Guages: what's good and how to install?

[Bob the Noob]

So I'm seeing some threads around here and started thinking it would be nice to add some gauges to Christine. The problems are I have no idea what gauge brands are good or bad, and I have no idea how to hook them up.

Boost would be nice, but I don't know what else would be nice to see move around. She's a DD so I don't need the fancy graphing ones as those are pretty expensive last I looked.

Suggestions on brands, what to monitor and pillar or console mount?

[Panzer Leader]

The easiest is the Hacked Atari guages.......Oil Pressure, OIl Temp and Volt....... These guages mount and fit exactly where the guages mounted in the 2008 G8..Several posts are on the forum. I had them in my 2009 and they were great. You could put the boost guage on the pillar.

[MIEngineer]

Pillars remind me of what I used to do. 5-10 years ago. One car has them still (sort of). But they get unwanted attention...especially if you have tint.

[gr8lover]

You have seen my gages.... not sure if you want to drop that kind of money on a 5 pod... but for safety I would do:

Fuel pressure, A/F ratio, oil pressure, boost (nice to have to see if belt is slipping etc..), coolant temp.... I did the speed hut gages and bought the setup that matched our stock gages... some guys buy the style that can read multiple items....so maybe you can reduce pods by doing one of those....

I would never do pillar... just personal opinion.... center pods look the best... but again, just personal opinion.....

hopefully you getting drag radials first!!!! you need them the most!!!!! hopefully this is after the radials go on.!!!!

[Semperfire]

You have seen my gages.... not sure if you want to drop that kind of money on a 5 pod... but for safety I would do:

Fuel pressure, A/F ratio, oil pressure, boost (nice to have to see if belt is slipping etc..), coolant temp.... I did the speed hut gages and bought the setup that matched our stock gages... some guys buy the style that can read multiple items....so maybe you can reduce pods by doing one of those....

I would never do pillar... just personal opinion.... center pods look the best... but again, just personal opinion.....

hopefully you getting drag radials first!!!! you need them the most!!!!! hopefully this is after the radials go on.!!!!

Picture? I have gauges at the house waiting to go in but havent locked down a pod since VegasNate stopped making them. Hoping there is another option from the other board soon.

[richm52]

I just ordered some CanBus gauges from Speedhut. Just the oil pressure, oil temp and volts.

[Bob the Noob]

hopefully you getting drag radials first!!!! you need them the most!!!!! hopefully this is after the radials go on.!!!!

I'm not sure about the DR's... thinking it might be more fun to do autocross here and there, or an HPD class. I say this now and of course I'd consider it if I could find a cheap set of wheels to put the DR's on. :)

PLX has a new one out soon, DM-100, which gives you a lot of functionality in one gauge. Looks really interesting. Are the dual center pods an easy swap on our cars?

[MIEngineer]

Dual center pod that replaces the grill/speaker is fairly easy. Just like HSV...just takes time.

I put Aeroforce in my HSV pod [and if you get Aeroforce, don't waste time on their G8 script gauge faces..I could crayon one thats better]

I will upload a pic when I find it.

[Semperfire]

Dual center pod that replaces the grill is fairly easy. Just like HSV...just takes time. I put Aeroforce in my HSV pod.

Wasn't sure that one fit, took time how I have the aero's. The JHP one is what your referring to right?

[Bob the Noob]

Am I seeing this right? I've seen some center pod mounts and they're $300+ for just the plastic... then I'd have to add in another 3-500 in gauges? Oi...

[MIEngineer]

Am I seeing this right? I've seen some center pod mounts and they're $300+ for just the plastic... then I'd have to add in another 3-500 in gauges? Oi...

Now you see why A-pillar pods were cheap...nothing really good or appealing that doesn't make the interior look like garbage is cheap for a reason...

[Bob the Noob]

Well fudge... I could go with a "cubby mount" if I wanted only one gauge, but then it's a little out of my field of view when driving. Would I need to get a boost sensor too?

Boy this is spiraling out of "affordable" real quick LOL...

[OrngG8]

Hell, even A-pillar pods for this car were a few hundred dollars. I have a Demon8 A-pillar set up and like it.

[MIEngineer]

Here is a pic of mine. Crazy Paul can help feed your addiction for a nice HSV set up...if he has one.

Took this while at the storage facility :)

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u269/Saabaru25/IMAG5980.jpg

[Bob the Noob]

Very nice... Cost of that is close to what some nice wheels would be though. Dangit.

[MIEngineer]

Yeah....pay to play....says the guy who got a blower ^^ :p

[Bob the Noob]

The blower was a "Spur of the moment might as well buy myself something with the bonus I got before the wife nabs it for her own projects" kinda thing. ;)

At least now I know that I'll need to set aside a grand for decent gauges/pod.

[TailG8er]

Am I seeing this right? I've seen some center pod mounts and they're $300+ for just the plastic... then I'd have to add in another 3-500 in gauges? Oi...

There is also the two pod one that goes over the center speaker on the dash. And then there is the two pod one that goes on top of the steering column, its from a VW of sorts. Search, its on here I think.

My favorite is the 3 or 5 in the center of the dash, but quite pricey.

I might sell my A-pillar 3 gauge pod from Demon8

I plan to make some 2-3 gauge pods that will be integrated into the factory radio trim piece. I have two extras right now to modify and it will be on a swap basis, you send me yours and a payment and I ship the converted one with gauge pods.

No idea on pricing but could get to starting on it this winter or spring.

[MIEngineer]

Those are fun projects. On my Volvo it was easy to do a mount above the radio then I did a custom 1/4" plexi mount. These, not so easy haha...but yours sound good. Didn't you get HSVs?

[Bob the Noob]

I plan to make some 2-3 gauge pods that will be integrated into the factory radio trim piece. I have two extras right now to modify and it will be on a swap basis, you send me yours and a payment and I ship the converted one with gauge pods.

No idea on pricing but could get to starting on it this winter or spring.

Do you mean up top like Dan's pic or below in the cubby area?

Custom would be nice... I think it would make sense if the gauges were angled maybe 30-40 degrees towards the driver to make them easier to read. Granted I've never sat in the driver's seat of a car with center gauges so I might be way off.

[Greg@PacePerformance]

Do you mean up top like Dan's pic or below in the cubby area?

Custom would be nice... I think it would make sense if the gauges were angled maybe 30-40 degrees towards the driver to make them easier to read. Granted I've never sat in the driver's seat of a car with center gauges so I might be way off.
I think he would build them into the factory center trim, like Nate did or I did with mine.
http://paceperformance.com/files/grrrr8.net/gauges_close.JPG

[Purf]

I went with the gauges in MIEngineer's picture, but used the G8-faced gauges for voltage, oil temp and oil pressure. They fit right in, have the right angles for the driver to view and look good, but cost was ~$800 or so.

[spartan466]

Well fudge... I could go with a "cubby mount" if I wanted only one gauge, but then it's a little out of my field of view when driving. Would I need to get a boost sensor too?

Boy this is spiraling out of "affordable" real quick LOL...

Yeah... it gets expensive quickly. I have the triple gauge pod. Looks OEM, but also carries an OEM cost. :disgust:

If Livernois set yours up like they did mine, you can get boost off of a scan gauge like Aeroforce as the OBD2 will display the correct boost. That all depends on whether or not they upgraded your MAP sensor though. I put a separate boost gauge/sensor in mine since I wanted to have a stand alone gauge for it versus using the Aeroforce.

[Bob the Noob]

If Livernois set yours up like they did mine, you can get boost off of a scan gauge like Aeroforce as the OBD2 will display the correct boost. That all depends on whether or not they upgraded your MAP sensor though.

I've got a "Scangauge II" which does ODBII sensor readings and stuff... handy little device. I'll hook it up this weekend and see what I can read.

[SpeedRacerX]

For whatever it's worth, the 5-gauge pod is down to $52 USD on ebay au. Might need CP's help to get it here though...

[youngrushhour]

Does the 5 gauge pod fit without modification or would we need extra parts?

[Crazy Paul]

Does the 5 gauge pod fit without modification or would we need extra parts?
Tips for Understanding Pods..
http://forum.grrrr8.net/showthread.php?t=22735

[youngrushhour]

Thanks, CP.

[youngrushhour]

Also, I had a feeling more parts were needed but I was too lazy to check :(

[Crazy Paul]

5 gauge, Pod & Trim Packages.
http://forum.grrrr8.net/showthread.php?t=22507

[SpeedRacerX]

If not running FI, what do people suggest filling 3 or 5 gauge openings with??

[Eidolon]

If not running FI, what do people suggest filling 3 or 5 gauge openings with??
Since I track my car at road courses, I like to see coolant temp, oil pressure, and oil temp.

Coolant temp just to make sure nothing's overheating, but also because I just like to know where the coolant is at. The gauge in the main cluster is a "dummy" gauge that pegs in the middle over a wide range of actual temps (so that dumb owners don't take their cars in because "The needle went a little higher!").

Oil temp because our cars don't have an oil cooler (which I need to fix as toedrag did) and pushing the car hard will heat up the oil to the point of failure if you aren't careful. I've seen as high as 275. Getting a colder coolant thermostat seems to be keeping oil temps down, luckily.

Oil pressure so that if something goes awry with the oil pump or oil supply, I can get off of it and shut the car down QUICK.

On top of that... Up to you. If you like to tune your car, gr8lover's suggestion of A/F ratio is a good call. You'd need to install a wideband for the best reading.

Finally, since you have an auto... Trans temp, maybe? Not sure if that could be done.

And now I'm out of suggestions. :)

[MIEngineer]

Beauty of Aeroforce, dual display per gauge.

[1gr8ate]

I have 3 aero force dual scan I read trans temp coolant temp iat ignition timing knock retard converter slip and have tha triple Atari for oil pressure oil temp and volts. Gota know what's happening!!! Lol

[matts88yj]

I have 3 aero force dual scan I read trans temp coolant temp iat ignition timing knock retard converter slip and have tha triple Atari for oil pressure oil temp and volts. Gota know what's happening!!! Lol

Not to get too far off topic but are these being read via OBD-II port of stand alone sending units? Only reason I ask is because I thought you could only run 2 of the dual scans via the OBD-II port.

[Semperfire]

Not to get too far off topic but are these being read via OBD-II port of stand alone sending units? Only reason I ask is because I thought you could only run 2 of the dual scans via the OBD-II port.

Thought the same till recently I was told you are able to splice the single into the dual. I will do this if I cant find a good dual option.

[Semperfire]

So are our only options CP and JHP for now or is there anyone else making pillar/center pods?

[TailG8er]

So are our only options CP and JHP for now or is there anyone else making pillar/center pods?

I plan to make center pods this spring. Even sooner if the interest is there. Probably be in the $300 range with a swap of your stock part or around $400 with out the core.

[richm52]

I plan to make center pods this spring. Even sooner if the interest is there. Probably be in the $300 range with a swap of your stock part or around $400 with out the core.

Count me in!!