Fitting a boost gauge in an SW20 MR2

[Tracyprier]

Hi guys

I would like to fit an aftermarket boost gauge in my SW20 1992 MR2 in place of the standard, rather useless factory one. I'm not keen on pillar-mounted gauges hence why I want to replace the original.

I spotted some info on the UK MR2 owners site about fitting a 46mm HKS unit.

They mention that someone had managed to fit a 50mm gauge also.

I am having probs locating anything smaller than 50-52mm and there is no way in hell I am shelling out several hundred for a gauge just because it has HKS written on it.

I was just wondering if anyone out there had done this change and if so what gauge you were able to get hold of and fit.

Thanks in advance for the help

Tracy

[FST4RD]

I got a 2" gauge and got a piece of wood that fitted in the little space just under were the stereo goes, got a hole saw and drilled a 2" hole in it and painted the front black, if you do it right you can fit 3 gauges in there easy and cheap as!!!

[Al]

Thought about mounting the gauge somewhere else? Ive got mine just below the ciggie lighter. There is already a screw in that part of the dash for easy mounting of the gauge cup too It will SAVE you heaps on finding that little small gauge, just get a generic 2 5/8" gauge.

[Dell'Orto]

Hahaha Al, your gauge is in almost the same spot as Garth's was

But her question was fitting one in place of the original gauge...you'd need to pull the dash out, which isn't that hard, and try find a 2" Autometer or similar gauge, and kind of butcher it slightly...I don't know if there are any wirse or anything that could interfere, you'll need to pull it out and look for yourself to see if the factory hole can be widened any.

[Al]

Hahaha Al, your gauge is in almost the same spot as Garth's was

Free boost gauge anyone?

[MrBob]

have you considered using a digital boost gauge ? for example, you could buy a blitz SCB boost controller which has a super small oblong control unit, that you could mount on top of the steering column, directly in front of you. It displays boost as well as boost settings.

failing that, you maybe hard pressed to find a gauge under 2". Theres a place in town (whos name i cant remember atm), that sell all sorts european (VDO etc) gauges in some strange sizes, for pretty good prices. They may have something that would suit you. Let me if if you wanna try them, and Ill get their details for you..

[MrBob]

hehe, can hardly see the gauge past the glare from the shiney bling wheel

[Monsterbishi]

have you considered using a digital boost gauge ? for example, you could buy a blitz SCB boost controller which has a super small oblong control unit, that you could mount on top of the steering column, directly in front of you. It displays boost as well as boost settings.

I'm not a huge fan of Digital boost guages, they cannot display fast enough to show as much information as a conventional one, ie,spiking, surging, etc...

[MrBob]

I'm not a huge fan of Digital boost guages, they cannot display fast enough to show as much information as a conventional one, ie,spiking, surging, etc...

bollocks. They respond just as fast, and many have peak hold functions so you can review it to see any spikes etc. I have both, and the digital is far more precise and easier to read. Analog is too vague, especially on small gauges and especially for tuning to very specific boost levels.

[Al]

hehe, can hardly see the gauge past the glare from the shiney bling wheel

Im growing to hate that steering wheel, i pulled it out of my alfa romeo....thats why its wood


i want one of those 280mm momos

[MrBob]

Im growing to hate that steering wheel, i pulled it out of my alfa romeo....thats why its wood
i want one of those 280mm momos

just buy a nice cheap, small sportline wheel, and put your momo centre-cap in it.....then sell the "woodgrain special" to an unsuspecting honduh owner.. and make a few bucks.

[Wildcard]

I'm not a huge fan of Digital boost guages, they cannot display fast enough to show as much information as a conventional one, ie,spiking, surging, etc...

Agreed they are harder to read 'quickly' but with most decent digital readout guages like those on the blitz boost controllers / turbo timers you can preset a point where they change colour and/or sound a bell.

[Tracyprier]

WOW! This sure is an active forum

Thanks for the feed back guys.

Firstly though, I am a guy...yeah I know

I want to keep the gauge in easy line-of-sight so if I can't locate a smaller gauge or fit in a 2 inch then the digital option is worth looking at.

Actually I have found a gauge that is small enough, a Omorimeter but the closest dealer is in AUssie and he only has metric scale and being an old ex-mechanic I am used to PSI...kg/cm don't mean bugger-all to me

Hey MrBob, if you have the details of the place in town that would be great, worth checking out.

Thanks again for the help guys

Tracy

[KiwiMR2]

Actually I have found a gauge that is small enough, a Omorimeter but the closest dealer is in AUssie and he only has metric scale and being an old ex-mechanic I am used to PSI...kg/cm don't mean bugger-all to me

Bah....you'll get used to it, just visit this site every once in a while and do the conversions:

http://www.worldwidemetric.com/metcal.htm

Why don't you just buy direct from Japan??

http://www.omorimeter.co.jp/english.html

Cheers
KiwiMR2

[Dell'Orto]

Yeah the Blitz SBC measures in kg/cm2, it is quite useful having a overboost warning (screen turns red, beeps like a crazy man)...and the peak hold is very cool. Thats how I found out how much my car overboosted (1.25kg/cm2 )