Finished Pods :)

[LCAM-01XA]

IIRC he has ignition/run, accessories, push-button start, push-button glow plugs, likely manual fast idle as well. I'm sure one of his toggles will be used for the on-board air system too (I'm about to reassign my manual fast idle toggle for that purpose soon, as I now have hand-throttle with a vernier cable so I no longer need it, just need to grab the factory pigtails off a junkyard truck).

 

[rhkcommander]

looks real nice i like the two pair on the dash

I myself have more pods coming. 4 switches right now glowplugs, fog lights, reverse lights, big horn

 

[The Warden]

i actually have had a few people interested in them. I really dont know what i would charge and how i would do it. Each pod would be different and it takes me some time to get them from start to finish. Does anyone have a dash that is laying around that i can have? I would just need it for the base mold to i dont have to pull my pods off time after time. I am willing to hook you guys up if you guys are interested. Just understand that each pod will be its own.

Forgive my memory, but what part of CA are you in? I have a spare '80-'86 dash that you can keep, and could also let you borrow an '87-'91 dash (although I will eventually need this one back). I'm not sure what you would charge....I guess the question is, how much will materials cost, and beyond that, what's your time worth?

I'm not exactly wealthy, but I'm also not sure I trust myself to get this right, so depending on how much you ended up asking, I might be interested in you making up a set.

One thought/question...how much of a reflection (if any) do you get from the gauges on the windshield at night? Do you think it'd be feasible or necessary (or even a good idea, for that matter) to recess the gauges any? I spend a lot of time on the road at night, and I have a constant problem with the light from my gauges reflecting on the windshield...

 

[Agnem]

Not sure how I missed this the first time around, but it is now a part of our technical articles. EXCELLENT JOB on the write up!

 

[alienturtle]

Wow Thank you very much guys! And Agnem thank you for putting it in the articles.

First things first..i am running 7 glowshift gauges and 3 autometer gauges in the cluster. Here is a pic with what everything does and the gauges. Since i am running the cummins motor i no longer have the glow plugs or the high idle.

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LCAM-01XA - Yes thank you very much for all that info.

The Warden - Ok cool i would be interested in that. I honestly have been thinking in the neiborhood of 50$ for each pod. If im on crack tell me. It takes me a good week to 2 weeks to get them finished. Also I think i will leave the painting up to you guys. I might hit them with a coat of primer so that i can see any pin holes that might show up. If you want to give me that dash i will be more than happy to make you a pod for free in exchange.

As far as the reflection goes.. I dont see anything on my windows at night. If we meet up you are more than welcome to come have a seat and take a look. I use glowshift gauges so other brands might be different

Now i do not know how i can make a "mold" for some thing like this..if someone can enlighten me on that it would be cool.

 

[The Warden]

The Warden - Ok cool i would be interested in that. I honestly have been thinking in the neiborhood of 50$ for each pod. If im on crack tell me. It takes me a good week to 2 weeks to get them finished. Also I think i will leave the painting up to you guys. I might hit them with a coat of primer so that i can see any pin holes that might show up. If you want to give me that dash i will be more than happy to make you a pod for free in exchange.

That sounds great to me!! Again, what part of CA are you in? I'm in the Bay Area, but most of my family's in L.A., so I drive down there pretty regularly. If you haven't been to one of towcat's get-together's in Santa Clara, it's well worth the drive

 

[alienturtle]

I have not actually. Im in the Modest Manteca area of CA. When is he soposed to have another one? id be happy to come along.

 

[The Warden]

I have not actually. Im in the Modest Manteca area of CA. When is he soposed to have another one? id be happy to come along.

I'm not sure; they're often planned on the fly. They come up in the "Events and Get togethers" section of this site with sometimes little warning...sometimes mention will be made a month ahead of time, and sometimes only a week or two. If past history means anything, there will probably be one in the next month or two...but, again, I'm not sure either way.

Modesto's not that far my only thing is, my days off work are Monday and Tuesday...but I don't have a problem with taking the dash(es) over there on one of those days, although I think it'd be better for you to make your way out here for one of the GTG's the GTG's often draw a reasonable crowd from the area, and people sometimes come up from L.A. or down from Oregon...

 

[alienturtle]

sounds great man..im a motorcycle mechanic so all the shops are closed sunday mondays.. I think on the next GTG we can plan it that i get the dash from you. Im in the middle of a move and the 21st bday so we can plan something and get this under way!

 

[LCAM-01XA]

LCAM-01XA - Yes thank you very much for all that info.

If you need help with any other wiring projects let me know - I'm more than willing to help ya figure things out Which is actually sorta odd, seeing as how if I wasn't a pro-cheater I'd have miserably failed my electrical basics class in college, and I actually absolutely hate doing wiring jobs - guess the end does justify the means for me when it comes to that kinda stuff tho. So yah, any other wiring ideas -> just shoot me a PM.

 

[BrandonMag]

Wow, turtle! I somehow missed your writeups on the pods and Cummins swap. Nice work well done.

 

[riotwarrior]

Now i do not know how i can make a "mold" for some thing like this..if someone can enlighten me on that it would be cool.

Ok well that's an easy one really your 50% done to flip and make a mould.

Basically you take your pod at the stage of being finished (without guage holes) make sure it's good and solid and well built. Finish in gel coat or and sand and polish to nice shine....wax like crazy (with proper mould release agent)....then lay up glass on that basically your going to be making a NEGATIVE of your positive.

Once it's made...carefully separate the two now polish and refine the inside of the negative, and wax again with mould release. Now you have a mould to pull the parts out of.

Hope this helps, I can help with more details for you if you like.

[email protected]

 

[BioFarmer93]

Hey Alienturtle,
I'm a retired (career path redirected?) master plug & mold maker in the fiberglass boat building industry. I am honestly impressed with the gauge pods that you have fabricated and understand exactly why it takes you nearly two weeks to make one... It's because you are not making parts, you are making a new plug (original, or master) every time. In the industry it's what we call "one off". In all truth, you could make three or four of them every evening after work, taking your time and watching TV... PM me, and I'll be more than happy to get you set up for cottage production (I want a couple of them also). You have a highly desirable niche product and there is no reason why you can't make a decent little *** on them for very little capital outlay. You've already done the hard part!

 

[trapper]

sounds like we will all get those pods now hahaha

 

[The Warden]

sounds great man..im a motorcycle mechanic so all the shops are closed sunday mondays.. I think on the next GTG we can plan it that i get the dash from you. Im in the middle of a move and the 21st bday so we can plan something and get this under way!

Sounds great to me and happy birthday!!