vipernicus42

iTrader: (4)

Hey Guys,

I'm going to be buying one of those 3-gauge stereo surrounds in the near future, so I got to thinking about gauges and senders. I figured I'd share what little I'd come up with and ask you guys what you'd recommend for gauges and senders.

I'm thinking of four:
1. Wideband O2 where the stock lcd clock is on the '84-85 model
2. Water Temp, 1st gauge in 3-gauge surround
3. Oil Temp, 2nd gauge in 3-gauge surround
4. Oil Pressure, 3rd gauge in 3-gauge surround


First off, to mount the senders for Oil, you need some sort of sender block for your oil temp/pressure. I found these at mazdatrix:

http://www.mazdatrix.com/boil2.htm

Now I've seen places where you can get gauges, but where do you get senders? And are the mazdatrix ones drilled for a standard size, or are there many sizes (meaning I might need an adapter)?


For water temp, what would you guys do? Can you splice off of the existing temp sensor, or do you have to place a new one. My (very small) understanding of gauges and senders is that they work on resistance, so splicing off the wire would throw off your readings. Where would be a good place to put a sender for the water temp? Maybe drill it into the small pipe on top of the thermostat? and again, where do you get senders for this? How do you make sure that they are sending out what the gauges are meant to read? How do you calibrate them once you get them hooked up?

O2 needs a bung drilled in the exhaust, I'll wait until I get my RB exhaust for that. Seems to me the best place to put that would be at the end of the header, before the presilencer. May be a little hot there, but should be okay.


What do you guys recommend for gauges? I want something that looks like it belongs there, like it came with the car like that. So black background, red writing if possible.

So let's hear/see what you've got! I'm especially interested in the senders' end of things. I have decided that I want senders in the engine bay with electric gauges, instead of bringing fluids into the car's interior. They may be "less accurate" I've heard, but I'd prefer it be done that way.

Oh, and I forgot the last gauge. The 0-5psi fuel pressure gauge that I'm going to get from Paul Yaw, which will be used for tuning fuel pressure to the carb. That's not going to be mounted in the car so I didn't really count it.

Jon

rbf41182gt

I don't know about an FB, but I love the looks of the autometer z-series guages for the SA. They almost perfectly match the numbers on the tachometer and speedo. I was planning on getting an oil temp., water temp., and oil pressure guages as well when I get my hands on one of the new center consoles.



they're not flashy or anything, but they get the job done, and maintain the original look of the interior, and that's what I'm after.

Arockrx7

I just got done installing a oil pressure gauge on a friends srt-4 (t3h FastAr). it was an autometer gauge and it came with the sendor, which should thread into the mazdatrix adaptor. not a hard install.

rbf41182gt

Those sender block things are good, but you can't use them if you have a bee-hive oil cooler. Racing beat sells them, too.

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

Jon, save your money and skip the RB unit. You can remove and tap the bolt at the bottom of the rear iron where the fmoc line would gor, or modify the oem oil sending unit to accept the new aftermarket sender. Option 2 is easier.

Siraniko

iTrader: (13)

Seach nooobbb. You should have "STICKIED" our posts on how its done. Yeah whats up with that? If its from the CALI boys, it will never get done.

Hades12

I have this oil Block that I plan to use.

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...0&page=1&pp=40

Most Bought guages come with the senders. Standard Thread on the sender is 1/8 NTP.

I just bought Autometer Ultra Lite guages
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/help-me-pick-gauges-507380/

Use the oil pedistal to mount the Oil temp and pressure.

Put the water temp in the back of the Water pump housing using a bushing from this kit
http://www.sunpro.com/product_detail...d81a4a962a468e

vipernicus42

iTrader: (4)

I must be misunderstanding something.....

I've been looking on Autometer's site and they've got Electrical gauges and Mechanical gauges

But they have mechanical gauges for Oil Temp, Oil Pressure and Water Temp (as well as others)

I always thought mechanical gauges required whatever you were reading to come into the car right up to the back of the gauge.... Is this still the case? Would I have to run an oil and a coolant line into the car to the gauges? Or am I misunderstanding this?

http://www.autometer.com/cat_gaugeli...&opid=4&szid=2

Jon

Hades12

I got electrical guages. the come with a sender just like the stock guages do.

vipernicus42

iTrader: (4)

When I was talking to Trochoid he was saying that he found the 0-100psi Oil Pressure gauge wasn't sufficient (at least for his setup) so he got one with a bigger range.

The mechanical ones were the only ones I could find with a bigger range.....

am I right about how they work though, or am I crazy?

Jon

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

The temp gauge is electrical, the op is mechanical, requires a nylon plastic tube to be run into the cabin. If the connections are properly seated, this is not a problem, however the tube is easily kinked and care must be taken when running them and protected from abrasion. When I ran mine through the firewall, I drilled a hole large enough to accept a rubber body plug, cross slit the center and ran all of the wires and tubes though one hole.

Jon, you're not crazier than the rest of us, we all are a bit with our rotary passions.

TiViD

Personally, I would definatley go with a air/fuel mixture guage somewhere in that mix. This can be monumentally helpful in tuning and monitoring.

vipernicus42

iTrader: (4)

*laughs*

How perfect. I read trochoid's post thinking "yeah, I guess we're all a little crazy about the rotaries, but I'm the only guy crazy enough to want to put a lambda on a carbed car", then I read TiViD's post and laughed my *** off.

Yes, I am crazy and loving it. I didn't mention it before, but I'm going to be putting one of these where the stock clock goes:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Innov...spagenameZWDVW

and the other three in the gauge panel under the stereo (water temp, oil pressure and oil temp)

I've decided on the Autometer Z-series, since you can make it look almost stock with a red backlight. Since I'll be running an 80psi oil pressure bypass, I don't figure the oil pressure should go above 100, so maybe the electric one is good enough. If not I'll get the mech one and mount it like trochoid said.

Wackyracer, I just saw your post.... My searches were bombarded with so many useless threads that after a while I gave up. If you could find the thread you're talking about, I'll archive the damn thing! Remember, I may be a moderator but I'm not God, I can't be everywhere at once. I miss threads, and so I don't always see stuff that's archive-worthy. If you see threads you think deserve to be there, PM me and I'll make it happen.

Jon

Kentetsu

Jon- From what I've read, a mechanical oil pressure gauge would be more accurate and quicker to respond than an electrical one. As long as you're going through the trouble to do the installation, might as well get the best (unless the electrical one is a lot less money).

Also, can you try to keep track of your total cost on this project? I need to do this as well, so I'll be watching for your results.

vipernicus42

iTrader: (4)

I won't be doing these just yet. I was just doing my research since I'm picking up one of those 3-gauge-and-stereo plates that are being made.

But thanks to you guys I've managed to find the gauges I want. For the water and temp ones, they can be picked up at www.Jegs.com (and they come with senders). Here's the info for that:


Auto Meter Gauges 2''OIL TEMP 100-250
Part Number # 105-2638
$42.99

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Water Temperature, 100° - 250°F
Part Number # 105-2635
$41.99

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oil Pressure, 0-100 psi
Part Number # 105-2634
$55.99

Total For Gauges: $141USD


And if I decide to go with the mechanical oil pressure gauge, it'll be this one:

Auto Meter Gauges 0-200 OIL PRESS. Z
Part Number # 105-2605
$41.99

Which amazingly enough is actually cheaper than the electric version, though I'd probably need to spend the extra $15 on various little things to plumb it properly.



The wideband and gauge I plan to get off of ebay. They go anywhere between $300-$400USD


And the Gauge/Stereo plate I'm getting is here:
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=432712

I was quoted $70 including shipping to Canada (3-gauge, '84-'85, matte finish), but your prices may vary (initial post says $42 for US residents IIRC).

And if you decide to use the oil block for mounting the senders, it's $50
http://www.mazdatrix.com/boil2.htm


So that brings the totals up to:
$140 for Water Temp, Oil Temp, Oil Pressure
$50 for the oil temp/pressure block
$42 for Stereo/Gauge DIN plate
$350 for Wideband O2


and I *always* allow another $20 for misc (welding the bung to the header, plumbing for a mechanical oil pressure gauge, rubber grommet for the hole I pass the wires through, etc...)

So it'll be about $600ish, with everything.

Of course the bulk of that is the wideband.

Jon

vipernicus42

iTrader: (4)

Ooh, ReSpeed has a cheaper oil block:
http://www.mrcmfg.com/respeed/catalo...827a734b62d123

I saw that Hades12 got a really cool-looking round one from them, but I can't find it on their site. Must have been a limited run of them.

Jon

gsl-se addict

iTrader: (3)

Jon: Here are the round ones. Billy says they are working on getting more stock.

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...0&page=1&pp=15

Siraniko

iTrader: (13)

I guess its time for me to chime-in as you're are getting too expensive.

The cheapest but reliable gauges you can find are the Equus. It works as good as the Autometer. $45.00 roughly. (Btw, look in back of teh autometer gauges and tell us where they are made )

For installation, behind the water pump neck, get a 3/8 pipe tap and slightly re-thread the stock thread. Then you can use whatever fitting comes with the set. You can also install the t-coupler in the front iron but it requires a short 3/8 nipple if you are to use mechanical water temp gauge.

For oil pressure, tap it in the rear banjo bolt. Be sure to use lock-tite to ensure that it doesn’t come loose. Run the plastic line on the speedo cable grommet.

vipernicus42

iTrader: (4)

Awesomel, where do you get Equus?

And where should you put oil temp gauge (if pressure goes at the banjo bolt)

And $45 is about what the Autometer ones cost on Jegs.... how am I "getting too expensive"?

The O2, the Oil block and the DIN plate make most of that cost. I can do it w/o the oil block, and shop around on ebay until I find a cheap O2, but I really want the DIN plate.

Jon

Siraniko

iTrader: (13)

Do a search on Equus as with mine including other installs, I get them from my cousin's autoparts.

Now for the oil temp, Im not sure if Equus would have them. Buy the block from bwaits, much cheaper and nicer than RB, for $22 roughly. It comes pretap for oil temp and oil pressure. Im also using one from Billy but I had him tap it for turbo oil feed (same size as the oil pressure).

Autometer is $$$. if you want all the gauges (oil pressure, water temp, voltage plus oil temp), that will run approx $180-$200. Shall I say more? maybe Im a cheap *** but I always go for quality not name brand.

vipernicus42

iTrader: (4)

no prob, I'll look for Equus.

But when you said the equus were $45/gauge, take a look back a page. The Autometers are $45/gauge too (so $140 for all three I want).

I don't care about name brands either, if I can find Equus cheaper, damn right I'll buy 'em!

Jon

Siraniko

iTrader: (13)

sorry about that. $45 for all three gauges (oil press, water temp and voltmeter). here's how they look

vipernicus42

iTrader: (4)

Found their website:
http://www.iequus.com/support/technical_knowledge.asp

You can order direct from the website.

You're right they're cheap. And I like the black ones.

No Oil Temp one yet, but they've water temp and oil pressure Thanks wacky

Jon

Siraniko

iTrader: (13)

np

vipernicus42

iTrader: (4)

So let's revise the list (since I can't find an Equus Oil Temp, I just substituted the Autometer - for now, I'm going to contact Equus and see if they have an Oil Temp they just haven't listed on the site)

Gauge/Stereo Panel $42
Respeed Block $22
Equus Black 6262 Electric Water Temp Gauge $23
Equus Black 6244 Mechanical Oil Pressure Gauge $16
Autometer 2638 Oil Temp $43

Total (sans wideband) : $146

Much better than the $230 I had calc'd before!

Thanks wacky.

Jon