expo1

www.summitracing.com would be one place to look.

Razz1

Sweet..

Give me a call when you plan to install.

I want to be there.

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

isnt that a dangerous place to put gauges? it looks nice for sure. but when you actually need gauges (the track) your eye sight shouldnt be down at the shifter.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

no, not dangerous at all. No more dangerous then talking on the cell phone, playing with the radio while driving or staring at the pretty needle go all the way up to 9.500 rpm.

The idea with these guages is to not drive while looking at them the whole time, but rather to have something to reference to from time to time. (while at a stop light, accelerating on an off-ramp, etc)

These guages are only as dangerous as the driver's irresponsibility

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

Elf: thanks!
With the forum acting up lately, I hadn't even noticed I had new PM's. Thanks again Elf

shinka213

kersh4w

i had the sames concerns until i had to do a temporary install of my wideband..i put it in the ashtray just so i could monitor my A/F...
i already had the blower installed but took my cat out...i wanted to make sure i wasnt running lean...

using the autometer cobalt series digital, i was able to read it easily at a glance while driving..
it was then i decided to get the RB pod ....i didnt go with the whole kit cuz i needed different gauges...ie boost, etc

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

yeah, I think the digital might make it easier to read the guages in a quick glance

ChattyRX8

I've been PMing Jedi about this, but wanted to see if anyone else has some input. I recently bought the RB gauge pod (just the pod by itself) and 3 Autometer gauges (Sport-Comp oil temp and oil pressure and Sport-Comp II pyrometer). The gauges are 52mm electrical.
Due to the mounting brackets supplied with the gauges and the curvature of the RB pod, I cannot get all 3 gauges to fit.
One idea was to Dremel the plastic mounting brackets for the gauges. This idea is the likely outcome, but will probably take hours of tedious Dremel-ing to get the fit right.
Any other ideas of how to mount these?

obviously, no problem in the center position, except see how the black plastic of the mounting bracket can be seen in the adjacent holes?

notice the curvature of the pod and the flatness of the mounting brackets...

mysql

I misread your post the first time though .. anyway, even the stuff rb ships with, there is zero space between them.

ChattyRX8

no, they do not. These gauges were obviously designed to be mounted on a flat surface. I don't think it will look THAT bad since they are mounted low in the cabin.
That is another aspect Jedi and I discussed. Before I decide whether or not to get rid of the RB pod, I want to get all 3 gauges mounted first to see how it looks. Since I have more $ invested in the gauges than in the pod (and I've broken Autometer's damn "void" seal tape on the gauge's packaging) I'll keep the gauges and get a Lotek instead of getting new gaguges and keeping the Racing Beat.

mysql

if it helps, heres the rear the way they ship it

ChattyRX8

Yes, that does help. They have obviously included a custom mounting bracket and ditched the Autometer black plastic mounting things. Looks like I'm off to find some flat bar!
Thanks, mysql!!!

ChattyRX8

Yes that is the correct gauge size for the Racing Beat pod. The gauge size isn't the problem. The problem is the fatness of the black plastic mounting brackets that are supplied with the gauges.
Actually, mysql, after taking a 2nd look at that photo, I'm not sure how that mounting bar is secure. I can see how it secures all the gauges together, but how does it keep the gauges mounted to the pod?

elf

Chatty, RB kept the black plastic mounting bracket on the center gauge. The flat bar is then connected to that, with the other two outer gauges attached to the flat bar. It's the black plastic on the center gauges that keeps the gauges attached and stabilized on the pod, as seen in mysql's pic.

Here's some pics I took of my install (when I had the Autometer gauges) back in 2006 --- hope it helps.

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...&postcount=160

chickenwafer

iTrader: (9)

They way I mounted mine without a custom bar was to rotate the gauges so the mounting bars don't line up with each other, thus giving them enough room.

I have two ProSport gauges (water temp and oil temp) on each side with my AEM UEGO wideband AFR in the center, which is centered, and the two ProSports are twisted. I actually like the gauges twisted because I set them so my ideal temperatures are straight up and down, so I can easily tell what's going on at a glance.

jskup1

iTrader: (7)

Racing Beat will sell you the bracket for about $7 + shipping. Or, you can get a tongue depressor and still using the black mounting bracket for the center guage, drill out holes for the two end gauges to mount into.

Derex'8

iTrader: (4)

Good luck with that..when I had my pod, I inquired about that and RB told me they don't sell it separate and all it is, is a thin piece of metal. I sold my pod anyway and going a different route with my gauge setup.

jskup1

iTrader: (7)

They sold me one by itself.

Go48

I really hate to resurrect this old thread, but I'll do it anyway.

Question for anyone who has installed electric gauges vs. mechanical gauges. When connecting the white illumination wire to the ashtray or cig lighter illum circuit, do the gauge lights dim with the dash lights?

I installed Autometer electric gauges and the gauge lights do not dim with the dash light dimmer. Apparently the way the electric gauges are wired internally, the illum circuit uses the gauge ground and thereby bypasses the dimmer switch circuit.

Edit: Here's the answer from AutoMeter.
Question from me:
Cobalt electric gauge. With the white gauge wire connected to a dash light illumination dimmer circuit, the gauge lights do not dim. I assume that is because the illumination circuit is using the gauge ground and thereby bypassing the dimmer switch circuit to ground. Is there a way around this "problem" so that the gauge illumination can be controlled by the dash light dimmer switch?

Answer from AutoMeter:
Unfortunately not. Instead, you will have to use the 9114 dimmer module in line between the white wire and the gauge lighting power source (such as park light circuit in this instance). The 9114 will handle several Auto Meter LED lit gauges and is completely controllable. Thank you.
Cory
Tech/Service

So it's another $30.00 item to complete the job.

SilverEIGHT

Your resurrection is causing me to rethink my installation of mechanical gauges. I think I'm going to go to electronic. I've had it in the back of my mind and now I think it is a wise move. I hate the way my lines come into the interior through the gear shifter opening. I want to run it through my firewall like OD suggested from the beginning. I should have listened to him. His electronic gauges look beautiful.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

Go: mine dim 50% when I turn the lights on but cannot be dimmed in any other way

Nemesis8

iTrader: (3)

Is there a link to OD's pics? I just purchased the Autoexe gauge pod for the dash, and will be buying gauges soon. I think electronic is for me also...

SilverEIGHT

Nemesis8... I'll see if I can come up with some images.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

SilverEIGHT: here's a little peer pressure / motivation for ya.
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-interior-audio-electronics-24/diy-rb-gauge-pod-nordskog-digital-gauges-133938/

SilverEIGHT

Sweet! Now all I need to do is shell out the money. I've spent a fortune on the RB pod. Initial cost plus replacement gauge for oil pressure. Now I "MUST" change to digital. This freaking pod is going to cost me $1000 before I'm done.