GodSquadMandrake

I had the oil pressure and boost gauge from Prosport, actually the older model that didn't have peak hold or warning, just a gauge. They looked sweet when the car was turned off because they blacked out. The two color backlighting is the best feature because you can wire it any way you want. So parking lights can turn on one, and then headlights the other. Or you can have one turned on all the time and the other come on with headlights, etc.

I had the white backlight on all the time so I could easily read the gauge at any time. The digital movement of the needle was smooth and accurate. It didn't jump like a mechanical type boost gauge so it was much more useful. The start-up sequence also made me feel cool every time I turned the car on with the gauge sweep
But at night when I turned on the headlights t was wired so the orange backlighting turned on and it matched my instruments very well. I've seen a few cars with gauges that are so bright the driver's face is lit up like a Jedi and he's probably got night blindness from it. But these don't light up like a light bulb, just the needle and the numbers like OE style.

The only problem was after a while the electronic senders pooped out. First the boost gauge started jumping and getting innaccurate readings unless I was on the boost. Then the oil pressure sender just went to max all the time. I was pretty sad about it, but Prosport said they would replace it under warranty. So as long as they work, they're good. And the new ones have the peak hold, warning and I think replay.

Anyway here's my old setup:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djRuijG4KGQ
http://prosportgauges.com/amber-whit...ost-gauge.aspx
Their website kind of sucks, it doesn't really show the detail of how the gauges work and I think they have the wrong one shown because I don't see the button for warning/hold. I guess it doesn't actually have a replay feature. But you can have an external warning light, as well as the buzzer. So you could wire the warning light to both the water temp, oil temp, and oil pressure. So if that light ever starts blinking you know to back off and check the gauges.

Valkyrie

You should know that in Japan everything you can afford to put back to stock every two years is street legal. And a lot of aftermarket exhausts are only legal with the silencer installed. Obviously on the track it's not an issue.

And turbo kits aren't necessarily illegal. A lot of commercial kits can pass shaken.　HKS bolt on kits are street legal.

GodSquadMandrake

The rules they post in the member's handbook don't match up with what they enforce at the track. I was just surprised at how blatant people violate it. Sure I've seen people run ECU re-flashes in stock SCCA classes, but never stuff like this where they don't even have a rear bumper.

I'm not complaining, I like it. If someone makes their car faster than mine then they deserve to win. I never liked the tech inspection guys crawling through every inch of my car anyway. It's just a big shock compared to what we do in America. But either way it's easy for me because I don't have to worry so much about keeping everything %100 street legal and you know how much trouble I had getting that license plate Valkyrie.

I thought bolt on turbo kits were illegal like they were in California, thanks for the correction.

twinsinside

iTrader: (34)

Glad to hear you're having fun up there. I know the inspections are a pain, but the last thing you want is to be running behind someone spewing coolant and oil going into a turn lol.

The JCI stuff is just goofy. This year I did a rebuild before road-tax season + JCI at same time and just put most of the emissions stuff and oem cat on while I was at it to pass inspection. On the other hand I found out a few guys are running open exhaust (well over the 113db sound inspection mark), no air pumps, etc and were able to get their JCI no problem. It seems, like most inspection places, it just depends on where you go and who you know.

Just make sure you keep all of your oem stuff in case you need it. I've never had a problem with the cops down here near Iwakuni. Unless you're doing something really dangerous they see that "Y" plate and don't waste time trying to deal with the communication barrier. The 18-20 year old MPs are fun to deal with though, nothing like getting driving tips from someone who has had their license for 2-3 years.

You might want to consider just getting some BNR's and ceramic coating everything, they'll never be able to tell they're not OEM turbos.

GodSquadMandrake

Thanks for the tips twinsinside. You have a whole different challenge there with the 'Y' plates. I've heard about the animosity with that. Luckily I don't have Y plates or any military affiliation so I can avoid the politics on that. It's hard enough to be a foreigner without being judged and put into this tiny box of what their idea for military Americans is.

Meiogirl

iTrader: (2)

I did see how those Prosport gauges work and it looks cool. However, doing some further investigation today (even your post) and poking out my feelers it seems as if these gauges are exactly what you pay for.
Im prob gonna go STRI or Defi.

GodSquadMandrake

The only thing I didn't like about Defi is you have to get the controller box for them and it's expensive.

twinsinside

iTrader: (34)

I like the PLX stuff. Not cheap, but they're VERY easy to hook up (12v and ground), multiple sources can go to one gauge, logable, and is a very clean install.

GodSquadMandrake

twinsinside I just wish I could get some place to work on my car to fix this stuff

Valkyrie

If you're storing it at Tsukuba Circuit they've got to have garage space there. I'm sure you can rent it. Getting things like engine lifts and transmission jacks will probably be harder since we don't have Harbor Freight in Japan...

GodSquadMandrake

Yeah I rent a garage there but I don't have any tools. The garage is 180,000 yen for one year. I guess it's time to call Tim the tool man Taylor and buy some tools.

Valkyrie

IIRC a lot of car magazines would advertise tool sets (possibly specific to the car the magazine is about, IE AE86s) for maybe 15,000 yen.

Picking up a copy of REV SPEED's RX-7 magazine might be a start.

Or look for them on KAKAKU.COM

Maybe one of the shops based at Tsukuba would rent you their big tools if you needed them.