AFR500v2 wideband gauge - where to mount it
 

I'm looking to add a wideband to my FD and the Ballenger AFR500v2 setup is what I'd like to use, with an NTK sensor. My only question is where are people mounting the gauge inside the car? It's not a round gauge but a rectangular box.

Currently I only have a boost gauge on top of the steering column, no other gauges, and I'd prefer to keep it as close to that as possible. I'm just looking for ideas here.

Good choice. My favorite

I suggest putting it inside a din pocket with a lid.

I should have mentioned I have a double-din 7" screen stereo so that won't work for me. Otherwise that would be my first choice also!

That’s a pretty bulky display, unless you want to custom fit it into some panel, I don’t see any good option other than the din or on the steering column. You can move the boost gauge to a pillar pod, or get one more gauge and put them in a dual center speaker pod.

Do you want it to be visable all the time ? Are you willing to cut into the dash and do a permanent mount?

Not alot of options here. I do suggest just flat mount it with velcro on top center speaker grill. Or inside glove box lol

Yeah I know there aren't a lot of options. I sat in the driver's seat for 10 minutes staring at the dash last night before I gave up and decided to see if anyone else had clever ideas!

Moving the boost gauge isn't a bad idea but I may just wind up mounting it with velcro on top of the dash if I don't feel like buying a gauge pillar or something

Any particular reason to run that gauge/wideband setup? That box is SUPER bulky any way you look at it and the large connector off the back is making it even more bulky.

There are other widebands out there that aren't as large - I have the Innovate setup and they have 52mm round gauges that look nice and are easy to mount. There are other options as well.

Dale

That wideband in particular is a very good tuning tool.

I bought one to verify my state of tune and used it taped to the center speaker grill.

When I was done verifying the tune I removed it because my current aesthetic and state of tune is an FD you can just get in and drive/race (just the ubiquitous '90s Autometer boost gauge added).

My FD is pretty far from bleeding edge though, ROM tuned stock ECU for my mods and 12psi boost.

Ask SakeBomb to make and sell a replacement center speaker grille that is a "gauge holder" for this superior wideband. Its a great new product idea that can become a new FD standard item.

speedhut makes a gauge for that wideband. so you can hook it up and use a 52mm gauge instead
https://www.speedhut.com/gauge/GR-DG...0-and-NGK-AFX)

^ That would be the best option, I have an analog gauge for my PLX wideband, didn't know they make one for Ballenger.

I have done multiple of those. It will extend further than the speaker grill and at least IMHO its not the most aesthetically pleasing solution...but i guess its a matter of preference.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...f3df3b4fb9.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...0c537f984e.jpg

I just got mine installed. I removed the innovative lc2 for the afr500v2. I installed it where Kensin said. I like it a lot. I can close the din if I’m just cruising. I just tracked the car this past weekend and I really like the larger display on it, I can glance down and see the gauge no problem.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...fc1584abb.jpeg

I can see how that could possibly end up with something that looks like ET's head looking at you from the center speaker area...

I did this instead. I plugged the wideband in the boost control along with other stuff (egt x2 fuel pressure sensor etc). Not quite a dash logger but i guess its as close as it can be

I like the location there and you can quickly glance at it at the track whereas the defi you really have to look down to see it.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...e134062f41.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...5951e64283.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...5099e8495e.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...bc2c4e86ae.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...7291358ee8.jpg
The boost controller highlights-isolates the sensor that is borderline and covers the whole screen. Every time you hit a new peak it shows it

These are just different revisions of the pod. I made a couple more changes after these 3.

That is awesome!

It fits perfectly in there. I love it

Glovebox is where all AFR gauges go for each of my builds. Hide it when you want it hidden. Lock it when you want it locked. Never obnoxious. Less Gauges = Better Driving Experience.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...9e8e873a89.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...0f039f5f56.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...7a24a40dae.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...e8eb0623b3.jpg
At least in the fd you cant see the stuff mounted in the glovebox especially during a track session.in the Fc its a different story.
I did this for a friend. The intention was to add more things in the future

Hey @R-R-Rx7 , what is that mounted in the center speaker location?

https://www.plex-tuning.com/products...st-controller/

A pretty much all in one boost controller with sensors (including the ngk afx wideband) that also provides some protections

From the research I did here on the forum it seems to be the highest quality, and I want to buy one once that will work for decades. I don't mind spending money on the FD to get the best parts if they're actually superior

These wideband sensors are not meant to stay in your exhaust full time, they even include a bung and plug in the kit. It's supposed to be a tuning tool. The instructions state this as well. I don't drive my car very often so it may be fine but time will tell.

At this point I think most widebands are nearly a commodity - the tech has been figured out and one from a major vendor will work well and last a long time. Really the sensor is the big thing, they are all OEM sensors and they have a good long life.

My LC-1 from Innovate has been in my car for around 10 years at this point. Zero problems.

That setup was one of the earlier widebands - it does work well and is reliable, but it has such a HUGE box. As stated it was really designed to be temporarily installed in a car by a tuner then removed after the tuning session. That box wasn't designed for clean mounting in the interior.

Dale

Here's a printed vent mount.

https://www.draklore.com/shop/afr-500-vent-mount

Well this thread has been interesting to follow! After thinking about it, I'll go ahead and mount the box in the glove compartment. I'll wire it into my datalogit and try to get the output displayed on my stereo head unit like the rest of the PowerFC data