Next are gauges, so I have some questions:

1.- Electrical vs. mechanical vs. digital?
2.- Autometer vs Dipricol vs. Isspro?
3.- Ranges?
Pyro: 0-1600 vs. 2000
Trans Temp: 100-250 vs. 280 or ?
Boost: 0-35 vs. 60?
4.- Normal or safe Readings?:
a.- No Towing?
b.- Towing?

5.- Which match more with the dash instruments?
6.- Over, under dash or pillar mount?
7.- The pillar mount does not obstruct the vision?

Thanks.

 

1. electrical- easier to run wiring than tubing just as accurate in my book

2. I run autometer but I don't think you can go wrong with any. depends on the look you are looking for.

3. ranges pyro 0-1600 you should never be over 1250 safely, trans 100-250, boost depends on what mods you intend to do. 0-35 should be good unless you plan a bigger turbo and head studs cause stock turbo is only good to about 25 psi except for short bursts. head bolts and gasket are only good to 40 psi unless you run head studs

4. safe reading on pyro mount pre turbo is anything under 1200 or 1250. short burst are acceptable over that but not recommended, Trans can't remember the majic number but right around 200 or lower is best. I think up to 220 is ok somebody will correct me if I am wrong, boost like above, turbo will boost over 25 but over that and bushing/tubro failure could be coming soon. short burst over are acceptable but not recommended

5. I have heard that best match for factory are dipricol. I run a white face gauge cluster and Have autometer C2's

6. mounting- I run pillar and make a bigger blind spot there but I think not having to look away from the road is worth the lose

 

Ditto what tj said
Your trans temp shold not excede 100 over ambient air temp.
I noticed a larger blind spot with a pillar mount but its grows on you so to speak. Its all a matter of personal preference other than that

 

I run Isspro, with the green bulb covers and they match the factory gauges pretty close. I like mechanical gauges where I can get them, but thats just personal preference, electrical gauges have come along way in the last 10 years and most are as accurate as mechanical.

I don't like the way that the digital gauges look in our trucks, but again thats personal preference.

I have an angled three gauge pod in the center recess of the dash and an angled two gauge pod on the far left of the dash next to the A pillar, both painted the color of the dash. I got the pods here: http://www.egauges.com/vdo_acce.asp?...Custom_Console

I choose this setup because it does not create any blind spots. I have a front mounted receiver hitch and push peanut trailers under a drying shed, so I could not have any blind spots. And like with the A pillar setup you don't have to take your eyes off of the road to read these either. If you are intrested I can try and get a picture of my setup for you.

I don't like the under the dash gauges for the simple fact that you have to look down inside the truck to read the gauges, but again this is personal preference.

 

I, too have the Isspro gauges, but mine are pillar mounted. I agree that they do match very closely to the factory gauges. I have not noticed any sort of blind spot issues with mine.

 

I think the isspro black faced gauges match the factory cluster the best. The egt gauges have the coloring green for safe, yellow for warning, and red for too much. I have a 2 gauge pillar and it doesnt restrict my view at all.

 

oh now that these guy mention it i guess it was isspro that was a match to factory. oops

 

Now I have a wider view of what Im going to do:
1.- Electrical
2.- ISSpro
3.- The ranges as adviced.
4.- Most probably Dash mounted because the blind spots. (but I have to recognice that I like the pillar mount)

And yes please plowhand send me some pics of your set up and tell how did you made the holes or spaces in the center recess of the dash, because behind it there are a lot of things, do you know what I mean?

thanks all of you

 

I will try and shoot some pictures tomorrow and get them posted.

As for the holes, I first placed my gauge pod (without gauges) on the dash and lined it up like I wanted it. I them marked the two screw holes and reached inside the gauge openings and marked the center back of each gauge opening with a pencil.

I then drilled three 1/2 inch holes just forward of the marks for each gauge and installed a rubber grommet in each hole to keep the wires and tubing from rubbing. (I did 1/2 inch holes because of the mechanical gauges and tubing, with electrical gauges you could probably use 3/8 inch holes).

If you take the glove box out you can reach in above the heater box to place a rag over the back of your radio to keep drill shavings from fall into it and to feed your wires through the holes. Or you can remove your radio and do the same, whichever is easier for you. I removed my radio for my install, but it is not required.

 

Here is a great page with Photo's
http://www.smokyvalley.com/gauge_install.htm

 

Thanks plowhand for the explanation and I will wait for the pics. And also thanks rclark1 is a great link for the pillar mount.

 

RÖENTGEEP, you have a PM.

 

THANKS. I answered it. Will be in touch. More late.