Gauge placement?
 

Ok, I got some gauges that IF i get that dsm I test drove today, I will wanna put in. I got oil psi, voltometer, boost/vacuum, and a/f ratio. I also wanna get egt, fuel psi, and water temp..but, where all can you put these gauges? I have only seen 2 gauges on the pillar, and sometimes, i've seen some gauges in the air vents, or the a/c controls..well, i wanna keep my a/c, and the vents..so, what else is there?

-A. Swift

Re: Gauge placement?
 

Why in the world would you want that many gauges? Half those are already built into the factory cluster.

Anyway,
You can get a triple a-pillar pod, a dual or triple vent pod, and plenty of options mounting into the stereo location. You could also try mounting them into the factory gauge cluster since you're doubling up some gauges anyway. That many gauges is extreme overkill though. Just get a boost gauge, and maybe an EGT.

Re: Gauge placement?
 

Triple guage pod on the A pillar and some gauges mounted in a bezel where the radio is.

I was going to get a few guages also but decided against it as I didnt want to tap into things for oil PSI (mechanical), water temp (mechanical) and A/F is pointless unless you have a Wideband 02 guage instead. If you dont know what it is do a search :)

Re: Gauge placement?
 

I know what the wideband is. I like being informed. I have found that factory gauges are rather restrictive, or inaccurate. already, my oil psi gauge saved me, when i lost all oil pressure due to a bad valve cover gasket..

-A. Swift

Re: Gauge placement?
 

If you lost THAT much oil because of a valve cover gasket, one of the easiest and cheapest things to repair on a DSM, you need to think twice about what gauges you want/need.

Re: Gauge placement?
 

..actually, it was on my honda. I personally, am used to seeing everything and anything, in my uncle's stang, there is a custom panel where the dash used ot be, full of gauges..so, i wanna kinda give it that feel..

-A. Swift

Re: Gauge placement?
 

So you want a custom panel to replace your dash, but retain your A/C vents? Okey dokey, looks like you answered your own question. You won't have your tach or Speedo any more, but atleast you'll be comfy on those hot summer afternoons with A/C vents.

And btw, most of the vent gaue pods have slits in them to allow air (A/C) to still pass through.

Re: Gauge placement?
 

yea, after looking around, I saw that one setup, with 2 holes for a gauge, and the slots in it for the ac. I was just trying to see what other creative ways people have mounted gauges..

-A. Swift

Re: Gauge placement?
 

I think stright line specialties can get the radio bezel one. there is a slot for a single din radio and 3 guages below. Matt (alpinetsi) has one

Re: Gauge placement?
 

yea, I was looking at that one, but this car has the safc there, so that would not work..I know that I can place a gauge next to it, so we will see..where can I get the 3 pod setup for the pillar?

-A. Swift

Re: Gauge placement?
 

gaugepods.com

Also what kind of gauges did you buy? Becuase the stock gauges for oil and water will be better that the cheap ebay imitations that come like 4 gagues for 100 bucks. Make sure your geting something decent like VDO, defi, greddy or maybe Autometer-even though I dont think Autometer is the greatest.

Re: Gauge placement?
 

I run faze. I like their gauges, and have never had a problem with them..

-A. Swift

Re: Gauge placement?
 

You can mount them in the glove box if need be like you should move the SAFC to hide it from curious eyes. Last year, my interior went from everything out and in your face --> three gauge pillar on a toggle for power, SAFC and AVCR in the glove box, removed lighted switch for the stuterbox, and moved the turbo timer. I had quite a light show at night before...

Re: Gauge placement?
 

i like seeing the safc..i wonder if i could built like a plastic folding door or sumthin. I think that would look pretty slick. I am already planning out the placement. I can put the a/f, pyrometer, and boost gauges on the driver's pillar..if i find a 3 gauge pod. Then, the fuel and oil psi where the vents are, and the volt next to the safc. As long as you guys say that the stock water temp gauge is good, then i might not get it, but I dunno..the fan is hooked up to a switch, so I can control when it's on or off. So, I wanna keep track of it more accuratly..also, on a turbo car, should the water temp still be within 180-210? or is it higher? thanks to all who helped..I am getting good ideas here..

-A. Swift

Re: Gauge placement?
 

Quite honestly, if I were in your shoes I would look into modifying the original gauge cluster. I have seen it done before and have some information about it on my computer at home that I can post up later. I believe Nick Drake out at Pina Motorsports did it but I'll need to double check. I'd say the main reason for doing this would be since you want to replace a number of your original OEM gauges, there's no point in having a factory gauge plus an aftermarket.

Re: Gauge placement?
 

Well I thought I had information about modifying the stock gauge cluster but I can't seem to find anything, just a couple of pics....

Re: Gauge placement?
 

Ding Ding Ding: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/show...=gauge+cluster

Re: Gauge placement?
 

wow, not bad at all..I think that it might get hard to do though..I dunno if I will do the water temp anymore. I will do the oil psi and the others, just cause I already have the gauges. Oh, do you guys think that the egt gauge is worth it?

-A. Swift

Re: Gauge placement?
 

On the topic of EGT, most are split on them. I have one, but don't use it at all. I have a wideband display so that is mainly why. But when I didn't have a WB I wasn't really paying much attention to the EGT as my probe was piss poor slow(Autometer), now there are faster ones out there, but I still don't really feel they are required. EGT's aren't a for sure thing, temps for the most part imply the AF ratio, but not always.

Now that I have pretty much said that I don't think EGT's are worthwhile, you want to buy mine? ;)

Re: Gauge placement?
 

lol. I use faze..is it a faze egt? if not, then no. I'll be selling the oil psi and autometer boost gauge outta this car. So, don't worry about the egt gauge? I don't have a wideband sensor..but I have the A/F gauge..would that work, or do I need to buy them as a complete set?

-A. Swift

Re: Gauge placement?
 

If the AF gauge is that annoying ass one with the LED's that go from rich to stoich to lean, it is pretty much worthless. The voltage change on the narrowband 02 is only effective to a very small range of AF ratios, making it very hard to tune to. Also it only works are WOT so whenever you aren't out making WOT runs you will get a major headache watching those damn LED's flicker back and forth all the time, and it is even worse at night. From what I remember there was a way to mod them to make them more sensitive to voltage changes, but it is probably still dealing with same small range from the sensor.

Maybe it is that I am babied by it, but I really recommend using a WBO2. I love mine as I always know the exact AF ratio I am running.

Re: Gauge placement?
 

well, what does it look like, and where can I get one?

-A. Swift

Re: Gauge placement?
 

When Devin was with OSOFAST he was working on one for Nick Tufte. I "think" that's the first one that went out and was bad ass. I saw Devin working with it when it was near done.

Re: Gauge placement?
 

http://www.plxdevices.com/ Makes a nice guage that you can add to their Wideband unit. You could always ge tthe guage, hook up the lighting so it looks cool :) and then buy the Wideband unit later.

Re: Gauge placement?
 

I agree with Alpine in the point that EGT is a questionable gauge to have. If you were to get wideband, the EGT is more or less useless. But if you have a decent one, the EGT gauge can be helpful if you're not willing to spend the extra $ on a WB A/F. I simply recommended it because it's more useful than half the gauges you intended to install.

Re: Gauge placement?
 

ok. So, you think the stock water temp gauge is accurate? Cause, with the fan hoked up to a switch, it's on when i want it on..so, what should the stock temp gauge be at for me to then turn it on? Also, Should I just get the EGT gauge, and F the a/f? I don't intend to installe useless gauges. My volt gauge, and oil psi gauge have both saved me..the volt gauge when I ran my radio too long (stupid, stupid me) and I needed to recharge. The oil psi gauge..well..duh. Anywhos, What do you hook an electrical fuel psi gauge up to? I was asked that the other day, and I honestly don't know..

-A. Swift

Re: Gauge placement?
 

There is a sender that gets put in line for an electrical fuel pressure gauge. I wouldn't worry about that yet. The stock temp guage is decent, but it stays in the middle for a very large temp range, then moves up quickly once it starts to get hot. It is not a linear gauge.

Re: Gauge placement?
 

So, do you suggest I get a temp gauge then? I want accuracy. I am used to many gauges to read off of. It helps me diagnose things before they become a rather large issue. As far as that fuel psi gauge, I figure why not? My friend was Giving me his for free, and it's a Faze gauge, like my others. When mounting these gauges where those a/c vents are: do they tend to melt the plastic housings the gauges are made of, when the heater is in use?

-A. Swift

Re: Gauge placement?
 

Ok. I got the egt gauge also on the way. How hard is it to hook up the 3 gauges in the vent pod, and route the wiring correctly? What are you grounding it too? Where should the wires all go through? Sorry, it's such a dumb question, I know. But, my previous car had the wires run through the damn door, and I, unlike that owner, wanna make it right.

-A. Swift

Re: Gauge placement?
 

You can run a few wires through the steering-column boot in the firewall, if needed, you can always drill another hole and add a rubber gromet to protect the wires. You sure do want to do a lot of monitoring for what I'm assuming to be a stock or fairly stock car. Faze gauges are those ones sold at AutoZone right?