Rpeck

I am looking for a new boost gauge (it's time to turn up the controller this weekend)

Here is what I would prefer in order of priority;

1. Accuracy (I assume I should get electronic for this)
2. Has to read in P.S.I. (I have enough to think about without conversions) this eliminates alot of models
3. Easy to read (good backlight & Needle light)
4. Peak warning feature (Once again I have enough to think about if it has a warning light or beep that would be great)

Less importance but would be nice;

5. 60mm or bigger
6. Peak hold or logging function to play back boost levels
7. orange backlight so it kinda matches up to the rest of the interior lights & dash


Thats all I can think of right now. Money is no object with somthing as important as a boost gauge, I was checking out the apexi & greedy ones .. and they seemed to have a couple thet met most all of my requrements but did not read PSI Am I wrong?

Please post your sugestions or your model if it has most of these features.

Once again
Thanks alot,
Robert

Cheers!

wow your picky...

OMORI has 60 mm mechanical and electronic boost gauges that can be read in PSI, has orange back lighting. Not sure if they read vac though... expect to pay $$$, and i ahve no idea who sells them in north american now.... gruppe-s.com used to carry them... but no more.

btw rspeck, you got the new racing beat full turbo exhaust system right? 3.15 inch dp? to presilencer... etc...

is it true they changed the design now, and its stainless steel?

Rpeck

I don't have the full system. My plan originally was to complete the system, but they kept telling me they will be ready next month, then the next month ... Etc. Etc. Then the last time I called (2 weeks or so ago) they told me the new manufacturer that is making the new 'Cans' was told to prioritze on Miata cans first .. and it would be weeks before then 'new' style FC cans would be ready. The have & have always had everything but the mufflers (cans)

I could wait no longer; so I have a 3" RB DP and 3" RB Pre silencer .. with a custom 3" Y pipe to Apexi Dual N1 Cans. I avoided the N1 cat back and had it custom made cause there Y pipe is to small I wanted full 3"


Does anyone use the Defi Link system?
http://www.rollhard.com/defilinkgauges.htm

similar to this? I am trying to decide what the price of the contol uit is.. I see the price of the guages, anyone know? is it wrth the money? seems slick.

Rpeck

I think 3.15' is metric = 80MM. the RB stuff it American made I think its just standard 3"

Rpeck

I found a site in my many web searches that sold those gauges ... but I had never heard of them and they looked kinda cheesy ... so i passed them by. those are good guages huh? I don't have to have a orange backlight .. i just think it would be cool to match the rest of the dash. my main concerns at this point (being that this is harder than I thought; electric, PSI, Warning indicator) that defi system seems to meet those requirements.. but Im not sure if its worth buying the whole control unit (if I could even find a price on it) for just a boost guage.

Another link to the Defi stuff;

http:///linksystem.html

what do you guys think?


Ahh ha! it looks like $119 for the control unit & $199 for the gauge.

Rpeck

^ Anyone use the Defi system? or have any other sugestions?

jimmyv13

I have the Apex'i EL II electric boost gauge and it's excellent. It doesn't meet all of your requirements, though:

It reads in kPa
Backlighting is blue

But, it is extremely easy to read at 60mm, and it has datalogging features, peak hold, warning, and 30 sec playback in one control box like the Defi's. I chose the Apex'i because a guy in our club already has the Defi's and I didn't care for the Greddy because, to me, they are too boring.

Rpeck

ya I looked at those guages, they looked great, The only thing that kills me on them is the kPa ... everything i have and use to tune my boost pressure is in PSI.

Piranha

kPa isn't too hard to convert, 1 kPa=1 bar=14.7 psi. Jim likes to say, I boosted .8!!! "shudup Jim."

But anyways, I have the Apex'i series 1 mechanical boost gauge, and I got the black face, with the #s turning blue at night. I actually prefer Jim's series 2. The brightness of the display makes it VERY easy to read, and the peak/hold/warning stuff is just plain sweet. I have 3 Series 1 gauges, and I've thought about getting rid of em and buying series II because they rock (and they are cheaper than series 1).

While I took wanted orange displays, I took function over form. My bottom line was the accuracy of the gauge, and visibility. Apex'i also have warning lights on the gauges that blink, which are excellent at telling you (sort of) whats happening without looking at the gauge.. letting you keep your eyes on the road. I use one for Oil pressure, and I'm hooking my EGT one up now, just gotta get the probe in. My boost is mech, but I may convert to electronic soon.

bl|nk

I don't have defi gauges but when I was at Project D aka www.autoimaging.com (the guys you see in the magazines with 240's and who's running GP Sports NA). Have them in there and will swear by them.. They look like they are super quality. I know one of the workers has everything blitz in his WRX and had they carried those gauges at the time he built his wrx he'ld be running DEFI.

Ryde _Or_Die

The defi d-gauges are standalone gauges, not like the link ones.

kep0ne

the rx7 store (see link above) carries the link series guages and at pretty good prices. the first boost guage listed also comes with the link controller. definitely where im going to buy them, of course, unless someone else knows a better place?

jimmyv13

100 kPa = 14.50377 psi = 1 bar

here's a conversion chart:

http://www.teamfc3s.org/calc/convert_pressure.php

Piranha

"shudup Jim"

jimmyv13

just correcting you as usual

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

The Defi gauges are a good way to go - they're really the Rolls Royce of gauges right now. They're a bit pricier, but the cost evens out with the more gauges you get.

Reading boost in PSI isn't that big of a deal - I was a holdout for a long time before going all metric. Stock boost? .5 10psi? .7-.8 It's actually pretty easy to start thinking metric. If you get a Japanese boost controller, it will likely read in a metric equivalent on the screen, too.

Greddy's silver face gauges have amber backlighting, BTW. Really nice looking.

http://www.gruppe-s.com has about the best prices anywhere on gauges, and they have 'em all.

http://www.defi-shop.com is Defi's main page. It's a REALLY good page, as are their gauges - full documentation on everything, you name it. Very polished and complete.

Anyhow, sounds like you're on the right track!

Dale

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

Check this out too -
http://www.defi-shop.com/product/dl/dp/dp_top.htm

The new Defi-Link display. This sucker is SUPER sharp!

Dale

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

...and one more thing .

80mm is a REALLY big gauge. 60mm should be just right for a boost gauge, and will fit with no problems in an A-pillar pod.

Dale

Rpeck

Ya, i have pretty much decided I am going Defi, Im gonna go with the link system I can't see anythijng else that competes (for what i am looking for) Thanks for all your help and advise again guys.


Robert

Cheers!

you mean these ones?

the ones that go completely blank when the car shuts off?

they are mint

Rpeck

I haven't seen those ones yet. Those are badass! I will get them as long as they make them with the boost in PSI. the ones that I was looking at in white had PSI, but the ones in that picture are not. The link system is also fully configurable to set limits and such .. Defi makes a awsome set of gauges. I hope they have those ones you posted in PSI... the other sytle had both, so I would assume that style should have both options.

Whre did you see those ones at cheers? What was the list price? are they park of the link system setup? or are they stand alone... info me plz!

I am going to order my gauges & a wide band on Monday or Tuesday.

Thx,
Robert

Johny zoom

iTrader: (5)

Is the a gage for air temp to check air before and after the intercooler Im thinking about a "special "project

Cheers!

Rpeck,
hope you have a lot of money for those gauges.
teh link system is 110 bucks
the boost is 220

each additional gauge is about 220 each.

so asusming you want

water temp
oil temp
oil pressure
EGT (300 bucks)
that is like 1000 bucks in gauges.
that is almost an engine.

bl|nk

I'm guessing this must be a typo then.

Defi 52mm Boost gauge & Link controller is 222.00 @ RX-7 Store.

http://66.216.67.51/product.asp?3=611

If not.. that'ld be a hell of a price 220.00 + 195 for an EGT. 415.00 isn't bad...

If you buy from gruppe-s
CU + Boost/Vac + EGT + FP/OP DF-LNKPAK FREE SHIPPING $665.00

You're looking at paying 55.00 for the control unit.

clarification on how I came up with 55.00. Boost gauge price + EGT price + FP/OP price subtracted from the 665.00.

ahh fudge i don't make sense screw it

Rpeck

Money is no object my friend. I chose the FC to do it right, not cause its cheap. I pay bills to survive' the rest of the money I make is for enjoyment, this is what I enjoy (any my motorcycle). Thats not really a bad price for a good setup. I don't think I will get anything more then the boost gauge though ... My Koyo rad keeps the engine very cool (no need for temp) I will have a wide band next week for tuning (no need for EGT) I have upgraded my Oil pump (super high flow) and my regulator to 80+ PSI (no need for oil PSI gauge) the amount of flow my upgraded oil system creates Oil temp is no issue at all. I just want a boost gauge I am satisfied with .. and that one looks like it. its on!