Boost gauge for PD130

[dasmith83]

Hi all.

I have been researching into boost gauages for my PD130 FR.

Ive searched the forum and found some useful links, and i believe im right in thinking that the general opinion is that the "autometer utralite" gauges are the most similar to the original dials.

Does anyone have any pictures of gauges like this fitted in their car? Both daytime and night time would be brilliant.

I am tempted with the smoked face type (i used to have voltmeter in my old car like this, and the night illumination is awesome), but they don't illuminate completely in red.

Also as i have a tdi is it different to fitting a petrol? I am a real novice with this sort of thing as most of my experience has been on Ice and the electrical side of things. Are they hard to fit? Would you recommend a gauge like this to be fitted professionally or even by seat (if they'd even do this)?

If i was to get a pillar pod, would a single gauge look out of place? Should i also get Oil temperature and get a double pod? Or even place the pair in the single din space under the standard stereo?

any advice would be much appreciated. Sorry if this is a common question, i only came accross a few topics that were useful to me.

Thanks and regards

 

[stoneyfordNI]

yes fitting is different to petrol models , you have to tap into the boost pipe using a fitting which may or may not be part of the kit

see here:

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=94029&highlight=defi

 

[pine]

If you want the gage out of sight, but easily to look from drivers place:
Find a boost gage from the pic . That's on LHD car. I used red diod's to illuminate it. Take's a little work, but it's different. I can post pic taken in the dark later if interested.

 

[dasmith83]

thanks stoney that was very useful info...cheers m8.

pine- i take it u've fitted it behind your left air vent? if so, how hard was it? as i have been toying with the idea of getting 2 gauges (boost and oil temp) and fitting them into the two centre vents, but not behind the vents, more like in the pics below-

Im not sure i like the chrome surrounds, however you get the idea. What u rekon guys? Would they look outta place? I think 1 looks odd, but if both were like it, i rekon it'd be quite nice.

Any other pics of people gauges fitted would be awesome!

Thanks again guys!

 

[stoneyfordNI]

i have my defi boost and Exhaust Gas Temp. gauges fitted in alcantara trimmed bezels in the centre vents , quite funky and easy to read

 

[dasmith83]

ooo...stoney it'd be awesome if you could post some pics m8, and maybe details of where you bought them from? Do u know if the pods can be bought seperately? Im pretty certain i'll go for the autometer ultra lite gauges.

cheers m8.

 

[grq]

Here's a pic of Stoneys gauges:

 

[dasmith83]

That looks really smart! Do you have to get a particular mount to make them fit into the vents? Or is it a custom sort of thing?

Also what about running the wires etc? and do you have to block the vents so they dnt melt the gauges in the winter?

Another thing, do i need a "mechanical" or "electrical" boost guage, and which for the oil temperature?

 

[stoneyfordNI]

mechanical for boost, mine are electrical, the boost signal pipe goes to a wee "gubbbin" which sends an electrical signal to the gauge ,

the pods on mine are made outta wood and alcantara , made by the shop that fitted them , they routed all wires etc , theres a grommet behind the airbox on the bulkhead , and yes the main air routes are blocked off with wood cut to shape and glued in place,

PS grant , when the f k did u steal that pic

 

[pine]

Here's a pic of Stoneys gauges:

Those look real cool! I've thinking of putting a another gauge and make 'on top
' like those. My boost gauge is a industrial mecanical-liquiddamped-gage, so not too much for show..Here's a pic of mine in the dark. And the another gauge is planned to be exhaust-temp, and those are pretty expensive..well, all good and good looking gauges are..

Dave FR PD130You can use whatever type gauge's you want, anyway it's a brake-it-yourself-custom-job. Defi's are top quality all the way, want one, two..few..
But you can get nice things with cheaper one's too, what ever suits your wallet and own eye.
You take off radio and surroundings, and from under there you get your hands on the vents. I safrificed one vents (which might haunt me later) to place the gauge inside the vents frame. Now, I'd put them like Stoneys..

 

[stoneyfordNI]

the place tried to mount the gauge inside the moving part of the vent , but because of the way seat created it , this wasnt possible , would of been cool to have a movable pair of gauges but alas no , if i was fitting one gauge id either have a nomad pillar or put it in the RHS vent beside the wheel

 

[pine]

Mine doesn't move, impossible to do with my gauge. It's mechanical so the boost hose(pipe?) coming to gauge is quite stiff. But the idea is cool , it would definately need those defi or similar gauge's.. May I lease your idea..

 

[stoneyfordNI]

well i havent patented the idea , you work away lad

PS i want a mention if it happens

 

[pine]

well i havent patented the idea , you work away lad
PS i want a mention if it happens

Don't hold your breath
But I'll let you know if I put my mad-scientist-hat on and get something done.. . Our loooong and dark winter is starting close up, so there's many long evenings with nothing to do..if not wrestling with icebears

PS. Where do you get Defi at resonable price at place that ship 'em aroud Europe?

 

[dasmith83]

Pine- thanks for the night time pic m8

Im tempted to get some spare vents (i.e. the grille part which moves) chop them up a bit, insert the guage and fibre glass them together, so when the vent grille is placed in the vent housing, it should in theory be able to move like the original vent grille. What you rekon?

Stoney- how much did the shop charge to fit your gauges? im unsure whether to attempt it myself...im sure i could do it (i fibre glassed a custom surround for a 7" touchscreen in my old corsa, which also replaced the centre vents), but i want to make sure its done properly and top notch.

When you say i need a mechanical boost gauge, does this just mean that the signal is sent through the hose/pipe rather than an electrical signal via a wire?

For the oil temp' am i correct in thinking an electrical one would be ok? How hard is this the temp sensor to fit?

cheers for the help guys, its much appreciated

 

[stoneyfordNI]

was pricey . gauges came to 200 quid i think plus time , DP needed drilling n tapping etc , time to make bezels etc , if u want it done cheaper use a nomad pod

 

[dasmith83]

ok m8 thanks, i think i'll either go for the "Autometer- Ultralite" gauges, or the "Auto Guage" smoked series of guages which look similar to the defi ones, and i had a volt version in my old car and the guage did look cool.

which would you say would be the best out of the two options above? both are £50 or less per gauge.

 

[stoneyfordNI]

i dunno tbh have had no interaction with either type

 

[dasmith83]

ok m8, well thanks once again for your help...i'll let u know how i get one once i go for it!

cheers

 

[Ibiza Evo 2]

the place tried to mount the gauge inside the moving part of the vent , but because of the way seat created it , this wasnt possible , would of been cool to have a movable pair of gauges but alas no , if i was fitting one gauge id either have a nomad pillar or put it in the RHS vent beside the wheel

It's certainly possible the way you said :

These pics aren't from my car but from somebody on another forum.