MearCat

Are referring to the Yahoo jap auctions? If so, I just had search through 60 odd pages and several searches thgrough the meters section A31/Cefiro parts and the only ones I could find were starting price of 7800Yen or AUD$88 with reserve - and buy prices of over 15,000Yen AUD$174 (before postage from Japan to Oz that is). My intention is to make them mainly for street cars not soley for drifters, but my gauge pods that sit in the right corner hardly interferes with vision at all.

As some of you may be aware, in the 4-5 months I have begun prototyping various fibreglass gauge pod designs for all the Skylines models, 300ZX, S13/14/15 and WRX. See my page at http://ww.mearcat.com.au/Pods for some examples of what I have done so far. The R33 & S13 pods are currently being sold but more designs will be ready soon. I want to expand a little and develop a few gauge pod designs for the Ceffy. I am looking for someone in perth (NOR) who is prepared to allow me to loan their Ceffy for a weekend to create some designs. I have loaned over 12 individuals cars from various people so far and all have been very happy with the treatment and storage of their cars. I am happy to provide contacts of those people for references. The car will not be driven or taken apart, and will be vacuumed/cleaned when I have finished. If you are interested in loaning your car (in exchange for a free pod) please PM or email me. FYI Final prices will be $79 for a single and maybe ~$110 for the double/triple (if I actually make one). Each pod will also be undercoated & prepainted. -Alan

Update : Approx 3 weeks ago, I posted the Stagea pod designs as well as 5 other pod designs to the fibreglass fabricator. Unfortunately, the box with all the pods has gone AWOL. Thanks to a screw up by Australia Post, tracking is not actually available even though I paid for it! So hopefully the pods will turn up soon and fabrication can begin. -Alan

Single pods for all cars (including R32 coupe) are $79 + postage ($5-$7). The R32 coupe pod and a few other designs are being sent off to the fabricators next week are are expected to be available around end of January.

Sorry about that. I'm rearranging my webspace. Pics and links have been updated. Otherwise, go to http://www.mearcat.com.au/Kits for the pics and links to user manual and other kits are coming...

Please help me out here - Does no-one own a R34 that they can part with for a weekend??? I've now loaned a total of NINE cars from various people and have earned the reputation that I can be trusted to loan your car. Oh and I'd also llike to find a R33 Sedan too

To date, I still am at a loss that I can't find someone with a R34 coupe in Perth. So instead I've been making gauge pod prototypes for the S14, S15, Stagea to 'pass the time'. Anyone who offers to lend me their R34 coupe will receive a free gauge pod or $80 cash for their generosity.

Thanks again to Wildcat & MrGTST for loaning their car(s) to be able to fabricate the prototype pods. The three pod designs for the Stagea are now complete. The designs are : 1) Single gauge pod at the base of the A-pillar 2) Single gauge pod to replace clock in the dash 3) Double gauge pod to replace clock in the dash As before, see my webspace http://people.aapt.net.au/~mearcat/Pod for the most recent pictures. I have edited my previous post (directly above) to show more current pics of what the pods look like from the front of the car. Further comments are welcomed. What do you guys/gals think of the new single pod (clock/dash mounted)? These designs will be sent off to the fabricators within a fortnight. Due to Xmas and New Year, they cannot provide any accurate lead times for the small batch to be finished but I am hoping that they will be ready by mid-late Jan. -Alan

All sorted. Thanks for the speedy responses!

I need to confirm whether the gauge pods I have (and sell) for the R33 coupe have any issues in fitting into a R33 GTR. All I need to do it open the door, put the pod on the dash (no tape or screws etc) & check that it fits properly, say thanks and walk away. Does anyone have a R33 GTR that I can look at for this purpose - even if someone knows of one in a caryard. I need it ASAP! -Alan

What depth is the gauge?

Indeed! Boost is one of the gauges that you DON'T want to be inaccurate. As for illegal mods, you might want to watch using A-pillar pods in NSW. I know they are defectable in Vic and more than likely in NSW too

All the pods that I do are completely sealed (hollow) to allow each person to cut the appropriate holes for the gauges/wires/hoses etc. If you have a look at this pics of all the other pods on my webpage http://people.aapt.net.au/~mearcat/Pod and look at the pic of the Mazda3 single gauge pod, the R33 pod looks exactly the same from the front of the car. As for the Stagea centre pods, here are a couple of pics from the front of the car (both are very similar as you can see) : Single : Double :

Hijack alert... I have started making some gauge pods for the Stagea which should be ready in early-mid Jan. Single pod and double pod to replace the clock and single pod at the base of the A-pillar. See THREAD HERE for more info.

Sure thing! Off hand, the width of the double pod is about 150-160mm and height at the front is 80mm. The pics so far are only of the plaster mould and I'm making the fibreglass prototypes this week (after work each day!). I will get some pics of different angles later week and post them up. I will be making a single pod for the clock replacement as well but will post pics of that too when it's done.

I have been in contact with my fibreglass fabricator over the weekend and they have told me that the grain/wrinkle effect (to give the pods a "factory" look) should not be a problem to put into the moulds

Sorry - The pic doesn't show it that well, but the double pod has been angled to directly at the headrest of the drivers seat. It has also been designed to fit 2 x 60mm gauges with a depth of up to ~40mm

I have started the gauge pod design of a single pod (which mounts at the base of the A-pillar) and a double pod (which replaces the clock in the centre of the dash). The designs so far have only been done in plaster but represent the shape and size of the final product. Each pod in the pics is marked with a circle representing a 60mm gauge bezel. I intend to also make a single gauge pod which replaces the clock, but I only had time to complete these two today. This should give all those who wanted to see how they will look a good idea of the look of them. Pics can be found at http://people.aapt.net.au/~mearcat/Pod/ -Alan

Yup - got it HERE. Easy as to remove from the sounds of it.

When I first sat in a Stagea, I did look at the centre clock "pod" and wonder whether I could fit 2 x 60mm gauges in there or not. I haven't actually got the cars as yet but when I do I will certainly look into it. Do you have to take the dash apart to remove the clock "pod"?? Or is it a simple case of pulling up and unclipping it?

All the gauge pods I am prototyping / designing are done so to fit at the base of the A-pillar up against the dash/windscreen. The two main reasons are that it's a subtle position that lessens the chance of getting defected (according to VicRoads, it's a legal design) and that forward vision is not obstructed like some of the ones that screw into the A-pillar. The overall Stagea single pod design will look similar to the R34 pic on my website.

Update : Three pod designs now available for purchase. See link below to see pics. Prices : Single a-pillar pod $79, Single clock replacement $95, Single clock replacement $109 Shipping : $5 for single A-pillar pod, $8 for clock replacement pods - to anywhere in Australia. As some of you may be aware, in the last few months, I have begun prototyping various fibreglass gauge pod designs for all the Skylines models, 300ZX, S13/14/15 etc. See my page at http://www.mearcat.com.au for some examples of what I have done so far. The R33 & S13 pods are currently being sold but more designs will be ready soon (due to lack of captial funds this has been delayed until early Jan). Thanks to the generosity of Wildcat (owner of 2 very nice Stageas) allowing me to use their cars, I will soon start a prototype of a single and double gauge pod for the Stagea. I will be developing the gauge pods for the Stag (to fit both Series 1 & 2) no matter what, but I was wondering how many people would be interested in gauge pods for when they will be ready (early in Jan I hope). I will post pics of the protoypes which should be ready in a few weeks. Final prices will be $79 for a single and maybe ~$110 for the double. Each pod will be undercoated & prepainted. -Alan

Yes - I currently have 7 kits in stock and heaps of thermocouples & compression glands available. PM Sent to you...

Mistake there. Wogboy is located in Tassie! Anyone else know someone with an R34 coupe in Perth?

I'm REALLY keen to find a R34 coupe to make a gauge pod for it. Anyone interested in getting a free gauge pod in return for loaning your car for a weekend???