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V6FBody Online's - Techbase

4th Generation V6 FAQ: Interior

Dashboard Trim kits
Pedal covers
Door sills
Leather interior
150 mph dash in a V6 ?
How does the 150 mph cluster work on my V6 ???
Where to get a 150 mph cluster, how much ??
Can the V6 tach problem be solved ??
A pillar gauge pod
Cassette holder gauge plate
White faced gauge plate
Billet (polished stainless steel) gauge face plate
Shift knobs
Car alarm systems
Steering wheel covers



Dashboard Trim kits
There are several brands that make several dash trim kits. Exotic materials like Carbon Fiber and real wood are most often used. Personal taste is of course an important factor here, but most people agree that kits like these really enhance the interior. They are attached with 3M adhesive tape in less than 1 hour and cost between $175 - $250. There are kits available for both Chevy and Pontiac models between 1993 and 2000. Fake Carbon Fiber kits are also available, but they don't look half as good as the real ones. Be sure to check on the parts list of every dash kit before buying, as some kits have a few more bezels/panels than others. And don't forget to check the type of material that's used (Fake ?, what type of wood ? etc.)

Kits are available at RKSport and LGM
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Pedal covers
Aftermarket pedal covers are a great way to improve the interior appearance. They are relatively cheap, yet providing better looks and grip. Carbon Fiber and Billet materials are most often used. Installation is normally straight forward but getting them aligned can be tricky at sometimes (depending on kit). A complete kit normally costs $35-$45.
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Door sills
There are aftermarket door sills that replace the plastic stock ones. The stock ones simply remove by tearing them off (connected with a few clips). Most aftermarket sills attach with 3M tape. The CF door sill from RKSport is by far the best looking door sill I personally have seen.
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Leather interior
Some people wish they ordered leather seats when they ordered their car. It's known that leather has some unique comfort features and add a finishing touch to any car. No need for regrets, as aftermarket leather packages are available. Aftermarket leather is usually of better quality than the factory hides, but they do cost a pretty penny.
RKSport sells a complete leather package which includes:
  • Front and Rear Seats
  • Both Door Panels
The kit is very high quality and can be ordered in 3 colors but a '2-tone' custom application is also possible.
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150 mph dash in a V6?
This question has been asked a thousand times, "Will a 150 mph instrument cluster in my car?"
YES! But, let's get 1thing clear: Instrument cluster = the unit that houses the gauges covered by a clear plastic plate, it's hold down inside the dashboard with 4 bolts and is connected to the PCM with 1 multi pin connector (Blue colored).
DO NOT confuse this with a 'white faced gauge panel' like RKSport is selling. These panels are like a sheet of sticky colored plastic that replaces the existing 'foil' that has the printed digits on it (mph, temp, oil pressure, etc.) These plates ONLY add 'looks' to your existing instrument cluster. In other words, putting a 150 mph white face plate will NOT turn a 110 mph cluster into a working 150 mph one, you actually have to replace the whole cluster.
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How does the 150 mph cluster work on my V6?
The PCM gets speed info from the VSS (Vehicle Speed Sensor) which is located in the transmission. It gets anything between 1-4000 pulses each mile, the more pulses the faster the car is going. The PCM recalculates these pulses into speed and send that to the Instrument cluster. That way the 150 mph gauge will display the correct speed in any 4th Gen (V6 or V8 !!), the Tach is a different story .. The 150 mph tach expects 8 pulses for each revolution, but only gets 6 (V6 car), so the tach displays only 75% of the actual rpm ! Not very noticeable at low rpm, but very noticeable at high rpm. I must admit that some others and myself haven't really experienced this to be a real nuisance. Please read below to find the solution to the tach.
Note: All other gauges, odometer, etc. work 100% on the V6!
Note: V8 vehicles that want to swap their 110 mph in favor of a 150 mph cluster will NOT have a single problem.
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Where to get a 150 mph cluster, and how much?
I got mine like most others at a wrecker yard from a Z28, make sure it's in mint condition as replacing 1 burned light bulb requires a complete cluster removal afterwards.
I would prefer a cluster from a rear collision wrecked car.
HINT: install it at the wrecker yard yourself and check it at the spot. That's what I did, I drove around with this funny looking dash (wires all over the place), just to make sure every thing was working properly.
I paid $125 for the cluster, and I believe some others paid about the same amount for it.
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Can the V6 tach problem be solved?
Well, you can swap the V6 tach unit with the V8 tach, however the cluster will be useless after opening since it needs to take place in a de-pressurized room. If you simply open it, the gauges will be way off and this renders the cluster useless. There should be a sticker on the back of the cluster that warns for this.
Note: you can safely take off the the clear plate on the front of the cluster and you can even remove the needles (white face panel install for instance), but don't open the cluster from the back!
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A pillar gauge pod
For those who are desperate for some extra gauges should look into adding an A-pillar gauge pod. They normally hold 1 or 2 gauges in the sizes 2 or 2 /18 inch. Ideal for those who have a Supercharger kit and want to keep an eye on the amount of boost and monitor the fuel pressure. Installation of the pod is easy but connecting the gauges to the sending units can be very hard! Most people recommend getting a digital fuel pressure gauge with an electronic (under hood) sending unit, to save a lot of hassle.
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Cassette holder gauge plate
The Camaro owners can also mount a Gauge-plate in the area which is rather useless. The cassette/cd stowage area. RKSport sells a plate that fit's over the 'hole' and can be ordered pre-drilled for 2 gauges. Ideal for those who want some extra (bigger) gauges .
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White Faced Gauge Plates
White face plates can Greatly enhance your dashboard and thus whole interior. They are available for both Chevy & Pontiac and they have both 110 or 150 mph versions. Check around to find a good deal. They can be found at RKSport, SLP or NRauto  
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Billet (polished stainless steel) gauge face plate
Another great product to enhance the dashboard, this 'overlay' will go around the gauges and installation just requires removing the instrument cluster and the clear instrument plate. It's available at RKSport, the plate is made by Mallory Billet Products.
Note: It's not available for Pontiac (yet).
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Shift knobs
There is a wide variety of knobs, so i can't go into detail here. Be sure to check whether they WILL fit your specific shifter (OEM, Hurst) cause the Hurst 'style' knobs do NOT fit the stock shifter. Look at Internet Racer's Supply (IRS) or RKSport for a whole variety of knobs, including aluminum ones.
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Car alarm systems
Like the knobs, there are a lot of systems to choose from. It's just again a matter of personal choice and budget. A few good systems to look for are:
  • Clifford
  • Excalibur
  • Viper
  • Alpine
It's VERY important to make a good alarm system one of your 1st priorities as the PASS Key 2 anti theft system from GM isn't a real problem for thieves, it's bypassed with in minutes ... Take a system that allows multiple 'paralyzing' options, like: starter block, ignition block and fuel pump cut off. These 'tricks' will avoid most thief's from stealing the car as they simply require much time and a great deal of knowledge.
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Steering wheel covers
GRANT makes great steering wheel covers for the 4th Gens. They have a (fake) Carbon Fiber version which is the perfect compliment to a CF dash kit. Replacing the OEM wheel in favor of a leather wrapped wheel is also possible. I did it myself and it's not really hard to do when you have the proper tools and some elbow grease.
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