Mazurfer

Went with the 52mm.
Hope it's not too small, but can't see 8mm making that much difference.

Mazurfer

The only real issue I see in using this PLX gauge setup with the vent pod is this.........

Based on the E-mail I received from PLX devices, the wires come directly out of the back of the gauge which is not a big deal. I don't know if you can open the back of it or not and whether de-soldering the wires inside the gauge is possible. The reason I say this is if you follow this link ( http://www.plxdevices.com/Installati...Guide_F1.0.pdf ), and scroll down to page 7, you will see that there is a connector on the other end of that cable. This probably isn't going to fit through the hole in the gauge pod without..............
a.) un-soldering the wires at the output, inside the gauge
b.) Milling out the hole in the vent pod.
c.) Cutting the cable, running it through the vent pod, and then re-soldering it back together.

The only other issue I see is where to mount the control box. Even though it fairly small.

Ideas??????????????

Mazurfer

I wanted to post this here just as a reference. I had asked Rotr8 a few questions regarding how he held his gauge(even though very different) into the gauge pod.

He put his reponse in the main vent pod thread, but I thought I'd copy it over here.

I was just looking for some ideas/pointers. Remember, his setup is different and is not using the PLX gauge.

Much thanks to him for his response.



Hey Dave,
Heres how I did it, I didnt take any pics because I was to busy with the install but....
-First I had to modify my gauge, I cut down the two mounting post that are typically used for the gauge mount stands.
-Then I had to hack up the bulb connector to get to the bulb( gauge are going to be different with mine being mechanical I had a seperate bulb light source, will not apply to digital gauges)
-Wired and reassembled the light and taped it in place.
-I had to bore out the hole at the bottom of the pod significantly, not to fit the connectors but so they wouldn't pinch the wires at the back of the pod.
-By doing this I could now place the gauge all the way back in the pod with a nice snug fit, no need for glue or epoxy to hold it. (also didnt want to glue incase i ever need to get it out again...
-Mounted all my hardware neccessary for my gague(Boost/Vac = MAP sensor) behind the steering column, no one would even know its there,,,
-Wired it up, the bulb, I connected to my dimmer switch and ground...
-Ran the vac line through the firewall there was a nice place located right next to the washer fluid bottle and tied the vac into the vac hose running out of the LIM.

It took me a little longer(about 2.5 hrs) than I thought it would but it looks so freakin nice,,,
also Nick, 13Bturbofc has done it as well, https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-aftermarket-performance-modifications-23/suporting-mods-pettit-supercharger-kit-157660/page5/
he may have some different techniques as well,,
Good luck...

Mazurfer

Well.....the aren't the most prompt folks on the Planet.
I ordered it on 11/13 and I just got the shipping info via E-mail last night(19th).
Probably will be another week before it gets here.

HeavyMetal699

Thanks for the information!

This will definitely help me out if I decide to go this route. Please take pictures after you get everything together.

Mazurfer

Gauge is in, it's functional and working!
Played around with all the modes and what not, now I'm off to read the manual in more detail.

Will try to get better pics tomorrow, but I did take one quick one...however lighting was bad.
Going to pick up a beater mobile in the morning................so it might be awhile before any good pics.

The actual install was really easy. I did cheeze out and did not drill down into the defrost vent to make a hole for the gauge wiring. I'll explain all tomorrow, but for this PLX gauge, you are not going to want to attempt that.

HeavyMetal699

Bump for updates!

This is something I might do in the summer when I have more cash.

Mazurfer

My PLX devices is in the gauge pod and working fine.
I'll try to take some pics now that the holidays are here and I'm off of work.
I decided NOT to drill the vent to run the wire, so I will have to detail out a little bit as to what I did. I actually had some pics, but they were so out of focus, I have to take more, then I'll describe what I did and where I mounted it.

Rotr8

iTrader: (2)

Hey Maz, mines been on for about a little more than a month and Im seeing some condensation, so Im gonna tap a tiny hole in the top of the gauge with a jewelers dril bit..
Just something to think about...

Mazurfer

Hmmmmmm.........well I'll watch out for it, no issues here and it's been in for at least three weeks. We have different gauges, so where are you seeing condensation?

Because my PLX gauge is hard wired at the gauge(and sealed) and has a big freakin 25 pin D type connector on the other end of the cable, you can guess that I had to modify my pod with a dremel tool.

Basically what I had to do was cut out a channel just wide enough for the cable of the PLX(which is roughly 22 very tiny wires of about 30awg wire and shielded)....I wasn't going to splice to fit it in. This channel I cut runs from the bottom front face of the circular area where the gauge would slide in and runs back to where the original hole was placed in the pod for wires to run out of. The reason behind doing it this way was because I wouldn't have been able to open up the normal hole in the gauge pod big enough to fit the connector through anyway. Not only that fact but...................

Then since I didn't want to drill(actually cut out) a big *** hole in the defrost vent tube for that connector to fit through either, my dremel work allowed me to place the gauge in the pod while putting the wire in the channel at the same time and slide it(the cable) back to the normal hole........this allows the cable to sit and run out of the hole where it would normally. From there my cable then turns and then runs out the front of the vents on the lower part of the pod and over to the A-pillar..............where I had more room to deal with the connector and feed it down by the fuse box area. Make sense? Might sound intense, but really wasn't, I'll explain all of it tomorrow.

Mazurfer

Continuing over in this thread for the install that I did.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...89870#poststop