Gauge ideas
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Fredericksburg, VA
Gauge ideas Seriously considering getting some gauges and the Autometer triple pillar pod. I definitely want an A/F ratio gauge, and an oil temp gauge would be nice, but I'm not too hot on having to drill and tap a hole somewhere in the oil system. I was thinking maybe a vacuum gauge, and a digital air temp gauge. I think it would be cool to mount it somewhere in the intake path, like under the lid or in front of the MAF, so I can see the exact temp of the intake air. What do you guys think? Any other suggestions?
BTW- Anybody check out the new Nexus gauges from Autometer yet? They look like a pretty sweet setup, but damn those things are pricey!
BTW- Anybody check out the new Nexus gauges from Autometer yet? They look like a pretty sweet setup, but damn those things are pricey!
Just use the basics.
water temp
oil pressure
oil temp
diff temp
trans temp
tach
Well, ok those are the ones I run or am getting ready to put in once funds allow. Over kill for most. But for yours water temp, oil pressure and maybe a/f. I am not a big proponent of the a/f gauges. the only way to get a real a/f ratio is with a wide band. It is possible to make "T" fitting for your oil pressure and run a mechanical one right next to the factory sender. I kicked this one around when I was getting the car ready but never had time to finish it.
water temp
oil pressure
oil temp
diff temp
trans temp
tach
Well, ok those are the ones I run or am getting ready to put in once funds allow. Over kill for most. But for yours water temp, oil pressure and maybe a/f. I am not a big proponent of the a/f gauges. the only way to get a real a/f ratio is with a wide band. It is possible to make "T" fitting for your oil pressure and run a mechanical one right next to the factory sender. I kicked this one around when I was getting the car ready but never had time to finish it.
I went to the autometer site and checked out the nexus stuff.
WAY to much bling in those gauges. IMHO they look like something that came right off the 2F2F movie set. Those would look OK in a supra or RX-7 but not an Fbody. Notice how everything in the advertising revolves around the boost gauge? Ricer toys.
The ultra-lite, pro-comp (what I use) and the CF gauges seem to be what most of the fbody community uses.
WAY to much bling in those gauges. IMHO they look like something that came right off the 2F2F movie set. Those would look OK in a supra or RX-7 but not an Fbody. Notice how everything in the advertising revolves around the boost gauge? Ricer toys.
The ultra-lite, pro-comp (what I use) and the CF gauges seem to be what most of the fbody community uses.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Fredericksburg, VA
Originally Posted by NataSS Inc
Just use the basics.
water temp
oil pressure
oil temp
diff temp
trans temp
tach
Well, ok those are the ones I run or am getting ready to put in once funds allow. Over kill for most. But for yours water temp, oil pressure and maybe a/f. I am not a big proponent of the a/f gauges. the only way to get a real a/f ratio is with a wide band. It is possible to make "T" fitting for your oil pressure and run a mechanical one right next to the factory sender. I kicked this one around when I was getting the car ready but never had time to finish it.
water temp
oil pressure
oil temp
diff temp
trans temp
tach
Well, ok those are the ones I run or am getting ready to put in once funds allow. Over kill for most. But for yours water temp, oil pressure and maybe a/f. I am not a big proponent of the a/f gauges. the only way to get a real a/f ratio is with a wide band. It is possible to make "T" fitting for your oil pressure and run a mechanical one right next to the factory sender. I kicked this one around when I was getting the car ready but never had time to finish it.
I can definitely see going to a mechanical oil pressure gauge, since the stocker is more of an idiot light than an actual gauge, but is the factory water temp gauge that far off that it warrants an aftermarket gauge?
Thread Starter
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From: Fredericksburg, VA
Originally Posted by NataSS Inc
I went to the autometer site and checked out the nexus stuff.
WAY to much bling in those gauges. IMHO they look like something that came right off the 2F2F movie set. Those would look OK in a supra or RX-7 but not an Fbody. Notice how everything in the advertising revolves around the boost gauge? Ricer toys.
The ultra-lite, pro-comp (what I use) and the CF gauges seem to be what most of the fbody community uses.
WAY to much bling in those gauges. IMHO they look like something that came right off the 2F2F movie set. Those would look OK in a supra or RX-7 but not an Fbody. Notice how everything in the advertising revolves around the boost gauge? Ricer toys.
The ultra-lite, pro-comp (what I use) and the CF gauges seem to be what most of the fbody community uses.
Hmmm... Taking a second look at that Flash preview, I can see how they could be riced out with the color shift crap. But, I do like some of the features, such as the the gauge lighting turning red when you hit a preset warning level.
I was planning on doing the ultra-lite's.
I have a 3 gauge pillar pod & 3 electrical gauges on order from Tbyrne. I got 3 temp gauges - oil, tranny & dif so I can monitor stuff during the open road race. I thought about a/f (Rammit had one & it's cool looking, but it jumps around so much I thought it would be hard to get a good reading out of it). And I thought about fuel pressure too.
My opinion is think about which things you want to keep track of for watever you do with the car & buy those gauges. I saw little value in replacing the factory oil press or water temp gauges. They seem good enough to me. And then buy whichever gauge style YOU think looks good. Bling-factor is a very personal thing....and it should be!
My opinion is think about which things you want to keep track of for watever you do with the car & buy those gauges. I saw little value in replacing the factory oil press or water temp gauges. They seem good enough to me. And then buy whichever gauge style YOU think looks good. Bling-factor is a very personal thing....and it should be!
I don't think the oil pressure gauges in these cars are idiot lights. I trust it as being accurate. The engine coolant temp gauge is though. Unless you have a 98. Which you don't.
I am going to get a triple pillar too. Water temp, tranny temp and probably diff temp or maybe fuel pressure.
I am going to get a triple pillar too. Water temp, tranny temp and probably diff temp or maybe fuel pressure.
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From: Fredericksburg, VA
Originally Posted by WAHUSKER
I have a 3 gauge pillar pod & 3 electrical gauges on order from Tbyrne. I got 3 temp gauges - oil, tranny & dif so I can monitor stuff during the open road race. I thought about a/f (Rammit had one & it's cool looking, but it jumps around so much I thought it would be hard to get a good reading out of it). And I thought about fuel pressure too.
My opinion is think about which things you want to keep track of for watever you do with the car & buy those gauges. I saw little value in replacing the factory oil press or water temp gauges. They seem good enough to me. And then buy whichever gauge style YOU think looks good. Bling-factor is a very personal thing....and it should be!
My opinion is think about which things you want to keep track of for watever you do with the car & buy those gauges. I saw little value in replacing the factory oil press or water temp gauges. They seem good enough to me. And then buy whichever gauge style YOU think looks good. Bling-factor is a very personal thing....and it should be!
As for the other two gauges, it's really not all that critical to me, as there's nothing I consider all that vital to monitor at this point. They're kind of place holders until I get to the point that I need to start monitoring other things. And I think the air temp gauge for the intake would be good for evaluating the usefulness of different intake mods. I could baseline a stock temp, and then check the temp after the FRA and see if the intake air is really any colder. Stuff like that.
Of course, I'd probably be better served by spending the money on LCA's or something else that would be of more use to me at the moment.
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From: Fredericksburg, VA
Originally Posted by Rokko
I don't think the oil pressure gauges in these cars are idiot lights. I trust it as being accurate. The engine coolant temp gauge is though. Unless you have a 98. Which you don't.
I am going to get a triple pillar too. Water temp, tranny temp and probably diff temp or maybe fuel pressure.
I am going to get a triple pillar too. Water temp, tranny temp and probably diff temp or maybe fuel pressure.
I've had mechanical oil pressure gauges in both the 94 T-Bird I had and the 99 Grand Cherokee, and the factory gauges were off by about 15 PSI on both. And before you say it, it wasn't the same mechanical gauge, so it wasn't the mechanical gauge that was off by 15 PSI. But in all honesty I know nothing about the accuracy of the factory oil pressure gauge in an LS1. I don't know how accurate the oil press gauge is, but I know it works. When I didn't have any oil pressure after leaving the o-ring out of my pump, it told me right away! 
As for the water temp gauge, mine is very accurate. It tracks what my Predator or HP Tuner says the temp is, so I am happy with that one. Most of it is knowing where the needle is under normal conditions, so you recognize when you have a problem.
And I agree, those LEDs bouncing around on the a/f meter are COOL!!!
As for the water temp gauge, mine is very accurate. It tracks what my Predator or HP Tuner says the temp is, so I am happy with that one. Most of it is knowing where the needle is under normal conditions, so you recognize when you have a problem.
And I agree, those LEDs bouncing around on the a/f meter are COOL!!!
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From: Marysville, WA
I can only talk about FI but the fuel pressure gauge told my story. Without it I would never of guessed that my old fmu was cutting off my return gas to soon and drowning the motor. Thank god it was to much and not too little.
Once you start modding and you need more fuel flowing keeping the pressure up is important, not sure at what point with an NA motor that you need one to let you know if it is time for a larger fuel pump.
A\F is cool but I would get a real one that uses a wideband o2.
Once you start modding and you need more fuel flowing keeping the pressure up is important, not sure at what point with an NA motor that you need one to let you know if it is time for a larger fuel pump.
A\F is cool but I would get a real one that uses a wideband o2.
Hey Todd... I was just going to order the Auto Meter Fuel pressure gauge from summit. I was wondering.. the dude there sais I needed an adjustable fuel regulator for it to work. Is that true? If not where did you hook your up and was it a mechanical one or an electrical one??
thanks.
thanks.
You need the ISOLATOR not the regulator. You have a fuel line that runs off the fuel rail to the Isolator that has the electrical connections for the guage. Last I remember the Isolator came with the gauge. I could be wrong though.
Dynojet Wide band commander
Oil Pressure
Vac/Boost
Auto meter makes the gauge for the wideband, its the same style as the sport comp gauges. Nothing better than having a real AFR meter over the idiot afr meters.
Oil Pressure
Vac/Boost
Auto meter makes the gauge for the wideband, its the same style as the sport comp gauges. Nothing better than having a real AFR meter over the idiot afr meters.
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Kent WA
If I were getting some gauges, I'd stick with oil temp and fuel pressure, then possibly water temp.
Oil temp is handy because it's always best to wait until the oil temp is up to start beating on the car... and we have no gauge for that. Fuel pressure is good if you ever intend on upping the HP (like with nitrous or a blower), and water temp is good because as was mentioned above, the one in our cars is an idiot light.
Oil temp is handy because it's always best to wait until the oil temp is up to start beating on the car... and we have no gauge for that. Fuel pressure is good if you ever intend on upping the HP (like with nitrous or a blower), and water temp is good because as was mentioned above, the one in our cars is an idiot light.
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From: Marysville, WA
Originally Posted by Y2K SS
Hey Todd... I was just going to order the Auto Meter Fuel pressure gauge from summit. I was wondering.. the dude there sais I needed an adjustable fuel regulator for it to work. Is that true? If not where did you hook your up and was it a mechanical one or an electrical one??
thanks.
thanks.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: norfolk va
I have oil pressure, fuel pressure, and secret weapon pressure 
Mechanical oil pressure is easy. You just tap into the bung on top of the oil filter with a 1/2" pipe thread. The guage comes with all the rest of the h/w you need. There is a good write up somewhere, that i used and it worked perfect.
I think that ryan has the right idea for the a/f guage. Just spend the money now on a wideband, it will save headachs in the long run, plus the dynojet one comes with a nice guage.
All the others for what i do are just not needed, fuel pressure, and oil, and the tach are all you really need for drag racing, unless you start running no battery, filled block and all the pro mod **** like ellis .
Mechanical oil pressure is easy. You just tap into the bung on top of the oil filter with a 1/2" pipe thread. The guage comes with all the rest of the h/w you need. There is a good write up somewhere, that i used and it worked perfect. I think that ryan has the right idea for the a/f guage. Just spend the money now on a wideband, it will save headachs in the long run, plus the dynojet one comes with a nice guage.
All the others for what i do are just not needed, fuel pressure, and oil, and the tach are all you really need for drag racing, unless you start running no battery, filled block and all the pro mod **** like ellis
. 
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: LT1 land...the "409" of the 90s!
Do NOT waste your time on cheap AFR meter. They just bouce around and give you a Disco look...but hey if that is what you are looking for 
I will run Fuel PR
Oil temp
and Giggle PR
BTW if you have time to look at the AFR gauges while you are racing? You are to f***ing slow
I will run Fuel PR
Oil temp
and Giggle PR
BTW if you have time to look at the AFR gauges while you are racing? You are to f***ing slow
Originally Posted by TwoFast4Lv
BTW if you have time to look at the AFR gauges while you are racing? You are to f***ing slow
He speaks the truth.
the only people that really have time to read gauges are us ORR guys. But 14 miles straight do tend to make it easy
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From: Fredericksburg, VA
Originally Posted by TwoFast4Lv
Do NOT waste your time on cheap AFR meter. They just bouce around and give you a Disco look...but hey if that is what you are looking for
I will run Fuel PR
Oil temp
and Giggle PR
BTW if you have time to look at the AFR gauges while you are racing? You are to f***ing slow
I will run Fuel PR
Oil temp
and Giggle PR
BTW if you have time to look at the AFR gauges while you are racing? You are to f***ing slow
But anyways, I decided to wait on the gauges, except for an AFR that I stuck in the far left vent. It may not be all that accurate, but as long as I see it just in the green out of the corner of my eye at WOT, I know my A/F is about where it should be. Just an added bit of safety.
I guess I must be too f***ing slow!