Installing Gauge in air vent - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

cdjnight · 08-14-2015, 12:43 PM

So I wanted to install a gauge in my left side AC vent and still keep function of the vent. Having had a mustang before I knew they sold this adapter so I ordered one and modified it to work with Camaro dash vent.
The adapter I bought is sold by Roush http://www.jegs.com/i/Roush+Performa...FQmNaQodQtwHVQ

I also bought a spare dash vent off Ebay in case I ruined it. I also wanted to keep my original intact.

The major thing you have to do is modify the Roush adapter to fit the Camaro duct. I used a 4" grinder with flap wheel to remove a little material from the overall diameter and take about 1/8" of back side so it would sit flush in the duct trim and everything would snap back together.

I installed an Innovative Motorsports SCG-1 Which is a wideband, shift light, boost gauge and boost controller all in one unit. The boost controller function obviously isn't needed for my car, but I do have future plan for it to control my water/meth system...more on that in another post later.

Hope this helps someone out there with their hotrod that would like a clean single gauge install.

CamaroSS sleeper · 08-14-2015, 12:58 PM

Genius!!!!

Wished I'd knew about this before.
I had no choise but to buy A gauge pod...
I don't like to advertise "I'm boosted" to anyone... lol

Great post buddy!!

cdjnight · 08-14-2015, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroSS sleeper

Genius!!!!

Wished I'd knew about this before.
I had no choise but to buy A gauge pod...
I don't like to advertise "I'm boosted" to anyone... lol

Great post buddy!!

Thanks man! I had seen a few posted on here that blocked it off completely with a plate and I didn't like how they turned out at all. Plus I didn't want to loose 100% of my AC vent.

Redlineviper · 08-14-2015, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdjnight

Thanks man! I had seen a few posted on here that blocked it off completely with a plate and I didn't like how they turned out at all. Plus I didn't want to loose 100% of my AC vent.

Very slick, please post finished pictures when you are done. I may like it better than my SLP column pod which has my AEM wideband and boost gauge.

cdjnight · 08-15-2015, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redlineviper

Very slick, please post finished pictures when you are done. I may like it better than my SLP column pod which has my AEM wideband and boost gauge.

I was looking at those like yours and I didn't like how the color of plastic didn't match the factory stuff. I will have some more installation pics soon.

Redlineviper · 08-15-2015, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdjnight

I was looking at those like yours and I didn't like how the color of plastic didn't match the factory stuff. I will have some more installation pics soon.

Yea, me either. A little different color, totally different texture, has fasteners which I did not realize would be visible for over $100 the peice of plastic you get is cheesy.

jayno20 · 08-15-2015, 11:27 PM

This is the best option I've seen yet for adding a gauge. I want to get an aeroforce interceptor but I have no clue where to mount it. This might just be it. I'd like to see it installed as well...

How much did you end up having to trim off of it? Did you just trim all around it?

cdjnight · 08-16-2015, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayno20

This is the best option I've seen yet for adding a gauge. I want to get an aeroforce interceptor but I have no clue where to mount it. This might just be it. I'd like to see it installed as well...

How much did you end up having to trim off of it? Did you just trim all around it?

I used a flap wheel sanding disc in a 4-1/2" grinder to sand off about a 1/16th of an inch off diameter. It fits into the silver trim as is but it stretches it and will end up braking it. The back side I took off close to an 1/8" so it fits flush in to the silver trim piece. You have to do that otherwise the silver piece won't snap back onto the rest of the assembly. Took me a whole 5 minutes to sand down then I used a sharp pocket knife to clean up the edges because the plastic tends to ball up and melt when sanding. I took my time and test fitted several times till I got it just right.

jayno20 · 08-16-2015, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdjnight

I used a flap wheel sanding disc in a 4-1/2" grinder to sand off about a 1/16th of an inch off diameter. It fits into the silver trim as is but it stretches it and will end up braking it. The back side I took off close to an 1/8" so it fits flush in to the silver trim piece. You have to do that otherwise the silver piece won't snap back onto the rest of the assembly. Took me a whole 5 minutes to sand down then I used a sharp pocket knife to clean up the edges because the plastic tends to ball up and melt when sanding. I took my time and test fitted several times till I got it just right.

Nice. I'd definitely like to see some pictures of it installed.

cdjnight · 08-16-2015, 11:39 AM

Here's installation into dash, I had to tape last screw to socket in order to get all the way back up into dash to install. Also you'll see I drilled a hole in duct in order to route wires out. I used 7/8" hole saw because the wide band connector is large and this gauge has a lot of wires coming off it.

cdjnight · 08-16-2015, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redlineviper

Very slick, please post finished pictures when you are done. I may like it better than my SLP column pod which has my AEM wideband and boost gauge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayno20

This is the best option I've seen yet for adding a gauge. I want to get an aeroforce interceptor but I have no clue where to mount it. This might just be it. I'd like to see it installed as well...

How much did you end up having to trim off of it? Did you just trim all around it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayno20

Nice. I'd definitely like to see some pictures of it installed.

And here is the final installation picture from drivers seat

jayno20 · 08-16-2015, 04:25 PM

that looks good. What was the taped screw for though? For taking the duct work out or putting the vent back in?

ZEDL1 · 08-16-2015, 05:30 PM

cdjnight, I'm not easily impressed, but you did just that.
Very clever. Gorgeous work.

cdjnight · 08-16-2015, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayno20

that looks good. What was the taped screw for though? For taking the duct work out or putting the vent back in?

There is one of the three screws that holds the vent in the dash that is blind installation. You can't get your hand in there and you can't see it. So I taped the screw on to scocket and guided it in with one finger. I used a deep scocket 7mm, 3" extension and 6" extension all on a 1/4" drive nut driver to get it in from under dash. (Going in near hood release latch)

08-14-2015, 12:43 PM	#1
cdjnight Drives: 2013 ZL1 A6 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa Posts: 266	Installing Gauge in air vent So I wanted to install a gauge in my left side AC vent and still keep function of the vent. Having had a mustang before I knew they sold this adapter so I ordered one and modified it to work with Camaro dash vent. The adapter I bought is sold by Roush http://www.jegs.com/i/Roush+Performa...FQmNaQodQtwHVQ I also bought a spare dash vent off Ebay in case I ruined it. I also wanted to keep my original intact. The major thing you have to do is modify the Roush adapter to fit the Camaro duct. I used a 4" grinder with flap wheel to remove a little material from the overall diameter and take about 1/8" of back side so it would sit flush in the duct trim and everything would snap back together. I installed an Innovative Motorsports SCG-1 Which is a wideband, shift light, boost gauge and boost controller all in one unit. The boost controller function obviously isn't needed for my car, but I do have future plan for it to control my water/meth system...more on that in another post later. Hope this helps someone out there with their hotrod that would like a clean single gauge install. Attached Images __________________ Last edited by cdjnight; 08-14-2015 at 03:32 PM.

08-16-2015, 11:39 AM	#10
cdjnight Drives: 2013 ZL1 A6 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa Posts: 266	Here's installation into dash, I had to tape last screw to socket in order to get all the way back up into dash to install. Also you'll see I drilled a hole in duct in order to route wires out. I used 7/8" hole saw because the wide band connector is large and this gauge has a lot of wires coming off it. Attached Images __________________

08-14-2015, 12:58 PM	#2
CamaroSS sleeper Drives: Sleeper_NOT Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Ventura Posts: 184 View My Garage	Genius!!!! Wished I'd knew about this before. I had no choise but to buy A gauge pod... I don't like to advertise "I'm boosted" to anyone... lol Great post buddy!!

08-15-2015, 11:27 PM	#7
jayno20 Go fast, please. Drives: 2019 Corvette ZR1 Join Date: May 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,471 View My Garage	This is the best option I've seen yet for adding a gauge. I want to get an aeroforce interceptor but I have no clue where to mount it. This might just be it. I'd like to see it installed as well... How much did you end up having to trim off of it? Did you just trim all around it?

08-16-2015, 04:25 PM	#12
jayno20 Go fast, please. Drives: 2019 Corvette ZR1 Join Date: May 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,471 View My Garage	that looks good. What was the taped screw for though? For taking the duct work out or putting the vent back in?

08-16-2015, 05:30 PM	#13
ZEDL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 Triple Black, 2015 2LT/RS Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Plymouth, Indiana Posts: 488	cdjnight, I'm not easily impressed, but you did just that. Very clever. Gorgeous work.