vac/boost gauges

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I've got a bit of a dilemma.

I'm really sick and tired of my Autometer Pro Comp Boost/Vac Gauge. Can't see bugger all out of it at night. During the day, its peachy.

So, I'm on the hunt for a new gauge. I do a lot of my driving at night, and it would be nice to be able to see my boost gauge at night when the ambient temps are low, and the boost tends to spike.

I liked having a 2 5/8" size, and have been looking around for a replacement. So far, I haven't been successful in finding an adequately sized replacement (that illuminates adequately at night!!)

Glancing over the Autometer website, I can honestly say, nothing there has tickled my fancy. Nothing. There is always something I don't like about any of them. The cobalt series I liked probably the best, but still don't like them terribly much because of the font in their dials being too italic for me, if I had to live with a 2 1/16". Next best thing would have been the Sport Comp, but the font sucks worse than the cobalt, and again, its only in a 2 1/16".

Basically, I want a black faced gauge, that lights up green (or even white) at night (to make it look nice and almost OEM). I want the gauge to read in PSI, and have a limit of 20psi or so. I did have a preference for 2 5/8", but its beginning to look like I'm not going to find what I want.

Looking at the Stewart Warner range (http://www.sw-performance.com/), has yielded me poor results. They do have what I want, but only in a 2 1/16". They do a 2 5/8", but only have one that reads to 15psi (too low) or 40psi(stupidly too high)!! sad


So... does anyone have any suggestions for a good quality, good looking boost/vac gauge?

regashi
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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Apexi part # 403-A970

I have the same thing in in kPa. Highly recommend.

Should be able to give this # to anyone who has an account with Apexi.

Good Luck.

B484
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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I assume you looked at the Defi right?

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t214/Kostiz/defiGuage.jpg

Kosti
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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put that away Kosti...

They are just porn:ohmy:

pricey?

Evil_VZ-T
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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i reckon  apexi is the go, im not sure if this pic is of the previously mentioned gauge but i reckon its pretty nice.. the blue glow might be a bit annoying though..
http://www.daionet.gr.jp/~turbo2/img/apexiboost.jpg

deapoNe
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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all those gauges are kewl and all...


but I'm a redneck...

PEE ESS EYE    pahleese!! I'm not used to this metric thing...


Does defi do a mechanical gauge? smile

regashi
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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I just installed one of these: http://www.modyourcar.com.au/product_in … ts_id=4581
and i kind of like it... it does not do it justice in that pic!!
i know you say you don't like the cobalt range that much but at night it looks really good.. it lights up in blue however which is annoying, but for the price i think it is the go!!
if you want to spend more money i don't think you should have a problem finding a suitable Apexi or Defi gauge...
I'll try to get some pics of mine and post them up

GTwagn
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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nah Defi mechanical gauges, they all work on a daisey chain link to controller unit..

I am also a fan of psi and cant work out the bar system.. its like you have to manually convert what you did in PSI every time you drive..

Alex, go by a stronger globe to put in the back of the gauge and remove the condom from it.. that helps.

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Re: vac/boost gauges

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yea i agree that psi is better than bar.. apexi does do them in PSI..
im not sure if this is exactly the same as the pic i posted but those are the part #s for the EL II gauges in psi -
403-A970    Mechanical Boost PSI Black
403-A971    Mechanical Boost PSI White

deapoNe
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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deapoNe wrote:

yea i agree that psi is better than bar.. apexi does do them in PSI..
im not sure if this is exactly the same as the pic i posted but those are the part #s for the EL II gauges in psi -
403-A970    Mechanical Boost PSI Black
403-A971    Mechanical Boost PSI White
You, sir, are an absolute FCUKING LEGEND.


Many thanks to you!

Now to order the sucker!!
(p.s: I'm googling for pics...you wouldn't happen to have any handy?)

regashi
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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SOO081 wrote:

You, sir, are an absolute FCUKING LEGEND.


Many thanks to you!

Now to order the sucker!!
(p.s: I'm googling for pics...you wouldn't happen to have any handy?)
no worries mate.. as for a pic, i cant find any in PSI, but those part numbers are straight from apexi.com so should be genuine.
have a look here -
http://www.fortyone.co.nz/parts/show/50 … eter.html#
it is that look im pretty sure but should be in PSI..

heres the apexi link so you can see the part numbers etc -
http://www.apexi-usa.com/product_electr … ;pageNum=1

deapoNe
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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Yeah, I checked out the yank apexi site. It looked orright. I think I'll go with the black face...

So anyone know where would be the best place to purchase this in Oz?

I wonder to what psi this reads?

regashi
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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SOO081 wrote:

Yeah, I checked out the yank apexi site. It looked orright. I think I'll go with the black face...
So anyone know where would be the best place to purchase this in Oz?
I wonder to what psi this reads?
yea the black face is pretty nice, thats what one i would go with too (prefer the black face to the white one during the day). i have no idea where to get one in OZ but i imagine that any official distributors would be able to order it in for you.. i dunno what PSI they read to as find a pic seems to be harder than finding hens teeth, even this site which claims to sell the PSI gauge just has a pic of a Bar one..

deapoNe
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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you could try aaron at rampant, i dont have any experience with him but apparently he can source pretty much anything from japland, and i guess these gauges would be over there..

deapoNe
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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I'm sure you can get the defi in either metric or imperial....psi or bar

:victory:

Kosti
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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Kosti wrote:

I'm sure you can get the defi in either metric or imperial....psi or bar
:victory:
pics please.

do defi do mechanical gauges? electronic ones are beyond my needs.

regashi
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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SOO081 wrote:

pics please.
do defi do mechanical gauges? electronic ones are beyond my needs.
Not sure about that as the BF series requires the link controller...check here cuz for more details

http://www.nippon-seiki.co.jp/defishop/index.htm

Kosti
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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Kosti wrote:

I'm sure you can get the defi in either metric or imperial....psi or bar
:victory:
Problem is that you need to run the control unit even if you only have one gauge :beee:

Defi Website wrote:

Defi-Link Control Unit II is necessary to operate Defi-Link Meter BF.

TUN35
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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SOO081 wrote:

Yeah, I checked out the yank apexi site. It looked orright. I think I'll go with the black face...
So anyone know where would be the best place to purchase this in Oz?
I wonder to what psi this reads?
Was the part number I gave you not exactly what you were after?

It reads to 20psi.

Theres no pics of it in PSI but plenty in kPa. I assume it would be the same, just with diferent backing.

The lighting doesnt look the same as the other Apexi pic (that must be the EL1). The EL2 has more of a backlight. Looks very cool (not too different from the B4 dash) smile

B484
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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B484 wrote:

Was the part number I gave you not exactly what you were after?
It reads to 20psi.
Theres no pics of it in PSI but plenty in kPa. I assume it would be the same, just with diferent backing.
The lighting doesnt look the same as the other Apexi pic (that must be the EL1). The EL2 has more of a backlight. Looks very cool (not too different from the B4 dash) smile
B484 - Whoa. Sorry buddy, I missed your post. I must crown you as head cheif LEGEND!
EL2 Looks fantastic. I'd be really happy if it read to 20psi. or even to 30psi. It'd be awesome. Just what I want in a gauge, with a bit of Jappy Bling bling to boot.

Just That I'd like to know what it looks like before I lay down the coin.

Defi - I agree. Lots of coin just for a controller and one gauge. I have no intentions of running multiple gauges. I'll just run a subdatascan for diagnostic purposes, otherwise, I'll keep it stealth.

regashi
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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TUN35 wrote:

Problem is that you need to run the control unit even if you only have one gauge :beee:
I think this is for the BF series, which is what I had posted, I'm sure the other's don;t need the controller, anyways looks like Alex found what he needs.

Kosti
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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Kosti wrote:

I think this is for the BF series, which is what I had posted, I'm sure the other's don;t need the controller, anyways looks like Alex found what he needs.
Just looking on the site seems the only ones that don't require the controller are ghey lookin US only units sad

http://www.nippon-seiki.co.jp/defishop/ … r_top.html

TUN35
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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TUN35 wrote:

Just looking on the site seems the only ones that don't require the controller are ghey lookin US only units sad
http://www.nippon-seiki.co.jp/defishop/ … r_top.html
And only 52mm (2 1/16th for the yanks out there).

60mm would be Ideal for me.

I didn't think Defi would have had an imperial boost gauge at all. I thought it would all have been in metric measurements!

There you go...!

regashi
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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APEXI EL II FTW!! im sure it will look exactly the same, however it is extremely odd that there are no pics of them floating around.. my appologies to b484 too as i missed your post and you had the same part # as me.. defi is a bit of overkill i reckon and IMHO the apexi gauge is nicer..

deapoNe
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Re: vac/boost gauges

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This is a pic of mine at night.

Yours should be essentially the same, just with PSI.

Excuse the crappy camera phone quality.

B484
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