I am working on installing some SPA dual digital gauges to replace the stock oil pressure and water temp gauges in the dash of my FD. Check it out:
http://www.maxcooper.com/rx7/how-to/...ges/index.html

-Max

 

Very nice, Max. I have seen dual gauges in formula type cars before. Typically they have two needles; one sweeping across the top and one the bottom. Think they are aviation types; you might try Aircraft Spruce and Specialty if interested.

I didn't expect the gauges to integrate so nicely; looks good.

 

Damn, that looks good Max!! Now you've got me rethinking my plans. I've been planning on ditching the box under my head unit, and going with a 3 gauge panel, but now....

I got the black face, chrome ring, red/green selectable gauges from SPA. I'm starting with water temp/oil temp, boost/temp, and fuel pressure/voltage. I figured that I would use the temp from the boost/temp gauge for either exhaust or intake temps.

By the way, I saw on the SPA site that they are offering an update service on the gauge guts, so you may be able to trade-in now for the color selectable and supposedly more heat tolerant models. The color maybe isn't a big deal, but more heat tolerance should help out in the summer.

 

Those new ones look nice. I bet the red would look nicer than the green in the dash. I think I am probably done with my gauge stuff for right now, but if the temp issue turns out to be a big problem, I might have to upgrade. It looks like you can buy just the gauge part without the sensors for $150 each.

I am sure I wasn't the only one to ask for it, but I did email SPA to ask about changing the display color a while back. I wonder if that may have helped them justify the switchable illumination. I think their original dual gauges were red (perhaps LED) with a black background. I saw someone selling a bunch of used ones that looked like that a while back.

I have been very happy with the programmability of the gauges for units, alert lights, etc. I have had a few temp senders fail, but it is obvious when it happens (rather than just reading wrong, it flashes and says there is a fault). They are readily available for just $30, so it isn't a big deal to replace them. The peak hold feature is nice to get your highest water temps during track sessions, and it is easy to reset the peak memory on the grid.

Analog is better for a tach, and I like analog for my boost gauge, but the digital is nice for things that change more slowly. You can't fool yourself into thinking your water temp was lower, for instance. If it says 230, that's what it was. Being able to pack two gauges into one spot like that is very nice since we don't have a lot of places to mount gauges. Well, I guess we do, but I'd rather not have gauges mouted all over the place -- I'd rather not have to look around that much.

I am sure you will enjoy them.

-Max

 

The installation is finished (well, still need to mount the oil temp sender in the oil stream, but the gauges are in the dash now). Here's my how-to page:
http://www.maxcooper.com/rx7/how-to/...ges/index.html

Here's what it looks like:


-Max

 

Good job Max!

 

damn that looks trick... when i first saw the thread titile i thought u installed their micodash