Shop recomendations?

[FlipKing]

This summer I am planning on buying some after market temp and oil pressure gauges to install in my car because i do not trust my stock ones anymore. Around how much will an install be from a shop and which shop do you recommend?

[Pitt]

Do it yourself! I'm sure some of the guys here that live close to you will help you out with it.

[FlipKing]

Well, i want it to look clean, and I know how it would look if left up to me or my friends,lol

[ranger250x]

where do you want the gauges mounted? I would reccomend doing it yourself to save a little money.

[FlipKing]

I want them on the left hand of the windshield

[ranger250x]

on the A-pillar?

[FlipKing]

I guess thats what its called,lol

[ranger250x]

there are pods that you can buy that arent too expensive and look clean when installed. the install isnt hard to do and i'm sure that you could easily do it at the next tech meet. there will be plenty of people to give you advice and help if needed

[FlipKing]

ohh, ill look into em. Thanks!

[ranger250x]

no problem. if you decide to do it yourself and have any questions just post up and ask.

[RotorNutFD3S]

+1 on the DIY. Not a hard job at all. There are various methods of getting information. Oil from a sandwich plate at the oil filter. Coolant, most accurate would probably be at the back of the head, but you can also snag it from the upper radiator hose, either with an in-line sensor holder. But if you go upper rad. hose, you won't get accurate readings until the thermostat opens, which is why I recommend either the heater core feed hose or the head to oil cooler hose.

Gaugepods.com - I use theirs in my car. It's the full pillar, not just some screw on piece. Looks very clean. This is their product picture:



They've gone up in price a little since I ordered mine, but a full pillar for two gauges for $45 still isn't too bad. MiataRoadster has a 3-gauge version for $75.

EDIT: Thanks to tbone for reminding me to post a picture of mine:

[tbone heller]

Here is a picture of my A-Pillar Gauge Pod http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2884930/7

Added image for you. :) Click the picture to see full size. -RotorNut

[FlipKing]

Ok, thanks guys. My oil has ran low twice, and my gauge read fine both times, so I dont trust my gauges anymore, so probably this summer, I am going to put in oil pressure, temp gauges, maybe a volt meter.

[RotorNutFD3S]

An oil pressure gauge is really not going to tell you when you run low unless you're pretty much out. Kinda like having a laser detector, it'll go off, but it's already too late. The best way to keep up with your oil is to do your maintenance and pull the dipstick every once in a while. :)

[FlipKing]

Lol, well I do, but I had less than 2 quarts and it read normal. Plus, I do check the dipstick, but I lost like 2 quarts in 1200 miles,lol