Gauge Mount-New Concept-Pics.

DocB · **Posted:** Sun Oct 11, 2009 9:29 pm

Hello Fellas,

Well, I finally got most of my gauges installed and although not quite finished, I thought I'd share some pics of the progress so far.

After much study and searching for a commercially available, off the shelf mount that suited me, I came to the conclusion that I would have to design my own gauge mount.
And after 2 years, and much trial and error, here it is.
It can be utilized on any vehicle and can accomadate 1-X number of gauges. You can start with one gauge and add as you wish.
Just mount the rail, slide in the gauges and rotate to the ideal position.
More details on the particulars when the project is finished. Patent pending.

Any comments or suggestions appreciated.

I would like to thank the following people who have helped me with this project thus far:

Toddster
MrMopar
Turbo Tim
Harry-Precise Components
Michael-ISSPRO
Bill-DFUSER
Bill-Toland Design
Jim-Powdercoater
Jim-L&M Engines

Preliminary pics for your review:

Bruno.....

RTStabler51 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:03 am

Holy Crap that's alot of gauges.

linewarbr · **Posted:** Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:53 am

Very cool idea. Very cool. When will it be available for purchase?

clday25 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 12, 2009 2:50 pm

Nice, I like it.

Suggestion/question/comment, do you thing it would work to radius/bend the base mount to match the dash over the factory gauges?

Just a though,

Great work regardless!

DocB · **Posted:** Mon Oct 12, 2009 6:37 pm

I thought about that, because I need room for one more gauge, but then the gauges would be above the hood line (line of sight).

I'm still working out the details if it is possible to bend the rail yet keep the integrity of the channel.

Thanks for the input.

mikey1273 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 12, 2009 8:47 pm

very nice

I dont know that I would want all those gauges but if you have to know all that why not.

I would not mind a few digial or alaloge gauges mounted on the A pilar like the rice burners do. Turbo boost, oil presure and oil temp would be enough for me.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Mon Oct 12, 2009 8:47 pm

DocB wrote:

I thought about that, because I need room for one more gauge...

One more gauge?

ONE MORE GAUGE???

What other gauge could you possibly need?

:lol:

flman · **Posted:** Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:35 pm

Do you need a co pilot to fly that thing? :!:

RTStabler51 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:00 am

DocB wrote:

I thought about that, because I need room for one more gauge, but then the gauges would be above the hood line (line of sight).

I'm still working out the details if it is possible to bend the rail yet keep the integrity of the channel.

Thanks for the input.

You could combine 3 of your gauges into one (Oil Temp/Water Temp/Trans Temp) since they have the same temperature readings on them. You'd switch between them via toggle switch. There are quite afew Gen II Lightning guys that do this.

Uffe · **Posted:** Tue Oct 13, 2009 4:05 am

I'll be surprised if health and safety let you keep that thing mounted :-)

DocB · **Posted:** Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:51 pm

RTStabler-Not quite sure if this can be done. This system is gauges lined up on a single daisy chain-only three wires coming into the cabin feeding all gauges. I will look into it though for knowledge sake. But I don't think I'd do a toggle switch-might be a little bit of a PIA-I think it might just be better to be able to scan all the gauges.

Uffe-Why? That is exactly what it is for-the health and safety of me and my vehicle!!!

mackruss · **Posted:** Wed Oct 14, 2009 2:28 pm

You need to go on a PPL course to do your night instrumentation rating.

Just be careful when you take your eyes of the road to check your instrumentation that you don't take out somebody.

Tinman · **Joined:** Mon Apr 10, 2006 10:45 am **Posts:** 308

flash7210 wrote:

DocB wrote:

I thought about that, because I need room for one more gauge...

One more gauge?

ONE MORE GAUGE???

What other gauge could you possibly need?

:lol:

Fuel pressure if you have a lift pump, intake air temp(post CAC), air pressure with on board air, turbo drive pressure, turbine speed, trans line pressure, diff temps, ammeter, a second pyro,... that ought to about do it. I've got 8 on my 06 CTD and I may get a Bully Dog monitor that plugs up to the OBD.

I like it. But I'd wanta put the gauge mount directly to the dash and hide the rail.

DocB · **Posted:** Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:49 pm

Tinman,

Ideally, I'd probably want it mounted on the dash too. No rail showing. But this is the best I have come up with so far for Versatility.

I also have to outfit a 2002 F350 SD 7.3L Powerstroke with gauges and I can use this setup on that truck too.
It even fits better on the dash and I can mount all the gauges in one location.

This system can be mounted in any vehicle-Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Jeep, etc.

Where ever you can mount the rail, you can have gauges, and the 360* swiveling lets you point the gauge face directly at you.
Dash, overhead, under dash, next to you, vertically on dash, on tranny hump, on ceter console, etc.

So far I have not found another mount that is as versatile and that mounts 17 gauges in one place.

DocB · **Posted:** Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:53 pm

Tinman,

Ideally, I'd probably want it mounted on the dash too. No rail showing. But this is the best I have come up with so far for Versatility.

I also have to outfit a 2002 F350 SD 7.3L Powerstroke with gauges and I can use this setup on that truck too.
It even fits better on the dash and I can mount all the gauges in one location.

This system can be mounted in any vehicle-Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Jeep, etc.

Where ever you can mount the rail, you can have gauges, and the 360* swiveling lets you point the gauge face directly at you.
Dash, overhead, under dash, next to you, vertically on dash, on tranny hump, on ceter console, etc.

So far I have not found another mount that is as versatile and that mounts 17 gauges in one place.

Auberon · **Posted:** Thu Oct 15, 2009 6:58 am

Great way to get a fantastic overview of your vehicle.
About as neat as it gets without major cutting.
This is the KISS (keep it simple stupid) concept at its best.
Cheers
Auberon

Auberon · **Posted:** Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:08 am

Hey DocB,
Some guys appear to have not driven headers hey?
IMHO you have taken some of the most positive steps towards longevity of your truck.
Sorry for the length of the post.
After I get my ProVent installed with my "special" mod I wud prefer not to discuss yet, I think this will be my approach.

Public brainstorming here, more than anything.
I'm beginning to think this collection too, is what I want to gradually end up with sooner rather than later.
What kills a diesel?
well: air + fuel = power + heat ......keep adding air and fuel energy is produced until they blow......it how diesels run:
air is covered under boost, Fuel rail P, oil heat, coolant temp and exhaust temp with the pyro!
Good package.

This then kills transmissions.....yeah?
So if tranny temp climbs - let it cool, simple...you can't cook her.
and you know if you need more cooling area. NEAT.
Some say 1 deg C in the danger zone halves the life of a tranny.....clearly open to enterpretation.

We KJ diesel Jeepers are already quite well endowed with torque and power.
So with on board diagnostics & these gauges, you have it covered.
I wud have probably looked for a trans temp gauge that had 130 deg fsd but yours is fine - they match & there's only so much you can do with that for presentation.

What about a heads-up display?........but that leads to losing those beautiful analogue pictures of performance/trouble to digital numbers.

I can't fault your choice of gauges for knowing what is going on with your truck.

Theft is my concern. I was bouncing around the idea of a fold-out flap in the centre consol (I'm Right hand drive)...but then the line of site benefit you have is compromised.

Hmmm......do you think it could be made detachable. If all senders could send a line V thru to the gauges it might be possible through a 24 pin motherborad connector. Just need to buy gauges that receive an electric signal from the sender.

I would value your input.
Thanks
Auberon

DocB · **Posted:** Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:54 am

Auberon,

Thanks. Glad you like them.
And I agree with everything you posted. That's why I decided to go this route.
I may be a little old fashioned, but I get a better pictorial representation at a quick glance with the analog
pointer gauges instead of the new digital ones. I can just scan down the row and know where everything is at. To each his own.

And yes, it could be made detachable very easily with just a set of male/female connectors. Never thought about it, but sounds like it could be a good idea if the need arose. Remeber, there are only two wires that go to all the gauges so you wouldn't need a fancy 24 pin connector. Just something easy and simple.

Believe it or not, the whole set up looks even more impressive from the outside (gauge backs). I get alot of Japanese vehicles that give it a double take when they see it from the outside. Probably not gaudy enough for them, though.

Cruising on the highway at night, I always get diesel pickups that pass me, then slow down, then ride shotgun for awile. Usually pull away with a tip of the hat.

I'm even thinking about using this gauge system in my Mustang build. Probably not the mount, though. 998 horses are going to be alot to keep track of.

Glend · **Posted:** Tue Jan 12, 2010 4:06 am

Doc, I like your quest for CRD information, but where does it stop? I to am afflicted by the need to know but I only have two (EGT and Boost), I think if I was to go for more it would be via the Bully Watchdog or something like that. Have you considered one of the ODBII based scanner systems with adds on the the pyro probe? Alot of the info is already running around on the data bus from the engine/tranny sensor system.

DocB · **Posted:** Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:18 pm

Stop the madness! Yea, I know.

I guess I would just like to have some additional info other than the OBDII.

For example. I hooked up the AE (through the OBDII) and it tells me the engine is seeing 4 PSI oil pressure. I have asked around and everyone thinks this is low but can not tell me what it should be.

Dealer wasn't much help either. So much for service to a loyal customer. I was told not to come back unless the CEL was on. Guess with the slow economy they need work and are looking to replace an engine under waranty instead of pre-emptive diagnostics.

I hope to get this sensor hooked up this weekend so I can get a direct read. Then I'll know for sure.

Unless MrMopar chimes in and says that 4 PSI is nomal running down the road at 70 MPH.

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