Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

IMO, unless you are going for a specific look (like going with all white gauges or something), then they all pretty much do the same function.

It's like the difference between Levis and Tommy jeans. They both do what they are suppose to, just depends if you want to spend the extra money on the name.

Me? I could find better use for that extra cash somewhere else on the car.

TomsRX7

hehehe, the "Levis and Tommy Jeans" example is PERFECT. If you can afford the more expensive gauges, then go for them. But if money is an issue, go for the more practical ones. Take care.

-Tom

CanadianRex

I've been leaning towards the AM gauges (sport comp series) not because I've been trying to save a buck, or even several hundred but because I want the gauges to look as stock as possible. As Mahjik and plenty of other people have said...they do the job. If you can find me a higher quality gauge that looks closer to stock than the AM...let me know. I'd love to have it. Just make sure that they have an EGT as well as a boost.

I'm not 16 anymore....I don't want my interior to look like a Christmas tree.....reds, blues, yellows, greens, etc.

TomsRX7

CanadianRex,
The Defi Gauges, D-Series look very close to stock. Everyone was complaining that the faced looked very close to stock, red needle, black face, white numbers, but they had a funny bezel on them, which is the ring around the outside. Jason at rx7store.net found that the ring IS removable. So now they REALLY look great, like stock, and it's a very reputable brand. I already ordered water temp and oil temp for my car.

-Tom

CanadianRex

Tom,

I've always liked Defi gauges. Do you replace the bezel with one from another gauge? Or does it look stock without any bezel.

Does anyone have pics of what Tom is talking about? During the day and at night would be nice.

Will it fit into an AM 2 gauge a-pillar pod? (not that important, just prefered)

Thank you everyone in advance.

TomsRX7

First, let me point out we are talking about the Defi D-Gauges, NOT the link series. Anyhow, the D-gauge has a stupid black plastic bezel that can be removed. But, there is a brushed aluminum bezel underneath it. So just yank off the plastic piece and you're all set. As for pics of it, just do a search. Jason from rx7store posted some about a week or two ago- just do a search.

CanadianRex

I'd actually prefer the D-Gauges. I only want to get a couple of gauges anyway and really don't need the link series. Plus the prices of the D-series are actually pretty good.

Unfortuanately I searched about 15 different ways and couldn't find the link that you were talking about. Any chance on a little help? I did find some pics of the gauge backlight with the crappy plastic bezel. As you said the gauge itself is practically a perfect match. I just need to see how it looks without the crappy plastic bezel and I'll be set!!!

Jason....do you have the boost and egt in stock? Does the egt come with a probe? Black face for both

TomsRX7

I searched "d-gauge" and found it in 2 seconds....here it is bro. You'll notice the top gauge has the plastic bezel removed and the lower gauge still has it on.

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/attach...postid=1264947

CanadianRex

Thanks man! I must be brain dead today. It is Friday so I think a couple of beers would do me good! I pretty much always find what I'm looking for through the searches.

I definitely think this is the way to go. Thanks for guiding the way Tom. If there's enough room behind the guages I'm going to modify the pod so that I can mount the gauges further back. That way there is less of the alum bezel showing.

saxyman990

Wow, I vaguely remember starting this thread 5 months ago, or so. And someone rated it as a 5-star thread!! I feel so special.... <sniff, sniff>


Anyway, I'll take this time to put in my $0.02. I ended up purchasing a PFS gauge from a guy here on the forum (The PFS gauge was made by SPI and will match any of their gauges). I got it for a really great price, and it matches the interior almost perfectly. The only thing I didn't like about it is the fact that it doesn't have a silver bezel. At one point, i was actually contemplating having the bezel chromed, or painting it, or something like that. But, for right now, it works. I'd also like to point out that SPI's are great gauges with great quality.

but, I have decided that I probably willl eventually upgrade to some better gauges (so that I can have an easier time finding more of them, and they all match).

The D-gauges are great. Almost perfect color when lit, and you can remove the bezel to make it look more like stock. There are however, a few complaints that I would like to issue about the D-Gauge. The first is the fact that it goes to a completely useless 35psi. The second is the fact that there are only 3 tics between each number, rather than the usual 4. This means that each tic does not indicate 1psi, instead each tic represents about 1.25psi. Kinda weird to read them because of that.

But all in all, they are great looking gauges and will do the job nicely, while looking about as stock as you can get them to look.

I just wish the link series came in an amber color. Anyone ever take one of those apart to see if the light can be changed?

Sorry for the long post,
Rob

CanadianRex

Good point! I never noticed that but I don't think that it'll bother me. A 20psi gauge would be ideal and I'm sure that would give them room on the face for 4 tics.

Looks like the perfect gauge doesn't exist. IMO the Defi D-gauges are as close as it comes. The EGT doesn't have the same problems, although the range on that one is quite high as well.

saxyman990

Yep, I agree with everything you said. The perfect gauge does not exist. Manufacturers have the need to create universal gauges that a large amount of people will purchase. While many of these fit in nicely with the FD's interior, none of them are perfect. No manufacturer has set aside the time and money to create the "perfect gauge" for an RX-7 (Omori said they would, but it turned out to be a complete crock of sh~t). There just isn't enough interest, and they would probably end up loosing money.

So instead, we need to go with the best available. In terms of stock-looking gagues, I must say that I believe the Defi's are the ticket.

While those little annoyances I pointed out exist, they are just that: annoyances. I agree that those are things that you can live with if you are dead set on having a stock-looking gauge. But it really makes you wonder what the heck Defi was thinking when they made em. I mean only 3 tick marks? WTF? What other gauge in the world only has 3 tick marks? Maybe it was just something to make the D-series look a little different from the rest...

I dunno, either way, the Defi's have my vote

TomsRX7

Hi again. I recently purchased the D-Gauges for my water temp and oil temp. I'm still waiting to receive them. But up until this point, I have been running the SPI water temp and oil temp. IMO, the SPI's are awesome gauges, especially being that the company makes gauges for aircraft.

They look really close to stock. The only complaint about the SPI guages is that they are really deep. They do NOT fit in the standard off-the-shelf Autometer A-pillar 2-gauge pod. To get them to fit in there, you have to use a torch, heat up the plastic pod, and stretch out the back so that the gauge can go all the way in.

I decided to add a Westach EGT gauge, which means I now need a 3-gauge A-pillar pod. I don't want to mess with the torch again so I am going to be selling the 2 SPI gauges and the 2-guage A-pillar pod. They are already mounted in the pod and ready to go if anyone interested.

-Tom

ptrhahn

iTrader: (9)

Check my thread on my custom boost guage... you too can make one:

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...hreadid=139224