For those who have a Focus with that useless coin try or any other kind of ...car that has a good spot of a gauge pod, here is a how to for you....
Well, Lets see how well I can explain this.....
1) I started out getting stock Focus gauge surround from a junk yard $25 (so if I messed up I still had the one in my ...car) and a universal gauge pod $10. Pick up a fiberglass repair kit @ $10 (comes with resin, hardiner, fiber mat, and instructions) And a couple of cheap 1/2 inch brushes.And a small container of Bondo body filler.
2) Cut out the coin tray from the gauge surround and then trim the universal gauge pod to fit the coin tray area in the angle I wanted to get (this way the gauge faced straight at me). Superglue the pod in place and let it dry.
3) Cut a couple of pieces of fiber mat for the entire area (overlap the edges about 1/2 inch). In a well ventalated area, mix the resin and hardiner. Take a brush and coat the whole area to fiberglass. Lay the first fiber mat in place and brush resin on it (don't worry about using too much) while brushing you can form the fiberglass to the contures you want. Use the brush to form the angles and contures. Once you get the first layer on apply the second on the same way and let cure over night.
*the first part should look like this.....
4) Once cured, sand fiberglass with 120 grit to get rid of any realy high spots and also sand the gauge surround when the fibergalss meets (when sanding you might want to wear a particle dust mask). Also I used a dremel tool with a sanding disk on it to feather out the edges where there was too much fiberglass overhanging and the hole where the gauge will go. When cutting the hole, be carefull not to cut too big. Keep test fitting the gauge while cutting. Then mix more resin and coat entire area with resin only, use a nice thick cout and let cure for 3-4 hours. The warmer the temperature the faster it will cure.
5) Sand the cured fiberglass as smooth as you can get it with out sanding any holes in it.
6) Apply a thin coat of body filler and let cure for 2-3 hours.
*should look something like this....
7) Sand body filler to get the desired contures you are looking for, and repeat body filler if needed.
8) Once contured the way you want it, then use 400 grit to smooth even better and then 600 or 800 to get really smooth and get rid of any deep sanding marks. Test fit gauge again and make sure it fits right.
9) Prime the surface with a sandable primer and sand with at least 1000 grit to get as smooth as glass.
10) Once smooth, paint the piece and let dry, install gauge into surround and then install surround.
I have never worked with fiberglass until this and I am very happy with how it came out...
I hope this helps, I didn't get any starting pictures, I am sorry. If you have questions feel free to ask.
____________________ 2001 Focus Street Edition, tons of mods but I will never be done....
Nice how-to, I know ALOT of people who will find this very useful... If only I had a good area to do this, that didn't have tree's or crazy guys with tourrets running around.
I would be interested in having one of these in the car, however, whats the most common guage you would put there? I hate that silly ass coin try/dust collector
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It's not about what you have under the hood, it's about who you have behind the wheel...
