New To Forums-Need Source For Gauges & Air Intake

[ProMac1K]

Hi,



I'm new to this site, actually new to being a member to this site. I must say I love it. Especially searching the archives! Really interesting posts in there, and it is easy to find what your looking for.



I put my truck in my sig.



I'm looking at buying some gauges for my truck. I'm thinking about getting the Isspro Marine's, or maybe the White Di-pricols. Any suggestions? Any suggestions other than these? I would like to have the Boost, Pre-Turbo EGT, Post Turbo EGT, and transmission Temp gauges. Also I was curious about having both EGT's on the same gauge, by use of a switch. I've seen it done before and I was wondering how this works. Also debating on the mounting of the gauges. I'm not sure about the A-pillar mounting. It looks good, but as far as viewing them or them being in the way, i'm not sure. I like the dash mounting due to them being basically right in your vision, but they don't look as good as the A-pillar mount. Also concerned about installing the gauges. Which mount would be easier. I understand that with the a-pillar mount, you have to drill holes and sometimes cut the material to get it to work. What's your opinions on the different mounting?



I was planning on buying a CD player with the gauges, but now am thinking about uprading the air intake. Should I get a new air intake or just put a BHAF in there? I've been hearing a lot about the Scotty brand. I noticed that it looks to be an enclosed system? Is this better than the open air filter system, like the K&N? I know for the Fords there is a Tymar air intake system that is an open-filter system. Cousin has it on his '97 PSD and it looks pretty cool. Wouldn't an open system flow better than a closed filter system? I've also heard of the aFe Mega Cannon, but haven't seen it or heard about it.



Lastly, if I order this stuff, where is a place where I can order it together for a good cost? I was planning on getting the order off yesterday or today, but I wanted to get some more research on these, and also get your opinions.



I tried posting a pic here but it didn't show up at all. Here's my Photo Album



Thanks for your help,

Trever

 

[csevers]

Welcome

If you want to check out the different vendors click on the "links" button on the top of the pages and in there you will find all of the vendors that matter for the most part, most of them will carry one brand of gauge or another with prices listed on there web sites. The vendors on this site are all very good if they weren't there would be plenty of notice given about bad ones. Have you seen the column mount for a gauge? that is another option. Or you may want to get creative like some here and put gauges in a special location ie inplace of ashtry,cup holders, dead hole in dash were o/d switch would be or air bag switch. The best intake system is the one YOU like you have to live with noise and price payed and it depends how far you are going to add hp but it never hurts to let it breath better. Both the scotty and the afe are good you maybe get by with a drop element in the oem box. There are bound to be TDR members "local" to you to help with install at a bombing party or anwser questions first hand. Sounds like you have done some research in the archives, that is a wealth of knowledge to read. Good Luck!!





Craig

 

[ProMac1K]

Chris,



Thanks for replying and noting me of the vendors. I've seen the column mount but I cannot find a vendor or manufacturer that makes them for the 12V era ('94-'97). They make them for the newer ones though, not sure about '98-'02. That would actually be ideal, maybe I would even get the Westach's or SPA's. That would be kind of kewl if someone made a playback Boost/EGT gauge for racing or something.



As far as the intake, don't really care much about the noise or the price. Noise doesn't bother me. Been running a lot of tractors with exhaust out the manifolds, so noise is not a concern. I don't think there are any local TDR members that are regularly on here, at least none in the SW MN/Extreme SE SD, Extreme NW IA. I know that there are some a little farther out in SD and some more north or east in MN though. Have to do some more searching in the archives. :-laf



Thanks,

Trever

 

[mconstable]

Trever... Congrats and welcome, first... can't help with the gauges, but I've got a Scotty, and love it, but some are against the gauze type air filters, but Afe just came out with the Pro-Guard seven, which supposedly flows to oem specs, and is the same cone style as the Mega Cannon, if it will retro-fit my Scotty, I'd like to try it. Good Luck... Michael

 

[Shovelhead]

Welcome Trever.

I bought all my stuff from www.wildcatdiesel.com.



Rod is a good man to work with and always helpful.



Ed

 

[WadePatton]

words

Okay had me confused for a minute. The "intake" is on the driver's side of the engine. The "airbox/filter" is on the passenger side.



Aftermarket intakes (short for intake manifold) are made by Banks in two styles.



Filter options include, but are not limited to, stock box with aftermarket OEM-type filter, stock box with holes cut in the bottom section, BHAF, AFE, SCOTTY, K&N, and others.



The BHAF is fantastic (especially for the price)up to 350 or so horsepower. Now that I'm over 400, I'm considering the Scotty system.

 

[ProMac1K]

Thanks Mike, Ed, and Wade!



csevers, sorry about calling you chris.



Does the BHAF sound as good as the Scotty II? I know you've probably heard this a lot but i've grown to like that turbo whistle/whine. I'm not up to 350 HP yet but I would like an upgrade.



I have heard a lot of good things about Rod. I think I will get some prices from the guy that PM'd me and see if he's reasonable.



Thanks,

Trever

 

[Jeff Knight]

Trever, Another good place iswww.smokindiesel.com Jeff

 

[WadePatton]

noise

When I first put the BHAF on, I thought the turbo had moved into the cab. I even put the SR back in to see how it would sound that way. I took the SR back out. So it is a big step from the stock box.



But nothing is as loud as a Scotty with the cowl opening. But you don't have to run it that way. I've read of many Scotties on the shelf because of the noise. I'd just cover the hole and leave it on.

 

[Ladders]

On the dual pyro to single gage, depends on which unit you get. I run the AutoMeters and they use a "box" for the pyro. The probe is supposed to goto the box and then wires to the gage (3). The box gets the power and does the conversion. I run the probe wires to the box area and then use cat5 for all 7 wires to inside the cab. Put a dpst sw (has 6 contacts & 2 positions - use outside contact for the probes and the center for the box feed. Also keep the color code the same on the switch sides) on the probes and feed it back to the box. Have not seen any difference in the temps using this method. Some of the other units you may have to "improvise" to do a dual probe to single gage as it might change the resistance of the probes leads.





SOTSU!!

\\BF//



PM me if you need more info.

 

[wsmalley]

Simple... If you want to deal with something in the states, go to www.genosgarage.com. They have FANTASTIC customer service, awesome prices, sell the gauges, a-pillar mounts for 94-98 trucks, sell the AFE intake, and have it all for some of the best prices you'll find.



Will

 

[cstone]

I put the Westach dual EGT/boost guage on my 01 and it works great. I drilled it out pre turbo. I had post turbo thermocouple on my 94 and the temps were about 200 degrees cooler. I like it preturbo to find out max temp encountered. I installed the transmission temp guage with the dipstick thermocouple. The t-couple went out after 5000 miles, and with a call to Geno's they sent me another one free of charge. I just installed AFE 7 intake system on my Ram and it seems really good. I feel a little more power and it seems that there is better throttle response. It is a little more noisy, but not offensive. There is that turbo whine that is more pronounced and when letting off the throttle there is a whoosh. I bought all these products through Geno's Garage. They have really done me right and I haven't found lower prices.

 

[ProMac1K]

Thanks for all of the replys.



I think I have decided on the gauges that i'm going to get. I think at least. I had thought about the S. P. A. 's but they are way to x'pensive. Also thought about the Westach's due to their combo gauge setup, but they look kind of confusing to read. Wish I had a picture of them at night with the nights on. I'm really thinking about the Isspro Marine's. I've heard a lot of good reports on these, not that i've not heard good things about the others, and i'm not biased because I know nothing about any of them, and they look pretty good at night. I've decide to go pre-turbo instead of pre and post due to not needing the post reading and due to the fact that there is already a pre-turbo tap just waiting to be tapped into.



I'm still not sure about the air filter intake system. A BHAF or a drop-in would work for my power level, but a Scotty II or aFe would be sweet. I really love the turbo sound. I would like to be able to do burnouts with this truck by the time i'm done modding, if I ever get to do any. What is all needed to be able to do those?



I might have to hold off on this for awhile. Just lost my job as a truck mechanic. Was getting verbally abused and harassed by the shop foreman and an old janitor-type guy with nothing better to do than ***** at me and make it look like he is worth a damn. Whenver I did something that he didn't think was right, he would always have to go off and tell people for some reason. I could always hear him *****ing to someone about what a "poor job" I did. At that time they had me washing new and used trucks for at least three weeks since the service manager was on vacation. I couldn't stand it anymore. I called the owner/manager this morning and told him what was going on, also wondering if he could do anything about it. He didn't seem like it mattered to him whether or not I worked there so I said with this going on and a new schedule coming up because I go back college next monday, I just said it wasn't going to work out. I still can do part-time nights if I want, instead of days, but I really don't feel accepted there. Thank God I still kept my job at my uncles dairy barn. Bunch of low-lifes work there, neighbors, and they all complain because they want more hours. He was going to see what he could do for me. Sorry to vent, just kind of a shock to me because I have a lot going on.



Now I have to pay for my truck, only paid the down payment on it so far and it being a $17k truck, it's going to take 3+ years. The payments are set up for like somewhere between $250-$300 a month for 4 years, so it's not terrible. Also I was planning on getting a different tractor, a MF diesel, to work on at school and use on the farm, possibly turn into a pulling tractor. My plan was to sell my others and buy a Massey-Fergusson, or possibly a bigger Minneapolis-Moline, but I don't think that will happen now.



We'll see what happens in the future. Hopefully it turns out good! :{



Trever