sportrunner2001

yeah, thats right I did it.

Always wanted a voltmeter in my 4Runner just because i like to be able to know that type of stuff. and i figured out that a 2" gauge would fit PERFECT with a little wooden mounting plate. pics: (sorry if theyre too big)


Theres already two small holes in the top back corners of the "cubby" so thats where i put my wires



I alos had the ashtray out and the little light that used to be for it had burnt out a year ago so i used that for my backlight and it even dims too!




its wired directly to the battery so i put in my own switch to control it too, but they didnt have one that would fit so i had to get a tiny one. i'll have to modify one of the popouts to accept the switch. but when its on it lights up green too, now i just need a green 194 bulb for the gauge...

justin_4runner

looks nice and that but why not wire it to an ignition wire so when u start the 4runner it just comes on then u wouldn't have to deal with the switch and modifying anything?

sportrunner2001

well i would have done it right to the cig lighter but i didnt want to have to pull dash panels to get to the wires so i went right to the battery and then i dont need to have the car on and i dont always have to have the gauge on

CYi5

scangauge.

sportrunner2001

not in budget. this looks cooler IMO

blcktpgsr

Looks like I'm not the only one who found use for that spot under the cig lighter. I used the space for my ECT & rear window switches when I did the 99 cup holder mod a while ago.

ChildrenOfBodom

Looks like a great spot for a transmission temperature gauge.

Got my boost gauge on the A Pillar, looks lonely over there without a good AFR wideband

pattycakes77

iTrader: (2)

sportrunner2001

^ ooooooh fancy, looks really good. havent seen your build but did you do that yourself or have it done? one of my friends could fiberglass the whole center stack for me if i wanted and have any kind of configuration. but i like it the way it is with a few tweaks for now.

Greg_Canada

You guys know scangauge does tranny temps and voltage / etc right?

Now, oil temp would be nice....

pattycakes77

iTrader: (2)

I never had a build thread on it, I intended to but never got around to it. I basically cut a hole where that stuff went, attached some wire mesh to the plastic with wire, locked that in there with some JB Weld, cut holes in the mesh and put PVC pipe angled to my liking and locked those in with wire and JB Weld, then dumped a butt load of bondo on there and started sanding and shaping.

I will admit now that I know a thing or two about body work and materials, that I could have used some different materials and techniques on this project. However, I didn't know squat then and after the fact you can always say "I should have done this instead of this". It's been about 3 1/2 years now and I only see one little crack in the paint on a seam between old and new material so I'd say that's pretty good for what it is. I have another radio bezel and if I ever get around to doing this again I'll use fiberglass and some other industrial adhesives and techniques to make it stronger and look nicer. I'm happy with it for now.

I like yours though, simple and gets the job done.

sportrunner2001

yours is even better for what you used and how it still looks today. i justed used what i had laying around and made it work. i think it needs another coat or two of black on it though from the pictures.