How to Install gauges in hvac control spot

[BlazinLow_inORE]

Heater Control Panel Install



Read below on how to move your heater/ac controls to the glove box and fabricate a filler panel to mount whatever your heart desires.

http://www.buildyourride.com/98s10/gaugepanel01.jpg

Begin by removing the dash trim peices, then the heater control panel itself. Disconnect all the cables/hoses attached to the back of the panel.

http://www.buildyourride.com/98s10/gaugepanel02.jpg

I had some 1/8" textured ABS plastic, but I didn't think that would have been sturdy enough to support the gauges and switches, so I glued it to some 1/4" plexiglass.

http://www.buildyourride.com/98s10/gaugepanel03.jpg After applying some masking tape to the plastic, the layout of the panel was drawn out. Click here (http://www.buildyourride.com/tech/98heaterpanel.gif) to view a dimensioned drawing of the gauge panel. The next step was to cut out the panel on a band saw. Then use a couple drill bits and a 2 1/16" hole saw to cut the holes in the panel.

[BlazinLow_inORE]

http://www.buildyourride.com/98s10/gaugepanel04.jpg

Since the heater controls will be relocated to the glovebox, the glovebox was removed and a hole was cut into the side so the heater control wiring and hoses could then be routed into the glovebox.

http://www.buildyourride.com/98s10/gaugepanel05.jpg

The heater controls fit pretty nicely.

http://www.buildyourride.com/98s10/gaugepanel07.jpg

The panel was test fitted into the dash....

http://www.buildyourride.com/98s10/gaugepanel06.jpg

Trim panel on.....

http://www.buildyourride.com/98s10/gaugepanel09.jpg Here is a picture of the finished panel. The switch between the LEDs is a on/off switch for the valve switches. The green LED indicates when the on/off switch is in the 'on' position. The red LED indicates when the compressor is on, it is just hooked up to the same pressure switch that the compressor is. The two switches on the bottom left are for front up/down and rear up/down. Between the 2 gauges is a momentary switch that will turn the compressor on. Say the tank pressure isn't low enough to switch on the compressor but you want to fill the tank, or if you want to fill the tank a little more than the pressure switch will allow. The gauges are Viair dual needle gauges. The white needles show the pressure in the front and rear bags, and the yellow needle on the right gauge shows the tank pressure.

[BlazinLow_inORE]

courtesy of...http://www.buildyourride.com/gaugepanel.html

[Maximus]

Very good write up.Gives me some ideas on my first gen were my CD/MP# player is now.I thought about relocating it to the glovebox.Then install some guages and possible switches for different uses.