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Here's a small project I made the other day that I'll share for anyone else who wants to make one. I needed a gauge holder for my boost & pyro gauges, but I didn't want a dash or pillar pod, so I made a gauge holder from tinted acrylic to fit in the spare 1-DIN radio slot. This is to suit GQ's, but would possibly fit GU's, etc too.
For anyone who wishes to make a gauge holder, I would recommend having a practice attempt by making one out of cardboard first, keeping in mind the dimensions provided are to fit my gauges above my radio. There are small variations in size between brands of gauges and radios, that's why it's best to practice before buying/ wasting plastics.
Trial fit the gauges in the holder, then trial fit the holder in your truck.
Once the cardboard holder is deemed suitable you can move onto the plastic gauge holder. I used grey tinted acrylic (Perspex) because I had some laying around, but ideally polycarbonate (Lexan) would be better. Acrylic can chip/ crack easily. Polycarbonate is way tougher and would be more ideal. Bunnings sells sheets of acrylic, but a plastic supplier would probably be cheaper.
Once everything is marked out correctly, start by cutting out the gauge holes first. I used a 51mm hole saw, then lightly filed the hole until the gauges were a snug fit.
**Ignore some of the lines, there was a change of design.
Next cut out the rest of the gauge holder, I used a jigsaw with a fine-tooth metal cutting blade. If you don't cut the large holes first, you risk cracking the base of the holder.
Trial fit the gauges in the holder, then trial fit the holder in your truck.
Once the cardboard holder is deemed suitable you can move onto the plastic gauge holder. I used grey tinted acrylic (Perspex) because I had some laying around, but ideally polycarbonate (Lexan) would be better. Acrylic can chip/ crack easily. Polycarbonate is way tougher and would be more ideal. Bunnings sells sheets of acrylic, but a plastic supplier would probably be cheaper.
Next cut out the rest of the gauge holder, I used a jigsaw with a fine-tooth metal cutting blade. If you don't cut the large holes first, you risk cracking the base of the holder.
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