I have about around a $150 budget and I would like to buy a boost guage that both matches that FD's guages and is acurrate.
I am thinking about getting the Blitz 52mm mechanical guage but was wondering if the Defi guages were more accurate in measuring boost since they are more expensive. Are both guages pretty much about the same? and will I just be paying more for the playback option on the Defi guages?

 

Dont buy the PFS boost gauge my car had one when i bought it. It shows about 2psi high over my Power FC.

 

hmm...thats weird. ive heard some good things about the PFS guage. its actually an SPI unit, and they are supposedly really accuarate.

i say get anything other than AutoMeter. if you want guages that look very stock, look into SPI. check the RX-7 Store.

 

I like the Pettit pillar mount, matches the stock gauges,kind of cool pod too...

 

I've always felt Defi gauges look the best.

 

I've got the Defi gauges. They match the stock gauges perfectly.

 

A long time ago PFS used Autometer gauges. Pettit still does for some reason so if you get their nice pillar mount don't get the gauge with it.

 

They do? I also have Defi Gauges.. but it lights up green while my stocks are amber... but I love the gauges..

 

the Defi guage would be the best, IMO, only if they lit up orange/amber like the stock guages. green with everything else just wont look right.

 

thanx guys for the imput, but as far as accuracy goes would both guages be about the same as far as measuring the correct boost?

 

yea..they do light up green but everything else matches.

 

what is more accurate than a digital gauge...


I have a Blitz Dual timer for sale...asking 75+shipping...all you need is a wiring harness

 

I think Omni is the best gauges money can buy.
Try them out and you'll agree. Accurancy and quality.

donnie

 

How difficult is it to install a boost gauge? I am extrememly green when it comes to auto mechanics.

 

installing a mechanical boost gauge isn't super hard - you run a tube from the nipple on the turbo side of your engine (the nipple is up high and easy to get to) into your car where ever you mount the gauge. That will make it work. if you want it back lit, you'll need to splice it into your car's power somewhere - most people use the cigarette lighter light or the ash tray light. That isn't incredibly difficult either - just make sure to cap off the exposed wire.

Question: does the Defi boost gauge need the controller or can it work independantly?

FYI: at www.thepartstrader.com there are white-faced Defi boost & water temp gauges with the controller for $320 shipped - it's under Mazda Rotary -> engine. If they weren't white-faced, I'd get them myself.

 

What company makes the gauge mount that goes on top of steering wheel right in front of the speedometer and RPM gauge???

thanks

1FAST7

 

For all you people saying that the Defi gauges match the stock ones and light up green. Can't u change the bulb in the gauge to amber to match it much better, or can u not change the bulbs in the Defi or others????

1FAST7

 

Well, seeing as how I don't quite yet own an FD (it's coming!), I don't know what matches and what doesn't, as far as the interior is concerned. BUT, I've owned a turbocharged vehicle of some sort for the several years, and have had numerous boost gauges.

I'm at 3300 feet, in Tucson, AZ, so altitude MAY have something to do with the boost readings I was getting but:

The VDO. Was a good all-around gauge, and for those on a tight budget, is a great bang-for-the-buck gauge. Always read correctly, easy to install, and looked decent.

Autometer. I've had 3 different ones, and not one of them read "0" with the car off. They would all end up 1-3lbs off after about 2-4 months. Autometer replaced a few under warranty (something about a spring), but I've yet to see one work perfectly here.

SPI. Another decent gauge. Looked good, and worked relatively well, but was off by about 1½ psi @ 15psi, and got worse from there, according to my datalogs and electronic boost controllers. Kinda pricey.

Apex'i. Great gauge. You'll have to sell a kidney and eat Top Ramen for a month to afford it (I actually bought the matching EL EGT gauge for my car as well - ), but it's the best gauge I've ever had. My EGT sticks every now and then, but that's the probe, not the gauge (I need to replace it, but I'm too lazy too).

GReddy. Also makes a decent gauge, but I've heard of it being a bit slow. Never owned one, but I have numerous friends that have them.

Hope this helps!

 

Well when I got my Rx-7, it had a boost gauge on the steering column with a Autometer gauge (Pettit racing's kit). I didn't like the Autometer gauge cause I wanted something that matched the stock gauges better. The only one that I could find to match the stock gauges that well was the Blitz gauge. I called Blitz and they said that that gauge was made specifically for the RX-7. One thing though, the light that they supplied did not have a cover on it, so the numbers lit up white and red. I put a red light cover on it and now lights up exactly like the factory gauges. But in terms of the numbers and the glowing needle, they are the same as factory right out of the box.

 

Dood: You must live WAY up in the foothills. The airport is 2,641 feet above sea level. Let me know when you get your FD and we'll hook up sometime!

 

The A'pexi is back-lit in blue. I love the gauge but I wished they offered it back-lit in an amber light more similar to stock.

 

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