Real experience opinions please

[V8 Vum]

Guys,

Got to the point of sorting out my dash and went for the idea of the traditional instrument pod infront of the steering wheel.
Without muchg ado..I set about a tortuous learning curve with masses of filler and fibreglass..itchy fingers (until I rmembered about the gloves).... and voila! After too many more weekends than I care to mention I had made my first pod! Hurray!

So Sorted then?
...well not quite!

I then realised that the positioning was the next prob. since I need to see the instruments when driving 'through and around' the wheel clearly.

So sans seats I squeezed myself into what approximated as a driving position and Uggggh! I didn't realise how claustraphobic (I know - bad spelling i THINK) the pod made the cab...and visibility is certainly cut down over the wheel, expecially if compared without it!


So to the question.....

Have any of you some thoughts and opinions on pod position vs driving/ visibility of the road and manoevering?

I'd hate to make a big mistake!

Cheers in anticipation of some help!

Keith

[Steve_D]

As you have discovered the pod cannot be higher than the steering wheel.
If the pod is in front of the wheel all instruments must be visible through the wheel not over it.
This pretty much governs the pod size. As a guide my Stack pod is 2.5 inches higher than the dash top.

In terms of seat position if you put no more than an inch on the floor and a piece of half inch ply up the roll cage and sit in. Slide you arse forward so your tail bone is about 8 inches forward of the ply you have the rearmost Ultima driving position.

Steve

[andygtt]

what Steve says, you need to see the dials through the wheel and make your pod accordingly.... worth doing tho IMO.

Rgds
Andy

[GTRCLIVE]

I bought a Offset steering wheel. This means there's more visibility through the top open section of the wheel, and you don't notice it when driving.... There quite common and I suspect all because of that problem..

[GTRCLIVE]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dGrsGySHr9s/SJqTVjVH1OI/...

You can see the centre of the wheel is not the Centre of the mounting.....
it's offset by 1/2" so that gives you nearly 1" more room above the centre than below....

Edited by GTRCLIVE on Thursday 7th August 07:27

[V8 Vum]

Good to hear that my work so far is about right, and I do have an offset wheel, and the pod is just about the same height as the very top of the wheel, although I did play with making it just a tad higher to try to bring the instrument face bezel up a touch, hoping to make a little more room for those pesky stalks!

I thinks its time to trial fit the driver seat to be sure I have the pod height right, however I have a bit of a difficult compromise between seeing the dials and the front bezel coming too low/close to the proposed brackets for the stalks. All looks a bit squished to me...
Don't want to start hacking holes in the dash to accomodate the bezel till I get it right if a all...

nervous stuff!

So those who have gone for pods in front of the wheel...do you find visibility OK?

Cheers

keith

[Steve_D]

V8 Vum said:

...So those who have gone for pods in front of the wheel...do you find visibility OK?.....

Depends how much you try and cram in there.

I taped a piece of cardboard to the front of the dash then sitting in the correct driving position and with hands on wheel drew around everything including knuckles of the hands holding the wheel. This will show where on the pod and dash things will be visible. Gauges you must see but some switches you may not need to see.

Steve

[V8 Vum]

As always.... Ta for your pearls Steve!

..err ...not that I am casting any aspersions nor malicious rumours about your choice of weekend attire of course!



Keith

[GTRMikie]

V8 Vum said:

So those who have gone for pods in front of the wheel...do you find visibility OK?

Cheers

keith

I did not go for a pod in front of the wheel because I found it much easier to see the dials in the original Ultima position. I found it needed a conscious effort to look down to read dials behind the wheel, especially if one sits somewhat forward in the cockpit (are a short a**e) whereas centre dials are in my peripheral vision, which means no looking down to see what speed/revs I'm doing.