gauge pod

[Heath]

So I want to mount some gauges in my prado, but as this is my pride an joy (first nice vehicle I have owned) I dont want to do any cutting and bodging.

Are there any aftermarket dash pods etc avaliable to fit 3 gauges or is there a single gauge avaliable that will display temp, pressure, EGT and maybe volts? Even a digital one with multiple number readout would be fine.

Options?

[Jezza]

go to supercheap and get towball covers, the gauge fits perfectly. They have plain black ones or chrome ones for abit of bling

[flyingbrick]

Try your local repco. They have some moulded plastic ABS gauge clusters that fit 2-3 gauges at once. How well it fits will depend on how nicely you shape the bottom and how curved your dash is.
I'd try test fit it first before buying.

Or try trade me. There are millions on there for sale.

which ever option you chose though- do not screw the gauges cluster into your dash- Sucks when you go to onsell and there are holes there (if you remove cluster) and it will look rude.

If using double sided tape make sure you clean the dash where its going VERY throughly to remove any silicone spray residue (armorall etc) . Clean it like 10 times to make sure.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 862177.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 114732.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 090202.htm

Two other things.

Gauge CUPS will ruin the interior of your nice car IMO by giving it that boy racer look.

Buy your pod AFTER your gauges as the pods come with different hole sizes.

-NAthan

[Heath]

I'd prefer not to have a pod or cups at all but space is limited in the dash. Would love a small digital readout of some sort showing just what I want, but I guess they A: dont exist or B: are really expensive.

I wonder if I can get a dash pod from a prado (with all the crap removed) and use that? at least it will match the plastic nicely.

[snork]

do you have a spare place under the radio like for storing cd's?
you could put one of those 2-3 guage holders in there?
or how about this?
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 751233.htm

[Jezza]

I think jaycar do a couple of digital gauge kits

[UBZ]

does the Prado have an inclinometer setup?

I have pulled the guts out of mine , made a new face plate and installed 3 gauges into it. Looks stock , from the outside.

[Bobby]

Check out this link.
http://www.sparxfly.co.nz/twInfinity.htm
Click on the E3 under engines in the left hand collum.
I have one of these in my twin turbo safari.
It worked out cheaper than a good set of guages and is compact.
I run two EGT sensors,oil temp, boost pressure.
You can also hook up a total of 4 EGT'S so i am planning to put two more in one pre and one post intercooler to see what gains i am getting there.
You can also hook up rpm but i havent bothered as i have a big factory rpm guage on the dash.
You can also set high and low pressure and temp alarms that you can hook up to an alarm light or buzzer.

A aeroplane guy just out of hamilton sells them.

All in nz dollars

Check it out

[Heath]

That is soooo close to what I want its not funny, just the mount is wrong. Wonder if it would fit in a single pod (I will fit one if I have to), or maybe where the clock is.

How did you get on with senders etc? Are they specialist parts or just run of the mill auto stuff?

The EGT gauges I have looked at seem to be around the 150-200 mark so this isnt too bad but I guess it is the senders that will make it more expensive.

You mention twin turbos and I see this can run low pressure inputs, so are you running the boost gauge function as well?

[Bobby]

I have mine mounted in the dash.
I bought the egt sensors off the guy who supplyes the guages,they are about $60 each.
You can either use VDO sensors or calibrate your factory sensors.
I used a VDO oil temp sensor and for the boost i used a bosch 3 bar map sensor to read the manifold pressure.
If you are running lowish boost you could use a map sensor off a turbo road car but if you are looking to up the boost you will need the 2 bar or 3bar bosch type.
A 2 bar sensor allows you to read 1 bar (15lbs) of boost and the 3bar sensor allows you to read up to 2 bar(30 psi) boost.
They also run on 12-30 volts so they are great for 24volt vehicles.
Here is a link to my build.
Sorry no picture of the guage mounted.
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/builds/ ... twin-turbo
Hope you like it.

[Heath]

If I can figure a place to put one of these I think I have found my gauge. Maybe I could spin the plastic square edge off it and find a cup (or whatever for it) and mount it beside the a pillar next to the dash (large gap and not in the vision line).

Not a bad price either ($300ish, + some extras from him - EGT, CHT, etc), think I am saving up now...