legacycentral bbs

So i need a boost gauge.

I'm pretty sure my boost control solenoid is acting up, or I have a small vacuum/boost leak, or something, and I want a boost gauge to help me diagnose (as well as just wanting one for the heck of it).

What's the best place to mount a single gauge... and what's the smallest most non-descript gauge I can find?

I considered just getting an autometer gauge, but I dont know a good place to mount it. I'm not really interested in cutting holes or replacing interior panels. I'd LIKE to put it on the A-Pillar somewhere, but would prefer not to replace the interior piece or cut holes in it, plus I've only seen gauge pods for 2 or more gauges.

I'd consider underneath the stereo, but I have that 1.5DIN pocket in there and it fits really well.

Any ideas?

I put my boost gauge on the A-pillar using a generic AutoMeter cup mount. In the future I'll probably put an Autometer single gauge pod in it's place. I figure I'll have a boost gauge there for the life of the car, so drilling two small holes isn't that big of a deal.

If you need pics of my pillar cover after being removed, let me know and I'll dig 'em up. It'll show you where the clips are and how they attach.

-Brian

Pics would be great, that way I can see how hard it is and what the final results looks like.

I personally would mount it on the steering column.

Apillar is too obvious to passers by.

But thats just me being paranoid.

Ya, the steering column would be good or in your center console would work good too.

Center console is good for stealth, but a pain when you're trying to tune

I like the steering column idea too, but I was hesitant to drill into the steering column. What's funny is that I actually had it rubber banded to the steering column before I got the generic AutoMeter gauge cup.

-Brian

Steering column plastic is MUCH easier to replace than an apillar.

MY92 wrote:I personally would mount it on the steering column.

Apillar is too obvious to passers by.

But thats just me being paranoid.

I would place it here as well, but just because I'm so used to checkin my speed and tach readings there, so my instinctual action is to look that way. It's also a quick look down, look back to the road.

One of the reasons I put my a/f and boost gauge in that location. I would've also placed an egt gauge there, but well . . . sh!t happened.

Ok, steering column it is... but I got one more question.

Is just a generic Autometer gauge my best bet? My friend mentioned to me that WRX boost gauges are pretty tiny. I'm looking at finding the smallest gauge to fit here.

Get one the size you want, my 2 1/6" is enough. And tape it in a few different locations to see what suits you best.

I've got mine on my steering column, but was too cheap to buy a pod for it. I just used a black compression strap. It hasn't moved at all, and the strap doesn't get in the way of anything.

I've just replaced my 52mm (2 1/16" in the old money) splitfire boost gauge which I had on my steering column with a blitz 60mm one.

HOLY CRAP ITS HUGE.

Definately can't put it where I use to have it. No idea where to put it. Apillar is no go as I don't want it visible to other monkeys.

You know the two vents above the hvac controls? Well, I saw a guy put a plate there and mount two in that spot. He sealed the tube going to those vents somehow obviously but when i saw it I was shocked at how good it looked. It really looked like they blonged there. I may be able to get some pics sometime since he is up in Newcastle, but I don't have a digital camera yet.

-Ryan

Yeah thought of that but don't want to lose a vent.

you would just have to put a plate there, no need to "seal" them off, it'd do it, and just force air out the far left vent that never gets circulation