http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t190/AchtungTT/EDT-MANTIS_2_540.jpg

The Mantis is expensive as hell, but I like the location, but not really that the gauges face straight out. I'd rather they were angled up toward the driver a little bit. Thinking about designing my own. If I can get something decent thrown together, how many would be interested in buying one?

It'd be for 52mm gauges, and I was thinking of etching the Audi rings into the spot between the gauges, where the mantis has those grooves machined.

This wouldn't be a machined block like the mantis, I'll probably cut a face with the jet, and weld the sides to the face. It'd be sanded smooth so you almost couldn't tell it was a weld joint most likely.

This is whats in my head at this point, a concept. Actual results may vary...

Any interest? Anything you'd like to add?

No thanks.. have one. RS Designs... has "Coupe" etched into it...

http://images22.fotki.com/v813/photos/4/419847/4677676/DSCN0009-vi.jpg

Why not skip the weld and just waterjet the whole thing?

I think the mantis gaugemountlooks awesome and just "works" style-wise in the TT. The problem for me (like I'm some professional racer or something[&:]) is the location for viewing things like boost, A/F or oil.

If you are making them let me know, send me a pick of the install. I would buy one from you if the price was reasonable unlike the original mantis. No need for me to eat up anymore vents...I'm down to 3!

I always liked the Mantis except for the price, location, and that it is unavailable. Installation in that location also eliminates the only aux plug, at least in the roadster. Other than that, I like it fine.

So, design concerns are
visibility 12v power loss priceIt'd still be in the same location obviously, but I think by angling the gauges towards your head, they'd be easier to see at a glance. Your best use would be for oil temp/voltage, something with a needle that doesn't move like crazy, so you'd have time to look at it when its easy to do so, not like trying to watch where your boost is spiking at. Something like that I'd probably want closer to the windshield.
I can try to incorporate a relo for the cig. lighter, but the cleanest thing you can do is install one of the flip out accessory plugs from a VW. I'll see if I can come up with anything though.

http://public.fotki.com/BlueTTop/mods/12_volt_power_supply/

I'd probably charge about $50? Tough to say at this point, not having a definate design, and not knowing how much work this is going to take to make a part thats clean enough for me to be willing to install in a TT.

How about an official a-pillar gauge pod? One designed for a TT? I have a number for an injection molding contract shop, and I'm probably going to call them Monday, and see what it'd take for a run of pods. No clue on pricing yet, need to discuss with the shop, and will most likely depend on the cost of tooling, and the size of the lot. I wouldn't be looking to make a ton of money off them, or if I do, I'd still let you guys get them as cheap as I could, and I'll ebay the rest. Have a feeling we're talking about 100+ pods, but I'll know for sure when I talk to them. If I have the option, I was thinking gray plastic, trying to match the headliner color, rather than black. I think it'd look nicer for those who don't want to finish it in upholstery.


XCLR8TT, do you have a link to that RS design pod of yours? I cant seem to find anything, is that still in production, or is that a limited run as well?

I kinda like the gauges towards the center of the car not sure about other people but if they made a 3 gauge pod that mounted on top of the dash kinda between the front vents and the defroster ventsand had a smooth design so it looked like it was supposed to be there I would definately get it

I feel the opposite, I think the lines of the dash are nice enough that I dont want to spoil it with clutter. I have 3 locations Im willing to put gauges. A-pillar, ash tray, and pulling the radio, and putting gauges there.

Most I'd be willing to do for the dash is a HUD, and have it cycle thru oil temp/pressure, boost, voltage...

I was kinda wondering how hard it would be to relocate the controls for the heated seats defroster and hazzards to another location like by the motion sensor trunk release and fuel door buttons and use those holes for gauges really I just wanted to take out the hazzard relay and make that button my nitrous activation I think to much when I'm bored :)

I don't have ESP, so I was thinking that blank should rightfully be a engine start button : )

like the ones in the Bimoto TT that would be pretty cool to watch your friends try to start it with the key and when they look at you and say wtf you just tap the button and stare at them like there retarded :)

I would definitely pick up one Mantis style ....What period of the time are we talking about

A month maybe. Gotta dig around the shop and see if we have any scrap aluminum I could use, if not, order it. Cut time on the jet, weld time, potentially anodizing or powdercoating (the latter is easier for me to get done) unless you'd want it bare/brushed aluminum.

A month , **** yes i can wait ..... I like to have the OEM look so anodizing , powdercoating should be fine maybe brushed aluminum too , i need to see it ;)
I thing you will find meny people happy to buy it .

that would be sick. The mantis is by far the best looking gauge pod. If you made a replica and have the gauges angle up a little bit it would be perfect. If i ever sell my damn tiburon and get a tt i would buy one... alot of ifs... but it gets my vote.

ORIGINAL: achTTung


http://public.fotki.com/BlueTTop/mods/12_volt_power_supply/

XCLR8TT, do you have a link to that RS design pod of yours? I cant seem to find anything, is that still in production, or is that a limited run as well?



I did the 12v supply mod. I need to go back and work in it a little bit. The spring popped off so it won't close correctly, but other than that, it's a pretty neat little mod.

The RS Designs pod was a limited run from a few years ago. He made them with Coupe or Roadster etched into the design. I can't find any record of it any longer.

i wouldnt mind the a-piller thing, like with most on here just dont like the visibility on the manits

The 'first draft' I made tonight was just a cardboard mockup. Looks like it'll be a little more involved than I'd like for production, but I'm going to go ahead anyway. It'd be totally sweet if I had a die and could stamp them as one piece, but it looks more like I'll be welding a total of 6 pieces to make one gauge pod. There will also need to be a bracket to attach it to the locations of the ashtray. Doubt there will be any welding there, but its still another part with some assembly.

Celebrated Cinco de Mayo tonight, aka, ate mexican food and drank corona at my buddys place, so no camera tonight, and no pics of a cardboard pod w/ gauge installed. That was an odd sight.

Think Im gonna need a name for this thing, any suggestions? At this point, its just 'MKO', or mantis knock-off, although it isn't really, since I'd consider it an improved design, at least I hope it'll be improved.

sounds cool man! im excited to see what you come up with.

Me too .............:D

achTTung gauge pod - sounds cool;)

ORIGINAL: achTTung

The 'first draft' I made tonight was just a cardboard mockup. Looks like it'll be a little more involved than I'd like for production, but I'm going to go ahead anyway. It'd be totally sweet if I had a die and could stamp them as one piece, but it looks more like I'll be welding a total of 6 pieces to make one gauge pod. There will also need to be a bracket to attach it to the locations of the ashtray. Doubt there will be any welding there, but its still another part with some assembly.




If you end up having to weld each piece 6 times, your production costs and adding in your time are going to make this more expensive than the Mantis. Hopefully that's only on the prototype. As you know, I also manufacture a product, and every day I try and find better ways to cut down on production costs. Keep working on it and good luck. Did you get the pics I sent?
Was the original Mantis stamped as one piece? That's why it was so expensive and went away.

original mantis was machined from a solid piece.

These will most likely be a limited run, like the mantis was, so I'm not too concerned about my time. I can pretty much set the price where I want it, and do alright I think.

Ya know, I was sitting in my car the other day trying to come up with a solution for gauges in the car also and I found a location that I would like. Some of you may not like the idea but I think it would be pretty cool to mount the gauges right behind the sun visor some how. If something could be molded to where it looked factory it would be awesome. The reason why I like this idea is because it doesn't get in the way of anything else in the car such as the AC vent, or the ashtray, and you don't have to worry as much about matching the interior if you made an A-pillar pod. The only problem this poses that I can see is being able to see wires and etc through the windshield and also when the sun visor is down you wouldn't be able to see the gauges.

yeah, that may not be as widely accepted. I've heard a few complaints from taller guys that they have a hard time seeing stop lights w/o leaning forward pretty far. Gauges there would only make that worse. I'd like to see it done though, give it a shot.

If you can make one just like the mantis for 50.00 i will buy one tomorrow .... I dont know anyone that doesnt like them ....but what they charge is
ridiculous[/align]

nobodys making them, thats the thing. hell, mantis isn't even making them now.

I COULD make one just like the Mantis, gauges sticking straight out, and that'd be easy as hell. What I'm trying to do is more involved, and I really really hope it doesn't look weird when its done. Biggest issue with angling them is that you need to keep a flat face to mount them against, so I'm dealing with multiple surfaces. I dunno, hard to explain. You'll see when I get a pic I guess.

Hi ..
Any progres or pic . ?? ;)