Essential gauges?
 

I have an aftermarket boost gauge

Im getting a water temp,

1 What other gauges are necessary in your opinions

2 If i get a hand controller for my FC what will this help me with and will i need a water temp gauge with this?

the PFC commander will give you all your vitals plus more..... but i highly recommend you getting these guages in this priority order...

1. water temp
2. oil temp
3. egt *optional*

ah ok, ive read oil temp is not needed?

The commander will have water temp on it, should i not even need this?

EGT?? Whats this little beastie

EGT- Exhaust Gas Temperature

Basically tells you if you are running to lean or too rich. High temps indicate a lean mix, lower temps a rich mix.

What will be your primary use for the car?

For a street car with mild modifications and the PFC, a simple boost gauge will be enough as the PFC will give you the rest.

For a track driven car, I would use gauges instead of the PFC; specifically Peak/Hold/Warning gauges:

1. Water Temp
2. Oil Temp
3. Boost

The Peak/Hold/Warning gauges can record what was happening, record your peak reading as well as light up a warning light. IMO, these are important on the track as you aren't staring at your gauges while ripping up a road course. ;)

Now, if your fuel system is modified or going to be modified, I would add a Fuel Pressure gauge. EGT's can be useful, but not all by themselves IMO. Using one WITH an A/F gauge would be good, but it's overkill for most owners. An EGT gauge by itself is pointless IMO.

oil temp?
what about oil pressure?

The stock oil pressure gauge is fine. Maybe once every few years you need a new sender (or to clean the contacts), but its fine other than that IMO.

Ah so the handheld will give me most of the readings i need? great and i already have the boost so i just need the handheld.

on ebay you can get 3 gauges for like 60 quid or something, was wondering also how hard these are to wire up, and if the are worth buying.

What readings will the controller give me as well and does this give peak readings?>

For a street car with the PFC, I would still run boost and water temp gauges with the warning light feature that Mahjik talked about. I almost never look at my gauges when driving because I have the warning lights set up at the appropriate settings.

But one could easily get away with just running a boost gauge with the PFC. Most people get carried away -- I chuckle everytime I see that someone has installed a plethora of gauges and then doesn't even understand how to read them or what "normal" readings are.

Me I'm happy with a boost gauge, PFC, and I'd like to add a wideband A/F gauge on there.