I would like to install a boost gage on my car but I like the stock look. What I would like to find is a digital boost gage that is removable. I was thinking either wireless or some type of simple (wire) harness disconnect. I want a device that fit's nicely in the glove box when not in use. Does anyone know of a vendor?

Ideally, this "thing" would record RPM too and store several peak values or even allow uploads to a computer. It would be used as a repair and maintenance device.

John

 

I think the most stock looking gauge holder is the one that mounts on the steering column. I don't think you want your gauge in the glove box. I can't ever see a time where you would want to put your boost gauge away. The boost gauge is a very important gauge and you want to be able to keep an eye on it. If my boost is spiking or creeping I want to know about now, before it ruins my engine. After your engine blows up, seeing the peak boost later on some type of log isn't going to do anything for you.

 

Everything you say I agree with. Unfortunately there are "complicating" factors. If my wife sees the gages she'll ask what they are for. If I say, they are there so that I don't destroy the engine as I modify things, she'll ask why I'm modifying things if I might destroy the engine (the fact that I feel the need to drive harder than a stock RX-7 can handle is not something she wants to be reminded of evertime she drives it). If the guages are not there (or look sufficiently "acceptable") then it may not be an issue. Steering column mounted gages may fit the bill but from the images I've seen they look distinctly out of place and would precipitate the whole preceding conversation (or at least that line of thought).

Also, having a gage won't tell me anything about how the car runs while other's drive it. If the car's setup is so unstable that I have to monitor it 24/7 then I can't do anything to the car because it won't be monitored 24/7. Requesting that my wife monitor gage while she drives would precipitate the whole conversation quoted above. As we've had the car for four years now without gages it's going to be difficult to convince anyone that I just "have" to have them now or the engine will explode (as realistic as that possibility is). I don't want to convince here that the engine is about to explode, that's not smart if I want to keep it.

This may not make sense, it need not. It is the situation at hand and thus the reason for my question. On a related note, are there any other sources of column mounted cages besides the RX-7 Store's ($300 40 sec digital gage) and Pettit's (mechanical? gage)?

A cheap 4 meg flash card taking 16 bytes samples (boost, rpm, ???, ???) at 10 Hz should be able to hold 6+ hours of data (with plenty of overhead to spare). These cards are cheap. Gages that record hours worth of data may not be developed but it's not crazy, is it?

On a related note, why doesn't someone make an alarm that chimes during boost spikes (and you can check the exact values later from the glovebox)? I don't know about anyone else, but when the boost goes up I tend to watch where I'm going because the scenery is starting to change real quick at that point.

I really appreciate your reply.

Thanks,
John

 

You know you've got some great ideas here, and good rationale for them, however I don't think that anything currently exists that will fit what you're looking for. Every single gauge that I've ever seen requires wiring (i.e. no wireless). As for the data logging, you can probably get that out of a haltech, but that's not a gauge, and it's quite a bit more expensive than I'm guessing you want to pay (not to mention complicated, considering what it is).

If you're that worried about what your wife will think, you need to pose the issue to her as one of reliability and not of one mod in a series of future ones. My fiance (wife in 2 months ) is not a car junkie, but I find it's generally easier to justify a lot of things to her when I explain the benefits as they pertain to safety and reliability. Once she understands those points, she's generally more ok with what I'm doing.

 

I think you need to do a little wife recalibration. LOL. Seriously though, I think the Defi guages have a lot of the features that you are looking for. Check them out.

 

She seriously has your ***** in a knot. That's so sad.

Simply tell her that the boost gauge really was a huge oversight by the manufacturer because really it was. Get one of those and an EGT gauge and mount them in an A-pillar pod. There are some cars that come with A-pillar gauges from the factory.

 

Look up info on an APEX POWERFC With COMMANDER

It's an ecu replacement which comes with a handheld unit that allows you to monitor engine activity and make some changes. This handheld unit can be stored in the glove box and the ecu replaces the original (which is already out of sight)

this will monitor boost, rpm's, speed, air temp, oil temp, injector duty, knock and more.

you're looking at about $1000 retail for that unit

currently there is also a hardware/software unit coming out to work in conjunction with the powerFC called an FC-datalogit.. it collects the data the PowerFC usually sends to the handheld commander and records it on a laptop, allowing you to read/see everything over a full run.

this unit is approx $300 and is shipping in limited quantities.

Good luck, hope that helps

Greg.

 

Your situation with your wife is similar to mine. She said specifically when she agreed to let me get a 7 that it better not turn into a money pit.

I did explain to her that I would make "reliability" modifications (showed her the list on the internet, explained my conversations with my mechanic). This she agreed to (although she doesn't know how much an intercooler costs...).

Approaching your spending from a prevention perspective may help, and be honest (for the most part)... And get her some flowers (it works, it really works). These are performance vehicles, they require more attention day-to-day in order to get their maximum effectiveness.

Myself, I'm mounting 52mm boost and water temp. gauges in the Autometer dual gauge A-Pillar thing (I don't like the look of the steering column gague).

Your comment about how you want to use the gauge brings up a couple of interesting questions.

If mods are causing boost creep/spikes, will they show up in low speed/low RPM/low throttle situations? Would they show up if someone was just driving the car, rather than driving it agressively (low RPM shifting, not utilizing 2nd turbo)?

 

LOL...that's pretty funny. She sounds like my ex girl. Anyway, I have the Boost Gauge on the steering column and it looks pretty stock. I would just tell her that you need to keep an eye on the vitals so you can make sure that the car is running properly. That will help you to take car of a problem before it gets too big, and therefore save money. Then she can go **** it all away at the mall.

 

DK:

You like field hockey players (think (bull) dikes) but still have the ***** to diss me by stating my "wife has my ***** in a knot"? What do you think is going to happend when you catch one of those field hocky players? At least I've got a woman and still got my *****.

-- All in fun and jest, right? --

Thanks Greg:

It sound like a computer would fit the bill. If I pull the stock unit and put in an aftermarket unit, how much setup is required? Is it "plug and play" or do I need to "tune" the thing first (I think most people get an "installer" to do the work)? I don't like to let other people touch the car because nobody seems to know which end is which on these things. I feel quite comfortable swapping out parts, but don't want to get into the tuning part of it until after I have some idea how it runs now.

On a related note, some Australian fellow on the RX-8 forum was talking about using a MoTech (sp?) unit. He claimed they were getting great reliability and he indicated it was due to the computer. Anyone familiar with these units and can tell me if they offer the same quantity of feedback or just more engine parameter adjustments (you supply your own feedback).

Some of this feedback is starting to convince me to just go ahead and buy a guage. It just a matter of exploring all the options. Although that new computer looks nice and it would be safer...

Thanks to everyone who replied,
John

 

you won't be able to find many people in the states to tune a motech. also it's bucks out the door ($3k or so I believe)

The hardware for the PowerFC is plug and play.. look up the install. there are a few wires that have to be cut.. don't cut the wires, instead bend the pins on the powerFC.. when you get it you'll know what I mean.

The powerFC comes with base maps, and depending on who you buy it from you can tell them your mods, and they will customize accordingly. The best would to find a local tuner to tune it on a dyno. but you're fine with the base maps until then.

Greg

 

I am not sure where I saw it but someone out there was selling the stock boost gauge or conversion. It replaces the oil pressure gauge which doesn't work very well anyway. You wife would never notice.

 

I'm in the 'keep it looking close to stock' camp so plan to put in an Autometer boost guage and one other, currently undecided as to what's most necessary.

The link below shows a couple of styly ways to deal with keeping it looking stock (in your case so the wife won't notice!) but getting the guages in there.

http://www.iluvmyrx7.com/3rdgen/how-...erior_mods.htm

 

Defi makes one just like the way you want it. It projects a image on your window. And it is a boost Gauge and Records 1/4 mile and .......etc

Well, my friend's ming knows more about this. if you want his number I will let you know. ok

peace

Shingo

 

i think the best thing to do is get the steering column gauge. Defi makes a great stock looking gauge as well as Blitz and a few others.

1FAST7

 

Unfortunatley, my ex-girlfriends alwalys tell me I spend to much time with the car wheater working on it or driving it. Then they ask the question "Who is more important me or the car!?" Well of course the car. But you're very nice too.

 

its these things that make me glad i'm not married.

 

I agree with SanJoRX7. In my opinion though I think you should go with a column mounted boost gauge. I used to have an A-pillar gauge, but you just don't see the thing when you are road racing or driving fast. At least with a column mount you can check your Tach and the boost in one glance.

I also look to keep mine looking stock. So when I changed to a column mount I decided to get one from Pettit (made by Autometer). The gauge has a chrome outer ring. So I took a black permanent Sharpe marker and blacked out the outside portion of the chrome just enough that there was a ring around the gauge just like the stock ones. I would suggest getting a relatively large point sharpe so that no lines show up if you are smooth. You can also use your finger to wipe off the marker from anywhere it isn't supposed to be (in other words on the chrome ring you are making). I know this concept sounds horrible, but it actually looks really good and it looks stock. Just apply the black in layers like you would paint. It even requires time to dry like paint (that is why you can wipe it off for a short period of time).

If you don't want to go through all of that then you can get a column mount from PFS. It looks just like all their other gauges except it is on the column. You will probably have to call them about it though, because they don't advertise the thing anywhere. The only reason I know about it is because I have friends that I do club road racing (MADS) with and they got one from PFS.

- Cody