OK so I got tired of my temp gauge being in the Cf holder. I have a universal single pod for it and attempted to install. Well I messed up and tried to put it in the oven to make plyable to form it to the a-pillar. now the opening for the gauge is smaller and I cannot get the gauge in it. Also, I was not able to get it plyable enough to get it to form correctly. SOO I have to either 1) get a new pod and a heat gun to try again. or 2) does anyone know if the Ram A-pillars fit in the dakota? It would be a lot easier to get a srt-10 a pillar. what did you guys do that have the a pillar pods?

 

the ram pillar wont fit, but why not get a colum pod, here is mine, just have to order it for a 3rd gen ram


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yea I saw those. Thing is I already have the wires coming up under the a pillar. and the original pillar has a few holes in it from when I had the first "pod" mounted. I like the look also of the a pillar mount. wonder if Dodge has a a-piller with pod from the dealer? calling tomorrow. if not, getting another "universal" pod and a heat gun. no one ever said education was cheap!

 

Dodge trucker, thanks for the input. I searched around, sent emails out, adn NO ONE makes a a-pillar for the 05 dakota with a pod. SO I had to improvise. Got the same kind of pod I destroyed in the oven, and a heat gun. worked much better. then used mighty putty (yes, the same mighty putty pitched by the late Billy Mays) and I really like how it worked. Formed the pod and used the enclosed screws to fasten it. Then used the mighty putty to fill in the seams. Once the putty (first coat) dried, was able to remove the screws adn put a 2nd coat so the holes from the screws would be covered. sanded for 2 plus hours today and painted. came out pretty good. I like it much better than the Cf pod. just wish someone made one all one piece. Also paint is close but I will be painting the pasenger side just to make them match.

old
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in progress
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final result
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looks really good man how many hours in total

 

Well, total or working hours? I started this last Sunday.
Sunday
1) removed the old pod, and A-Piller 45 minutes. reason it took so long is I couldn't get the plugs back thru the hole. When installed, they put the connectors on after the wires went thru the hole in the a-pillar. So I had to cut the wires and splice them back.
2) destroyed the original pod in the oven. I thought I could soften it all at once and shape it to the a-pillar. well, it also shrunk the opening for the gauge so it wouldn't fit. tossed that out and quit for the day.

monday
1) went to advanced auto and picked up a new single gauge pod
2) went to home depot and picked up a heat gun
3) back home, 1/2 hr to shape and screw the pod to the pillar.

Tuesday
used the mighty putty and put the first coating on. took 1/2 hr

wednesday
removed the screws Monday as the putty hardened adn is keeping the pod attached. put more putty on to cover the screw holes and give it a more tapered look

thursday
nothing. just let it sit to really harden

friday
sanded the putty for 2 hours and painted. painting took all of 10 minutes. after it dried, installed it.


so took 5 hours work, spread out over 6 days/evenings.

 

they all look great even tho i wouldnt mine doign that one u did with just screwing it in or getting the unverisal pod and doing it me i would of kept it black. do you think a double universal pod will fit?

 

that looks really nice looks stock

 

Thank you. Just hoped I could have gotten the texture to match. but I had to sand it to make it transition I really like this better than the first way it was installed though. Put in a green LED and it's so much brighter, and the angle is just so much better!