General Miata Chat A place to talk about anything Miata

Where are you mounting your gauges?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-26-2007, 11:23 AM
  #1  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
 
Saml01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC
Posts: 5,710
Total Cats: 3
Default Where are you mounting your gauges?

I just ordered an LC1 from our friend WOT. Now I cant decide where I should mount the gauges. I want it to be visible, to me, but it shouldnt attract outside attention. Right now I am thinking of putting the boost and afr on the steering column in mounting cups.

Is anyone doing this? Maybe post a picture? I just dont know yet how much of the speedo and tach it will obstruct so I havent ordered the cups yet.But I figure I can get the line of sight just right the gauges will fall into the middle of the empty space of the tach and speedo.

The other place is the A-Pillar but that attracts attention, and I like my eyeball vents. I also dont want to attach them like mickey mouse ears to the gauge cluster hood.

Suggestions?
Saml01 is offline  
Old 11-26-2007, 11:35 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
iTrader: (6)
 
nester's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 811
Total Cats: 0
Default

I put mine in the vents.
nester is offline  
Old 11-26-2007, 11:36 AM
  #3  
Elite Member
iTrader: (12)
 
neogenesis2004's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,413
Total Cats: 20
Default

I put them on my keychain, I'm cool like that.
neogenesis2004 is offline  
Old 11-26-2007, 11:37 AM
  #4  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
 
Saml01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC
Posts: 5,710
Total Cats: 3
Default

Originally Posted by nester
I put mine in the vents.
How do you get the wiring to them is my next question.
Saml01 is offline  
Old 11-26-2007, 11:42 AM
  #5  
Boost Czar
iTrader: (62)
 
Braineack's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chantilly, VA
Posts: 79,493
Total Cats: 4,080
Default

there's enough space between the duct and dash to fit anything you need.
Braineack is offline  
Old 11-26-2007, 11:55 AM
  #6  
:(
iTrader: (7)
 
magnamx-5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: nowhere
Posts: 8,255
Total Cats: 4
Default

yep who needs hvac on your face when you have info
magnamx-5 is offline  
Old 11-26-2007, 12:36 PM
  #7  
Newb
 
Stitches's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Luis Obispo
Posts: 19
Total Cats: 0
Default

What about the gages at good win that mount in your center console? http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda...ml?id=QVAoU3w8
Stitches is offline  
Old 11-26-2007, 12:39 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
iTrader: (6)
 
nester's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 811
Total Cats: 0
Default

i had a mechanical boost gauge so i had to cut a hole in the duct to run the hose though, just used a utility knife to do so.
nester is offline  
Old 11-26-2007, 12:42 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
iTrader: (14)
 
brgracer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Ambler, PA
Posts: 1,275
Total Cats: 1
Default

As much as the a-pillar is an attention getter, the line of sight for important gauges doesn't get any better so I'd re-consider putting them there. Gauges in vents, console, dash certainly look good, but require you to glance down vs. a-pillar. Just a thought.
brgracer is offline  
Old 11-26-2007, 12:43 PM
  #10  
Elite Member
iTrader: (13)
 
cjernigan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 8,091
Total Cats: 7
Default

Savington uses mounting cups like that. I use a 3 gauge single din mount. They're $20 on ebay shipped and they angle the gauges toward the driver.
cjernigan is offline  
Old 11-26-2007, 12:49 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
iTrader: (19)
 
pschmidt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: MoCo, MD
Posts: 703
Total Cats: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Braineack
there's enough space between the duct and dash to fit anything you need.
I had a little difficulty getting the braided thermocouple wire for my EGT gauge through. If you notch the big part of the eyeball surround it will free up some space.
pschmidt is offline  
Old 11-26-2007, 12:57 PM
  #12  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
 
Saml01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC
Posts: 5,710
Total Cats: 3
Default

Originally Posted by brgracer
As much as the a-pillar is an attention getter, the line of sight for important gauges doesn't get any better so I'd re-consider putting them there. Gauges in vents, console, dash certainly look good, but require you to glance down vs. a-pillar. Just a thought.
A pillar is gonna be to much for attention man. I live in NY, I sometimes park my car on the street. Brightly lit gauges will just attract the wrong crowd on the street, and unessesary curiosity when its parked.

Originally Posted by cjernigan
Savington uses mounting cups like that. I use a 3 gauge single din mount. They're $20 on ebay shipped and they angle the gauges toward the driver.
Thats great on an NB xcept it would be to low on my car to be useful. Plus its going to be a bitch to mount my radio with it because id need a new kit.

I need savington to post some pics of where he has his.

Originally Posted by magnamx-5
yep who needs hvac on your face when you have info

This is my second option if the steering column doesnt work out, at least its visible to me and relatively unvisible to people from the outside.
Saml01 is offline  
Old 11-26-2007, 12:59 PM
  #13  
Elite Member
iTrader: (13)
 
cjernigan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 8,091
Total Cats: 7
Default

He doesn't have them on the steering column though.
https://www.miataturbo.net/diy-turbo-discussion-14/my-less-than-traditional-gauge-setup-12340/
He already posted pictures.
cjernigan is offline  
Old 11-26-2007, 01:21 PM
  #14  
Boost Czar
iTrader: (62)
 
Braineack's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chantilly, VA
Posts: 79,493
Total Cats: 4,080
Default

I have my boost gauge in the a-pillar, single DIN.

you'd have no clue it was there without trying hard to find it:



most boost gauges are simply backlit with a cheap *** bulb, they don't stand out in any way, hell mine's green and on my dimmer so It almost looks stock.

the AFR gauge, since it's LED and bright is on my eyeball just below. It's a good spot for quick checks but out of the way enough not to be annoying.
Braineack is offline  
Old 11-26-2007, 01:30 PM
  #15  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
 
Saml01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC
Posts: 5,710
Total Cats: 3
Default

Originally Posted by Braineack
I have my boost gauge in the a-pillar, single DIN.

you'd have no clue it was there without trying hard to find it:

[img]https://www.miataturbo.net/~web1_braineack/dyno_day_pics/Dyno_Day035.jpg[/i]

most boost gauges are simply backlit with a cheap *** bulb, they don't stand out in any way, hell mine's green and on my dimmer so It almost looks stock.

the AFR gauge, since it's LED and bright is on my eyeball just below. It's a good spot for quick checks but out of the way enough not to be annoying.
Hmm. Maybe you are right. It doesn't look as bad as I thought it would.

How did you run the wires to the gauges? through the pillar or did you come out of the hole on the side of the dash.

Originally Posted by cjernigan
He doesn't have them on the steering column though.
https://www.miataturbo.net/showthread.php?t=12340
He already posted pictures.
Oh right, I have seen his before then. Good idea but I think thats just to obvious.

The other reason why I like the column, it would be easy to look at the RPM and AF at the same time for tuning purposes.
Saml01 is offline  
Old 11-26-2007, 01:56 PM
  #16  
Boost Czar
iTrader: (62)
 
Braineack's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chantilly, VA
Posts: 79,493
Total Cats: 4,080
Default

The power and vacuum line both slip between the dash and windshield area, they not visible in the least. I think what i did was route them under the dash and back up around the out side and poked them back with a screwdriver behind the plastic trim. Something like that, its really easy the fish the wires, too long ago to remember exactly.
Braineack is offline  
Old 11-26-2007, 02:03 PM
  #17  
Elite Member
iTrader: (7)
 
samnavy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: VaBch, VA
Posts: 6,451
Total Cats: 322
Default

Just get rid of your HVAC and radio and replace the whole center console with this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cessn...QQcmdZViewItem
samnavy is offline  
Old 11-26-2007, 02:07 PM
  #18  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (9)
 
Saml01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC
Posts: 5,710
Total Cats: 3
Default

Originally Posted by samnavy
Just get rid of your HVAC and radio and replace the whole center console with this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cessn...QQcmdZViewItem
Why are you linking me to ebay auctions when I can just ask you to bring me one back from your next rotation at sea.

Originally Posted by Braineack
The power and vacuum line both slip between the dash and windshield area, they not visible in the least. I think what i did was route them under the dash and back up around the out side and poked them back with a screwdriver behind the plastic trim. Something like that, its really easy the fish the wires, too long ago to remember exactly.
Alright, ill give that some more thought once I get the gauges. Ill kinda just hold them in the various locations and see what I like most.
Saml01 is offline  
Old 11-26-2007, 02:09 PM
  #19  
Senior Member
iTrader: (14)
 
brgracer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Ambler, PA
Posts: 1,275
Total Cats: 1
Default

If you want a really clean console install, consider the item below. It comes in black as well so it will blend in with your console and not be as attention getting as the stainless version. Also has two gauge versions as well as stereo on top or bottom.

http://www.ddmworks.com/Miatastore/s...surrounds.html

brgracer is offline  
Old 11-26-2007, 02:18 PM
  #20  
Elite Member
iTrader: (7)
 
samnavy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: VaBch, VA
Posts: 6,451
Total Cats: 322
Default

Originally Posted by Saml01
Why are you linking me to ebay auctions when I can just ask you to bring me one back from your next rotation at sea.
Actually, our gauges pretty much look just like that.
samnavy is offline  


Quick Reply: Where are you mounting your gauges?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:09 AM.