boost gauge options

[DavidL]

I'm wondering about an aftermarket gauge but I haven'tseen an option I like cosmetically. A pillar ones are dreadful and I like the cubby under the radio left as it is really.
Assuming you are watching for overboost presumably there would be some sort of audible warning possible instead?
Even the electronic boost controllers tend to be very ricer orientated - I like my interior as it is and I don't want to ruin it with bits of blue flashing plastic.

So any thoughts?

What about this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ZADA-TECH-Boost-LCD-Digital-Gauge-Universal-/320723708356?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4aac9f69c4

could be tucked away almost anywhere.

 

[robwright]

David I would say stick with an analogue gauge as digital will never ahve fast enough resolution to gauge changiung boost. IO like you didn't want pillar gauges so had to sacrifice the cubby. I think it was worth it though. Go analogue and gor for a stepper motor gauge like this:

 

[944 man]

Id suggest dispensing with an extra gauge and fitting a Knock-link - you have a boost gauge already after all. It doesnt really matter how much boost youre making as long as it is fuelled, after all. What really matters is whats going wrong and a Knock-link or a Detalarm (if still available) will help here.

If you do need space for gauges (oil temperature, exhaust temp. wide band lambda etc), then its either your radio or your cubby that have to go.

 

[JamesO]

I have a set up the same, boost gauge and wideband in the cubby and whilst on boost they may as well be in the boot! I could never bring myself to have dials in the A-piller either but in the cubby they are just to far out of my eyeline.

 

[DavidL]

ORIGINAL: 944 man

Id suggest dispensing with an extra gauge and fitting a Knock-link - you have a boost gauge already after all. It doesnt really matter how much boost youre making as long as it is fuelled, after all. What really matters is whats going wrong and a Knock-link or a Detalarm (if still available) will help here.

If you do need space for gauges (oil temperature, exhaust temp. wide band lambda etc), then its either your radio or your cubby that have to go.

Ok so as has been said, when pressing on you're not going to be looking at a gauge under the radio. So this detalarm - lots of things on scoobynet - doesn't seem to be around now so is there another. This presumably lights up or has audible warning if things aren't right, in which case you do what?

The detalarm pics I've found do seem quite good, more what I had in mind.

 

[944Turbo]

you could sacrifice the vents in the top of the dash on one side though you may lose both as the windscreen demist might end up stuck in position

 

[George Elliott]

That is what I did Tony, the Racetech guage fitted the drivers side upper vent, but the VDO guage I had was too bulky.
If i could add images, I would.
The central cubby is too low down, the vent is well positioned for a quick glance.
George

 

[JamesBall]

When I had an old Audi S4, people used to put boost guages in to one of the air vents in the centre of the dash. I'll have a look for photos. They were quite neat.

I also seem to remember someone making a little LED strip that sat on top of the steering column, under the dials, that indicated boost.

Edited to add:

Vent mount (although red wouldn't work in our cars!)

 

[JamesBall]

I can't find the bar of LED's I was thinking of but some guys have modified their speedo gauge to include boost LEDs

 

[DavidL]

It looks like you can use the knock link leds as separate pieces and position them where you like.

or this
http://www.carldavey.co.uk/diary.php?id=39

That would fit nicely in the top of the instrument binacle.

 

[944 man]

Yes, its common to dismantle the display, which is rather ungainly, and build the indivisual LEDs into the binnacle. Id suggest through the bottom of the binnacle for a 944. The best place on an Impreza is down through the top of the binnacle.

Detalarms were made by a SN member, but Im not sure whether theyre still available. They were cheaper than KnockLinks, a bit prettier out of the box and they used the same Bosch knock sensor.


Simon

 

[944Turbo]

There is also thiswhich uses one LED
Tony

edited to add link .......................doh

 

[DavidL]

Detalarms are long gone it seems. Said Sn member has been asked if more are available but it seems the answer is no.
These Bosch knock sensors are available independently presumably?

I'll see what is suggested but I'm resistant to any extra gauges if their use/practicality is debatable.

 

[JamesO]

You can tap into the DME/KLR wiring and fit a counter to watch for knock, costs about a tenner. I have mine fitted to one of the vents. The display is a little small so again not really useful when on the fly but does come in handy for identifying crap fuel.
I have a larger counter I haven't fitted yet as its a bit too big.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-944-turbo-turbo-s/433157-knock-counter.html#post4295604

 

[944 man]

Im not surprised to hear that DetAlarms are no longer available. I hadnt heard mention of them for a while, in fact: Ive not seen a post by Rupert for ages either. I bought a Detalarm off him years ago, but its remains unfitted in my lost somewhere...

The sensor is useless on its own, and I believe that a KnockLink still comes with one. The are some knowledgeable posts about KL on SN (some even made by me!) John Banks for example; but ingnore the likes of P.5.Lewis (mispelled so that this doesnt appear on any internet searches: he is little more than a trolling and forum spoiling bell-end).

 

[JamesO]

Here is my setup. The knock counter you can see top left, Wideband and EGT left side under the radio. Excuse the dust/dirt.