Aftermarket gauge installation
#1
Rotary Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Aftermarket gauge installation
The oil pressure gauge on my 90 RX7 GXL recently went kaput. I bought the Autometer GS series mechanical oil pressure and oil temperature gauges. I also bougth the MazdaTrix oil pedastal adapter plate for these gauges. Right now, I am thinking about mounting the gauges in the space under my Kenwood CD changer. For those that have after market gauges, are there any existing openings in the firewall where I can feed the oil pressure line and temperature sensor wire through without drilling any holes? Also, Imay consider mouting the gauges using a dual gauge pod. Does the dual gauge pod replace the existing plastic piece or mount on top of it? Does mounting it require any drilling?
Thanks,
Hot_Dog
90 RX7 GXL
Thanks,
Hot_Dog
90 RX7 GXL
#3
well rested,buffet o food
^^^^^^At least its not a mechanical fuel pressure guage..........I have seen some horror pictures from those.
Your best bet would be under your head unit...especially running the oil lines. Most a pillar pods go over the top of your existing plastic (might be a little tight for an oil line) so i would run the line as straight as possible.
What kind of guage "oil feed lines" will you be using? Will then be easier to assess routing path.
A pillar pod does require drilling. I remember seeing an overpriced replacement plastic dual pod pillar somewhere...just didnt seem worth it.
Like clokker said...."You made your life a lot more difficult by getting the mechanical gauges"
Return them and get electrical ones with sending units. Always scared me having 90 psi of hot oil pressure aimed directly at my **** (near radio) / face(a pillar).
john ny
Your best bet would be under your head unit...especially running the oil lines. Most a pillar pods go over the top of your existing plastic (might be a little tight for an oil line) so i would run the line as straight as possible.
What kind of guage "oil feed lines" will you be using? Will then be easier to assess routing path.
A pillar pod does require drilling. I remember seeing an overpriced replacement plastic dual pod pillar somewhere...just didnt seem worth it.
Like clokker said...."You made your life a lot more difficult by getting the mechanical gauges"
Return them and get electrical ones with sending units. Always scared me having 90 psi of hot oil pressure aimed directly at my **** (near radio) / face(a pillar).
john ny
#4
The Doctor
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I ran the wires for my gauges through the hole for the speedo, but like clokker said, getting mechanical gauges is going to make things a little bit harder.
I actually just picked up one of these and changed it out for my stock pressure gauge on my cluster (stock gauge is terribad). I love it, it works great and will be a lot easier and cheaper to wire up than your mechanical gauge.
http://www.carparts.com/CYBERDYNE-EL...4_N__10618.car
I'd recommend going no gauge pod as I honestly think their ugly. Replacing the stock gauges in the cluster with new ones has been working great for me and keeps the interior of the car looking clean. I have multiple aftermarket gauges in my car but most of the people who ride with me cant tell because their not stuck to the dash or on a a-pillar pod.
If you do decide you want a pod, some require drilling, others dont. It depends on where you mount it at. Some people will put them in the stock location (like me), others have them mounted around the cluster, where the idiot lights are, in the vents, a-pillar, etc. Go out and sit in your car and just try putting the gauge up on the dash or down by the radio or somewhere you like. It's your car, you decide where to mount the gauge to your liking.
I actually just picked up one of these and changed it out for my stock pressure gauge on my cluster (stock gauge is terribad). I love it, it works great and will be a lot easier and cheaper to wire up than your mechanical gauge.
http://www.carparts.com/CYBERDYNE-EL...4_N__10618.car
I'd recommend going no gauge pod as I honestly think their ugly. Replacing the stock gauges in the cluster with new ones has been working great for me and keeps the interior of the car looking clean. I have multiple aftermarket gauges in my car but most of the people who ride with me cant tell because their not stuck to the dash or on a a-pillar pod.
If you do decide you want a pod, some require drilling, others dont. It depends on where you mount it at. Some people will put them in the stock location (like me), others have them mounted around the cluster, where the idiot lights are, in the vents, a-pillar, etc. Go out and sit in your car and just try putting the gauge up on the dash or down by the radio or somewhere you like. It's your car, you decide where to mount the gauge to your liking.
#5
Rotary Enthusiast
Thread Starter
^^^^^^At least its not a mechanical fuel pressure guage..........I have seen some horror pictures from those.
Your best bet would be under your head unit...especially running the oil lines. Most a pillar pods go over the top of your existing plastic (might be a little tight for an oil line) so i would run the line as straight as possible.
What kind of guage "oil feed lines" will you be using? Will then be easier to assess routing path.
A pillar pod does require drilling. I remember seeing an overpriced replacement plastic dual pod pillar somewhere...just didnt seem worth it.
Like clokker said...."You made your life a lot more difficult by getting the mechanical gauges"
Return them and get electrical ones with sending units. Always scared me having 90 psi of hot oil pressure aimed directly at my **** (near radio) / face(a pillar).
john ny
Your best bet would be under your head unit...especially running the oil lines. Most a pillar pods go over the top of your existing plastic (might be a little tight for an oil line) so i would run the line as straight as possible.
What kind of guage "oil feed lines" will you be using? Will then be easier to assess routing path.
A pillar pod does require drilling. I remember seeing an overpriced replacement plastic dual pod pillar somewhere...just didnt seem worth it.
Like clokker said...."You made your life a lot more difficult by getting the mechanical gauges"
Return them and get electrical ones with sending units. Always scared me having 90 psi of hot oil pressure aimed directly at my **** (near radio) / face(a pillar).
john ny
Hot_Dog
90 RX7 GXL
#6
Cake or Death?
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Anyway, in my experience, total catastrophic failure of the mechanical line is rare.
Usually you just a drip, drip....annoying, but hardly life threatening.
Now awaiting a litany of horror stories from the gallery....
IMO, the two biggest problems with the mechanical gauges (I just finished installing a set in a friend's car) are-
-Total PITA to remove cluster the gauge is mounted in.
You can't just reach behind and undo a connector.
-The tiny Teflon lines most companies provide are prone to kinking easily so you have to be ultra careful about the routing.
#7
Retired Moderator, RIP
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anyways.No mechanical Gauges.Not worth the Effort to put them in and then Have Oil or coolant(whatever) leak inside your Cabin..total mess.Be safe,get electrical.You can mount them anywhere.Including the A pillar(I wouldn't even Try to put mechanical gauges on an A pillar pod).Good Luck.STYX.
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