Hello,
I am just working on parts bits and pieces for a Ls96 swapped canyon turbo instal. What are the important gauges I should be considering buying for first start up? Also my kit came with a manual boost controller. Am I better to get a AEM electronics electronic boost gauge/controller?
Thanks
Ryan

 

it depends how much you want to log and if you can decipher that data. I like to log as many things as I can as it will be easier to pin point a problem or set up fail safes for things. I have
oil pressure
fuel pressure
A/F ratio
coolant temp
coolant pressure
backpressure on the collector
air inlet temp


and a couple other I cant remember.

electronic boost controllers are the way to go. manual is worthless in my opinion

 

boost gauge and a/f ratio are absolute musts. I used to run an aeroforce scan gauge as well since you can look through a lot of parameters quickly. I like a fuel pressure gauge if I am running a fmu

 

I added a boost gauge and already had an AFR gauge.

 

Gauges and assorted controllers add up fast. Have you looked at Holley EFI yet? When I was looking by the time I got a wideband, boost controller, two step, gauges, pods, etc it was cheaper to get the Holley EFI HP kit which includes a new harness and an easy hookup for a display for all those things. Much easier to use then having to buy, learn, license HPtuners as well.

 

Just the extreme basics IMO. Water temp and oil pressure. I glance at those all the time… but anything else should really be data logged IMO. Shouldn’t be staring at gauges anyway.

 

If you are running a high stall TQ, I would for sure get a trans oil temp gauge.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. What brand is everyone running with....it seems Autometer dominates the market. But is also one of the most expensive...i also noticed a few gauges are liquid filled. Is that a gimmick or a good design?
Thanks
Ryan

 

Liquid filled gauges dampen needle pulsations, and automatically show you by way of bubbles or discolorations if you have a leaky gauge. In the old school world of analog gauges, they are NOT a gimmick. With electronic gauges they would be.

 

If you got time to stare at the gauges on your dash you are going too slow..... Invest your time and money into data logging and EFI capability's.

 

personally I have
AEM tru boost, 30-4110 wideband
sunpro mechanical temp, sunpro oil pressure
autometer trans temp
Monster Tach

wideband wired to hp tuners pro, data logging everything else

When not data logging or HP tuners hooked up, I run Torque pro on my phone w gauges

I also am planning on removing the schrader valve on the stock truck rail running an adapter and wiring a transducer in to log fuel pressure w hp tuners... So far I have the cost for that around 70 bucks and trying to get it done cheaper before pulling the trigger

 

This thread has become over complicated lol. Like I said must have gauges are A/F and Boost. A/F will let you know if something goes wrong as you drive around. Most people don’t street drive with a laptop open and recording all parameters. Fuel or air issue and that will show on the A/F gauge. Plug in a scanner then figure it out. Timing issue will generally cause a miss fire and will throw a CEL. Sooo with that one gauge and stock ecm you are made aware of most problems instantly. True boost is rad if you plan on running different boost levels. If you plan to do a single tune at 1 boost level then a basic boost gauge will work. AEM makes some rad digital gauges that are inexpensive and easy to read that are reliable. Don’t put more money into gauges than you do into your turbo (happens alllll the time). Is usually run a 3 gauge pod with a scan gauge in the bottom pod. It’s nice because if you have an issue it’s like plugging in an OBD2 scanner except it constantly runs and you can cycle through screens. Not a gauge you have to watch though. Most cars have oil pressure and coolant on the dash. On my SRT4 I ran a fuel pressure gauge since I had fuel pressure rise with boost. Not something I ever really watched, however if you just put a gauge on the fuel rail you can’t see the rise under load while driving. Plus the SRT had the boost gauge to the right of the steering wheel stock so a 3 gauge pod still worked.

Really the only gauge I ever monitored was A/F. Glance at the dash occasionally sure but not much more than that. Even a boost gauge seems unnecessary to watch. Over boost A/F shows lean, boost leak A/F shows rich. It’s pretty bright and on a pod I could see it in my peripheral. It should hang around stoich anyways unless you are into the throttle pretty hard. Then as you pull through the gear when the turbo is spooled just a quick glance to make sure it’s where you want it is all you need.

 

If you look close, autometer has gauges that are very competitive in pricing with other brands and if it says autometer its made in the USA. If it says Autogauge its chinese.



The lower one is a cyberdyne digital gauge. Lifetime warranty and Ive already had to have it replaced a couple times.