftermarket single-din radio is to use the bottom section of the radio housing to hod 3 gauges.

There are options but if someone made a direct replacement a-pillar that uses the stock fabric and matches color instead of those that are kept in place by screws would be perfect IMO.

 

Completely neglecting the fact that creative compacts is no longer around.

The next best one is gaugepods.com

 

I went to gaugepods.com. Are their pods made to order like they appear?

 

actually i bought mine from another SL member but i heard that the gauage pod from guagepods.com is bascially the same thing and same design at the creative compact one...im sure of you pm some SL memebers or post a want ad you can buy a creative comapct pod thats what i did..lot of people responded with unused pods

 

mmk, hey my06tc, how much does the pod limit your field of view while driving?

 

Gaugepods.com

 

You can see the fitment is slightly off.

This was before I drilled holes in the stock piece to run the wires through. When I get the car back from the tuners I take another pic.

The pod does obstruct your view ever so slightly but nothing major that would cause driving concerns.

I would venture to say if you were in CA or VA I would avoid it as police there can be complete douches when it comes to certain automotive things but in GA I wouldn't worry about it at all. It does not obstruct your view enough to receive a ticket.

 

ATI dash mount w/ Prosports

 

That's sexy Jon, how did you run your wires?

I know you hate holes, i've seen you mention it before.

 

i went initially with a pillar pod cause i didnt want to drill into my dash. I used the gaugepods.com one it fit ok. Didnt block the view really

 

I had them running thru the vents, but I said ____ it and just cut thru the dash. I didn't want the dash mount or a-pillar mount when I was buying my all my stuff...but I just got the dash mount because I didn't want to have to deal with the whole airbag thing.

 

Ahh that's right, I forgot you base tC guys have side curtain airbags. Well that would be a limitation.

+1 for the spec tC

It looks good, i'll give you that but i'm shocked that you really cut through the dash, I remember a post of your about a guy who completely hacked his dash up to put components up front in the dash.

Airbag comes out, 3 gauges and a pod smack you in the face....not cool.

 

Well the airbag in the A-pillar is only at the very top, maybe in he top inch or so, so I don't think it would come whack you in the face.

 

If that airbag ever deploys, that pillar is coming off. I've taken off the entire headliner and roof of the tC so i've seen where the airbag goes. The pillar is held in by two plastic clips, the airbag deploys with 2000 lbs of force. I would venture to say that that pillar is definitely coming off if the airbag deploys.

 

Touche lol