Geno's and Autometer gauges. Your input

[Phil Stuart]

I see in Geno's catalog #31 page #8 they are offering the Autometer gauges (boost,egt). I have been doing some research for a while on gauges, checking prices,features,etc... I do like Autometer and want some opinions on this setup if anyone has purchased these or has done the install and how they like them. I want as much info as possible before I make a purchase. I am also looking at getting a fuel press. gauge too so I will probably get the triple full A pillar type without tweeter.
TIA

Phil

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`01 2500,4x4,QC,LB,ETC,5 spd(DDX),HDtransfer case(DHG)
3. 55 LSD,Tow Pkg. ,Snow plow pkg. ,Forest Green PC,Mopar alum. side steps,Mopar mud flaps with Cummins logo,Mist grey seat covers,Tekonsha brake controller,Hadley air horns,Pacbrake.
Built in St. Louis
THE BIG GREEN MACHINE

Phil Stuart

 

[Arcticat]

I just ordered a tripple pillar mount and three ultralite series autometer's from carparts.com. They were cheaper than Geno's and they were willing to special order mine from autometer with black bezel instead of silver, which looks awesome to me. It is almost identical in appearance to the phantom series. Also Geno's only sells the cheaper autometer thermocouple with thier egt guage. When I told the guy from Geno's that the members of this board overewhelmingly reccomended the more expensive but faster reacting 5244 probe, he basically said that the wannabe diesel "doctors" on this board don't know what they are talking about. He was a complete #$%hole throughout our conversation, and on the basis of this experience I will never order anything from geno's again. JMHO

FYI the "geno's" full pillar "replacement" is made by autometer, and it is a cover for the original, not a direct replacement, as they make it out to be. You will have to butcher your OEM apillar to install it. Very misleading advertising as far as I am concerned.

 

[Neal Cassady]

Phil,

Truck out of the shop yet?

If you are going to go the Autometer route you can get the stuff from Diesel Injection Service. Prices may be a little higher than Carparts.com but if you have any problems you will be taken care of. Probably get flamed for this but IMHO Carparts.com, summitracing.com and the rest are like Wal Mart, may have the lowest price, but unless you are really broke, price isn't everything.

Dave D

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2001. 5 QC, LB, 4x4, Auto, 3. 54, Everything but Leather, Bright Silver Metallic, ARE K Series, Diprocal EGT, Boost and transmission Temp in an Autometer Dash Pod, Westin CPS Platinum Step Bars - Black on Stainless

 

[Kyle]

I have the AutoMeter 3-piller mount w/ tweeter in my truck. I REPLACED the stock A-Piller cover (contrary to the instructions). This gives me much more clearance in the back, a cleaner look, and a solid mount (screwed in instead of clipped in).

In the piller I have (top to bottom):
(1) Fuel Pressure with a switch that switches to senders before & after the filter. (Gauge & sender from Carparts.com, extra sender from AutoMeter).
(2) Exhaust Gas Temp with a switch that switches to senders before & after the turbo. (Gauge and 2 thermocouples from Carparts.com).
(3) Boost (0-50) (from Geno's)

All gauges are AutoMeter Sport-Comp (black face, white letters, red needle, silver bezel) I absolutely love the gauges. Everyone I talk to about gauges thinks AutoMeter is way good stuff. Personally I don't think there's a better analog gauge -- there sure aren't many that cost more.

My complaint about the Sport Comp is the silver bezel. They look OK but at night the silver bezel reflects the gauge lights and gives you a green ring you have to look past to read the gauge. It's not that big a deal but if I had it to do over again, I'd have matte black bezels put on before I installed them (AutoMeter will put any bezel on for $25). Now that they're in, it doesn't bother me enough to take them out again for a bezel swap.

The switching for the fuel press and EGT is done via a gang of 6 relays (4 for the fuel pressure senders, 2 for the thermocouples). The relays and the 2 AutoMeter computer boxes all fit nicely under the knee bolster. A single wire runs up to each switch to grounds the double-throw relays and switch senders. (Bosch relays came from The Julian Company)

I painted the gauge pod with PPG paint to match my Agate interior. It's a good color match, but the texture on the gauge pod is much "smoother" than the original -- can't do anything about that. It took about 1 ounce of paint and 1. 5 ounces of reducer through my air brush. The finish was a little flat but slather it with ArmorAll overnight and it matches well. I'm left with about 7 ounces of paint (and almost a quart of reducer). What color is your interior? E-Mail me if it's agate. That paint's expensive and you'll be spending enough on the gauges.

Hope this helps.

 

[RKohn]

Kyle,

Sounds awesome. Got pictures?

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Y2K Red Stealth Sport 2500 4X4 QC SLT+, 5-spd, 3. 54 anti-spin, 265-75-16 LTX’s (There ain’t no such thing as options, cause ya gotta have it all, including: DC’s dead cow/vinyl interior and don’t stop anti-lock brakes. ) Stock, but not for long. Oops, too late. What silencer ring? (More fun than my 98 SST)

 

[Arcticat]

Just thought I would let everyone know that I was sent a very cool email from Geno's that addresed my complaints in a very professional manner. I will rethink my decision as to whether to purchase from them or not. They said that they will be getting the more expensive probe soon and will give customers the choice of the better probe if they want it.

Dave D is right, if I had to do it over again I would get the stuff from DIS. I was so pi$$ed after I got off the phone with the guy from Geno's that I just ordered the stuff from the first company that said they could get what I wanted (black bezel ultralite's for $5 extra per gauge). I was unaware of DIS at all. Only in the last week have I noticed the threads here that everyone seems really impressed with their customer service. They seem like a class operation.

Kyle I got my pillar today and it is true that you can use it as a replacement if you don't mind putting screws into it. However, I think when most people see the word "replacement" they expect the thing to fit right in with no modification. My old a pillar pops right out, this one should go in the same way. BTW, you mentioned green light, is that the standard autometer illumination, or did you get bulb covers?
FYI to anyone who is painting thier apillar to match, the interior trim paint can be purchased at the dealer in an aerosol can for under $10. I haven't used any of mine yet but I'll post if it doesn't match right.

 

[Kyle]

Arcticat, The AutoMeter gauges come with clear bulbs and two covers (green and red). The green covers are a little greener than the blue-green in the Dodge dash. They're also a little dimmer but that' OK since they're right in my line of sight. They're plenty easy to read. AutoMeter has blue covers too (not included but available). I wonder if they are a closer match? Maybe the brighter replacement bulbs with both blue and green covers?????

You're right about the screws. I used 4 (2 would have done it) down the windshield edge that screw into the A-Piller frame. They're about 3 inches long with a 2-inch bushing on the inside so they'll tighten down. The door-side edge slides under the rubber strip and stays in place without screws. Two of my spring clips broke when I took the factory cover off so I didn't have much choice. If you decide to use the factory cover underneith, you'll have to do a lot of cutting to get it to fit. Plus there's not much room between the two for all the wires.

I've got 9 wires plus boost tubing going to the gauges with a long enough loop to lay the pod on the dash with the gauges installed. I've got 7 more wires going through to the overhead console, a coax going to the roof, and a microphone wire going through there for my speaker phone. Oh I forgot, Dodge put a few wires in there before I got to it. There just wasn't enough room for the factory cover even if it didn't break.

Here's a tip. Get your gauge light lead directly from the back of the dimmer switch. (18-gauge tan on my 99). Just pop off the dash bezel and unscrew the light switch assembly. It's much easier to get to this way and feeds directly to the bottom of the A-piller. Don't forget to put an inline fuse since this point is before the fuse panel.

Good luck.


[This message has been edited by Kyle (edited 03-02-2001). ]

 

[RKohn]

We may have another option soon. Check this post...
https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum3/HTML/002945.html



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Y2K Red Stealth Sport 2500 4X4 QC SLT+, 5-spd, 3. 54 anti-spin, 265-75-16 LTX’s (There ain’t no such thing as options, cause ya gotta have it all, including: DC’s dead cow/vinyl interior and don’t stop anti-lock brakes. ) Stock, but not for long. Oops, too late. What silencer ring? (More fun than my 98 SST)

 

[Phil Stuart]

Dave D,
Got my truck back on the 26th of Feb. The shop I took it to did a real good job of fixing it. Got just about a whole new front suspension out of it. New 4X4 axle,RF knuckle,tie rods,Delphi power gear,ball joints,and related steering components. It steers great,no pull or drift at all and the steering wheel is right on center,these were my main concerns. I love this truck and will keep it now. I have become one with the truck and the mighty Cummins power that lies underneath just waiting to be unleashed #ad

Thanks for your reply. I will check with DIS and see what they offer on the gauges. I want a good quality setup that not only looks good but functions good too. I hope to see you on the 24th for the get together/invasion at my place,should be a blast!I'll tell you all about the situation then.

Kyle,
I had luck getting the spray paint at the dealer in the 5oz. can which should be enough for the job. My interior color is mist gray. Cost was about 8 bucks.

Arcticat,
Whats the difference between the #5243 probe and the #5244 probe?The thread size?I did read a post last nite about the pyro stuff and was kind of in a daze because I am working midnight shift now and my brain at times seems a bit slow #ad


Thanks guys for the help!

Phil

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

5243 is 0. 25" diameter and intended for top fuel dragsters. 5244 is 3/16" diameter for competition. There are others such as the Autometer street/towing probe that would save some money and still respond more than fast enough for us and our usage.

 

[Phil Stuart]

Thanks Joe for the answer. I believe I got these numbers from the Autometer website,just wasn't sure exactly what the difference was. Again thanks.

Phil