I'm ready to do this but I think the biggest thing right now is how many guages do I need? EGT for sure, I understand how that will help me pulling my fiver. I think maybe the fuel guage but I have the 100,000 mile warranty and won't they replace if it goes out? I don't have any idea how the boost might help me out (I'm here to learn though . I am sure I'm gonna go to a 4" pipe but think I want to wait until the guages are in so I can "see what I did". So it's a 3 pod, 2 pod question right now. I'm also trying to decide which guages will "match" the stock guages best. I want to be sure I make the right choices when I do this.
Personally, I'd do EGT, Fuel Pressure, boost and if you have an auto (I dont remember if you do) a temp gauge for that too. You understand EGT is important. Boost is important for a few reasons. First, if your performance ever starts to decline, if you have a boost gauge and notice drop in pressure, you know you have a boost leak. If your EGT's ever start getting uncontrollable, you can tell if it is a boost leak by the boost gauge. It also helps to determine general performance of everything. Yes, they should replace the pump if it goes out, but what if you loose your lift pump at 95,000 miles? the VP44 just may last a while, and when your 100K is out, your VP may die, leaving you with the 2K bill. Also, when you notice a drop in pressure, you can take it in and have teh lift pump replaced, lessening the chance of you sitting on the side of the road in the snow waiting for a wrecker because your VP died. The 3-pod mounts arent all that view-restricing. There are 3 members here that have the 3-pod right now. (My grandpa, LOtero and Jebia). I have the 2pod for my truck, but I dont need fuel press (12V) and i have a standard. If you wanna run the egt/boost/trans/fuel, you will NEED the 3 pillar mount. there is only a single steering pod available for the 2nd gens, not a dual. I personally like isspro gauges best. they match the stockers, and I can get a good price on them. Autometer Z-series also match good, as do some westach's and di-pricols. also, the Diesel Dymnamics gauges are neat. I think they are just autometers, but they have the DD logo on them. Tst has the same. Yes, install the gauges before ANYTHING else! then you will know what you did. also, at stock-mild HP levels, a good flowing 3" exhaust will work just fine for you.
Warren, PM me next week. everything should be semi-not so normal by then.
thanks for the condolences guys. this is a pretty hard thing to deal with, especially when I lost my grandma exactly 2 months prior (to the date and minute!)
--Jeff
Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
good to see youre back there wagn are you workin?
if you ask me wagn you need a clutch he he. my ebay finger has been shaking lately to buy some jammers!!! whens lunch?
