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RamAirZ
05/27/2010, 12:23 PM
Well, I was looking at the dash yesterday and thought about moving the Radio down to where my CD changer was in the dash, amazingly they use the same brackets! Isuzu makes things so easy sometimes. So I decided to move the stereo down and going to be ordering one of these gauge panels (but with 3 holes):

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeopw2w/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/IMG_0379.JPG

To put where the radio used to be. I can run an oil pressure gauge, and end up with a wideband AF gauge as well and hopefully end up with a boost gauge in there soon too :bgwo:

SuperBoomTurbo
05/27/2010, 06:52 PM
Well, I was looking at the dash yesterday and thought about moving the Radio down to where my CD changer was in the dash, amazingly they use the same brackets! Isuzu makes things so easy sometimes. So I decided to move the stereo down and going to be ordering one of these gauge panels (but with 3 holes):

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeopw2w/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/IMG_0379.JPG

To put where the radio used to be. I can run an oil pressure gauge, and end up with a wideband AF gauge as well and hopefully end up with a boost gauge in there soon too :bgwo:

Don't forget to warm up the NOS while you're at it! :winkb:
In all honesty, an oil gauge does sound useful if you can squeeze the cable in through the firewall somewhere. Take pics when you start rooting around in there!

rowhard
05/27/2010, 07:07 PM
I love the idea of both oil press/temp. Want to do it on the A pillar. My question is, where to have the take-off (and keeping the idot light for when I'm not looking) to have accurate readings but keeping it KISS, (keep it simple stupid), espically the temp. My Volvo had a whatever right in the drain plug so I know that temp was right. thermocouple, thats what it was. sorry, having some of Kentuckys finest again.

RamAirZ
05/27/2010, 08:17 PM
There is a place on the oil filter stand off that you can tap into (put a T on it to run both sending units. A guy with a 3.2 in a Rodeo used it for his oil feed for his turbocharger and I've seen it under there. I was thinking about doing it on the a-pillar but they don't make an exact mold pod for our pillar so you'd have to use one of the universal ones and sometimes they can be a pita. And superboom, no tube needed, using an electric sending unit so no oil actually running into the truck. And for nitrous, check out the gauge panel I made for my old 98' Z71:

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss272/RamAirZ/DSCF1868.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss272/RamAirZ/consolein3.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss272/RamAirZ/consolein2.jpg

arming switch with warning light, button for purge, and switch for bottle heater :)

I'll get plenty of pics when I get it installed, I'll snap a pic of the new radio position tomorrow

RamAirZ
05/27/2010, 10:12 PM
Ordered my oil pressure and boost gauge tonight (got a savings with a package deal). It'll end up with forced induction in one form or another at some point so might as well save the money now lol. Next gauge will be a wideband AF gauge but don't really wanna drop the $200+ on one just yet. I'm just gonna start a thread for my VX for my mods, that way they will be all in one place and don't have to keep taking up thread space. Here's a pic of the new radio position:


http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss272/RamAirZ/1999%20Isuzu%20Vehicross/IMG_4429.jpg

WormGod
05/28/2010, 06:55 AM
I found my old oil gauge to be useless. Problem being, once the needle decides to hit where you never want it, the VX is either OFF or breakage is inevitable, heh.

Of course, been without a pillar pod for a while, no thanks to CF-One destroying mine to make a mold and sending me a pretty crappy F/G one back that doesn't even fit. Bad business karma = out of business. Good riddance.

Still considering a boost gauge for my S/C. Never thought about plumbing for it. Should take a peek this weekend.

rowhard
05/28/2010, 07:42 AM
Yea, know about the fitting at the filter, just being downstream, temp would not be that accurate.

Think someone hear said the Honda Civic pods are about the correct angle.

RamAirZ
05/28/2010, 09:42 AM
Well sometimes a failing oil pump can start to lose pressure overtime and/or if you start getting fuel/water mixing with your oil your pressure can start to drop and not just go away all together. I'd still rather have one than a light telling me it's already too late lol. That'd be cool if the Honda one works for us, I was thinking more for pressure unit for that filter standoff, but for temp you could remove the lower oil pan and install one.

Ldub
05/28/2010, 10:16 AM
Think someone hear said the Honda Civic pods are about the correct angle.

I've got two "universal" gauge pods on my A pillar. Can't remember the brand, but they're really easy to cut, & can be formed to pretty close to the profile of our A pillar with a heat gun.
If I cared that they aren't the same color, I'd prime the whole works with Bulldog & spray it till it was purdy...:smilewink

RamAirZ
05/28/2010, 10:21 AM
I figured if I did the A-pillar ones I'd epoxy them on and use some plastic filler and make a full smooth pillar :) I'm figuring I can always add the pillar pods later if I need any additional gauges (trans temp if I keep the auto, oil temp, egt, etc etc)

RamAirZ
06/01/2010, 12:34 PM
Got the panel and gauges in today. I didn't get a chance to get them wired up yet (kiddies woke up from there nap and now about time to get ready for work) but here are some pics of the install:

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss272/RamAirZ/1999%20Isuzu%20Vehicross/IMG_4451.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss272/RamAirZ/1999%20Isuzu%20Vehicross/IMG_4452.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss272/RamAirZ/1999%20Isuzu%20Vehicross/IMG_4453.jpg

http://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss272/RamAirZ/1999%20Isuzu%20Vehicross/IMG_4454.jpg