Dual gauge for Pillar mount

[Matt400]

I realize this is a personal choice but still have to ask which gauge you would use in a single A Pillar mount.



I can't seem to decide and have narrowed it down to two-

SPA and Westach

The SPA is digital and would have a white face:

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The Westach is analog and would have a white face also with green back lighting.

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Trans Temp and EGT specifically will be my set up. The SPA may be more detailed in its reading but seeing a needle climb seems more easy to keep an eye on rather than watching digits change.



SPA Trans temp- reads 0. 1 increments up to 300

SPA EGT- reads 7 increments up to 1750

Set points are available for user selected temps that will flash a warning, kinda nice.



Westach Trans temp- reads 50-350

Westach EGT- reads 700-1700

The EGT I wish would read lower so I could view cool down for shut down better.



Both gauges have adjustable back lighting.



SPA is more money but aside from that which one do you prefer?

 

[Dockboy]

SPA's

Matt,



I've had SPA's in my truck for over 3 years.



Absolutly love them and would recommend them to any one!!

The SPA may be more detailed in its reading but seeing a needle climb seems more easy to keep an eye on rather than watching digits change.

Actually, I think the SPA's are a better "warning" device than an analog because of the programmable warning lights. Instead of having to watch the gauge for an unacceptable limit, you just set your warning limit and you can't miss the light!



Also you can't beat the fact that you can recall the max. values



I have thought about adding an analog Boost gauge though because it would be easier to analyze boost performance and reaction by watching a sweeping needle than digits



I also never liked 3 gauge pillars because they looked cluttered to me and cut down visibility. With the SPA's, I have 4 gauges in a 2 pillar pod Now the newer gauges have different face colors and adjustable back lights which mine do not



The transmission and rear temps in this picture are so low because I snapped it right after starting the truck this winter LOL!!



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Re-calling max. values



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[barryg41]

Everything Dockboy said!!!



I just bought a replacement thermocouple on the transmission. Come to find out the temp sender was bad. The new temp sender came with the new coupler.



SURE_SEAL





I called SPA and they sent me the parts to change over NO CHARGE or shipping. David is great to work with. Of course it fixed my problem.



Blew a fuse... . Why I don't know... . any grimlen possible. They sent me a new one. NO CHARGE! Try to find one at Autozone!



Pre Post EGT ideas... . hears the post they sent me:



Another route (and one I would prefer) would be to purchase a second thermocouple amplifier. That way the changeover switch would only need to work on the 0 - 5V signal that goes from the amplifier to the gauge. In other words, you would need only a regular 2-way switch.



This takes out the problem with a K-type switch. You only have to go to Radio Shack to make it work. A double pole double throw switch to make a pre post EGT setup work.



Hope this helps!



My gauges were installed by me back in 2001.

 

[David Muench]

I've currently got white faced Westachs in my truck, and I don't really like them. Once the 3 gauge dash pods for the 3rd gens start shipping, I am going to switch to something else (and get the gauges off my A pillar too). I was looking at the matching Diprocols as I think the SPA's are out of my budget for right now. If money was no object, I'd go SPA for sure.

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by David Muench

Once the 3 gauge dash pods for the 3rd gens start shipping, I am going to switch to something else (and get the gauges off my A pillar too)

What pod is that?

 

[David Muench]

Genos sells them, but they're backordered. There is a picture in the latest Genos gatalog that came with the last TDR issue.

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by David Muench

Genos sells them, but they're backordered. There is a picture in the latest Genos gatalog that came with the last TDR issue.

Useless for '03s and '04 6-speeds, which need only boost and pyro.

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by David Muench

Genos sells them, but they're backordered. There is a picture in the latest Genos gatalog that came with the last TDR issue.

Right there on page one, I don't know how I missed that... Thanks

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by David Muench

I've currently got white faced Westachs in my truck, and I don't really like them.

Hey Dave,

Can you put your finger on what it is you don't care for? Having not seen either in real life- only pictures, its hard to tell. The Westach needles seem too thin I think.

They come with a green bulb color cap for back lighting but I don't know what they would look like at night.

Does the white face get lit up at night or just the numbers?

 

[Matt400]

Re: SPA's

Originally posted by Dockboy

I've had SPA's in my truck for over 3 years.



Absolutly love them and would recommend them to any one!!



Actually, I think the SPA's are a better "warning" device than an analog because of the programmable warning lights. Instead of having to watch the gauge for an unacceptable limit, you just set your warning limit and you can't miss the light!



Also you can't beat the fact that you can recall the max. values

Hi Greg,

So the button you are pressing, doest that simply switch to the max recorded and then back to live?

What about the different color led at top vs bottom? Is there anything special there or is that simply the warning lamp for the corresponding gauge?

 

[Dockboy]

Re: Re: SPA's

Originally posted by Matt400

Hi Greg,

So the button you are pressing, doest that simply switch to the max recorded and then back to live?

Yes, when it's in regular operating mode. If you hold the button in when you power it up, it goes into programming mode. This is where you use the button set all your limits, parameters, warning limits, reset max. readings and much more

What about the different color led at top vs bottom? Is there anything special there or is that simply the warning lamp for the corresponding gauge?

You got it, just a different color to distinguise each gauge



Greg

 

[willyslover]

suggest the second gauge has fuel pressure and what ever else you want temped/pressured. . so you still need two SPA's



I have had SPA since they became available for us. . back in '99 I think, love'em

and they do use up thermocouples once in a while. . but I do get readings FAST and it's worth the replacing of them.

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by willyslover

they do use up thermocouples once in a while. . but I do get readings FAST and it's worth the replacing of them.

Whats once in a while? ea. year or so many months and do you ever have trouble getting an old one out?

 

[Dockboy]

Matt,



I've been through 1 egt thermocoupler in a little over 3 years and 100k mi. Called SPA and I had a new one in 2 days. I think it was like $70

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by Dockboy

Matt,



I've been through 1 egt thermocoupler in a little over 3 years and 100k mi. Called SPA and I had a new one in 2 days. I think it was like $70

Thats not bad, I am hoping antiseize will make change-outs more easy.

 

[David Muench]

Originally posted by Matt400

Hey Dave,

Can you put your finger on what it is you don't care for? Having not seen either in real life- only pictures, its hard to tell. The Westach needles seem too thin I think.

They come with a green bulb color cap for back lighting but I don't know what they would look like at night.

Does the white face get lit up at night or just the numbers?

They're hard for me to read quickly. Part of that is no doubt due to the A-pillar and the different focal lengths the gauges are at, but beyond that, the way the needles cross each other make it a little non-intuitive.



Their lighting is probably my biggest complaint. I am using the green bulb cap and the color matches reasonably well, but it's very bright and distracting. Again, part of that is because they're so close to me in the A pillar, but a lot of it is how much that white face lights up at night. The entire face lights up, not just the numbers.



If you're a detail freak you may not be impressed by the lettering on the gauge face, the numbers on mine are jagged and cheap looking.



They work well though.

 

[willyslover]

just put in my third in 100K



easy to change out anti sieze isn't needed if using SPA's and don't think on the others either. . the collar is a collet type of fitting . . and it's not too nuch IMHO

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by David Muench

the way the needles cross each other make it a little non-intuitive.

I was wondering about that cuz it looked kinda odd.

the color matches reasonably well, but it's very bright and distracting

Did you splice into the factory gauge dimming circuit or a "headlamps on" circuit for full power to the gauge?

If you're a detail freak you may not be impressed by the lettering on the gauge face

Guess thats me... Ialso want to tone down the high beam indicator brightness as I find it distracting too much, enough that I almost like low beams better.

 

[Jay]

SPA gets my vote... I have a single on the pillar.

 

[David Muench]

I spliced into the dimming circuit, yet they are still too bright. It needs a resistor inline or something. The main problem isn't the brightness of the bulb though, it's that the metal white face of the gauge reflects so much light. . It wouldn't be a problem if it were just the letters lighting up.