Spa Guages

[Motorhead]

I have a 2001 auto. I have looked at the Spa guages because I can get four different readings and only have two guages. I want EGT, fuel pres. ,boost and trans. temp. I don't want to mount them on the pillar,instead, mount them on the dash top. Questions:#1: Of you that have them,do you like them or would you have bought something else after you used them. #2: Is there a good place to mount them on the dash that doesn't block your vision much and also makes it easy to "fish" the wires thru? #3: Where on the dash did you put a hole to run the wires thru? #4: Who has the best price! Any and all input greatly appreciated!!! Chris

 

[Bigsaint]

Hey, Chris, alot of good questions, I'll do my best.



1) Yes I like the gauge and would not have choosen any other, for my needs. It's really a personal question at to what floats your boat. I have both analog and digital, I like them both.



2) Mine are on the dash, with the exception of the SPA, which is below the dash near my knee. Not a good spot for a FP gauge IMHO, difficult to read at WOT runs. If you click on 'MY Truck' below, you can see my dash gauges. Probably not for most, with the single pods, but again, that is the way I wanted them. You can also purchase a gauge pod that will fit next to the windshield, in the center of the dash, for a less 'caveman' approach. I've seen plenty of members with this set up in a 3 gauge pod and assume they also make them in 2 gauge pods. I wouldn't sweat the wires, I was able to fish all of the wires to the gauges that you see on my dash by the edge of the drivers side dash, adjacent to the pillar, by using a coat hanger and coming up from below the dash, one wire at a time. No drilling required. Remember, the 90 degree elbow on the SPA's does come apart, so it's only the wire loom that you will have to contend with.



3) Already answered above.



4) Fair and competitive price @ Performance Diesel, with great customer care, here's the link... .



http://www.performancediesel.bigstep.com/category.html?UCIDs=578092|579181



Hope I helped !!!



Scott W.

 

[Motorhead]

Wow I knew that they were a little expensive but not that high. Do you also need to buy the thermo-couple or does one come with. Thanks for info. Chris

 

[Ranger Dick]

Chris, I also got my SPA DG111 from HVAC , and I love it. It is lightning fast, easy to read and I like the dual nature of the guage. I do not have it dash mounted, instead going for the A pillar. When you buy from HVAC, the guage comes with a pyro, boost sender, amplifier box, wiring harness and guage. It is a turnkey set up. Yes, they are more expensive, but I think that buying separate components and trying to get what the SPA provides, still is only about $50 or so cheaper. Just my $. 02.

 

[JR2]

SPA's are expensive, but you have a 35 grand in a truck and it deserves the best. Besides the SPA's are easy to read at a glance and have the programable warning lights that make life even easier. If you want to see a pic of a mounted gauge, click the link in my signature.

 

[csutton7]

SPA's are the best in my book---Brandon has mounted these on the dash and knows these things pretty much inside & out as does HVAC----

www.performancediesel.net

you won't be sorry you got them---chris

 

[Alan Reagan]

The thermocouple comes with it.

 

[HC]

Additional tip, if you go with SPA:



Be sure to install an extra switch so that you can turn off power to the gauge without turning off your truck. This is needed every time you want to turn the backlight on, or off, and to reset the "peak values" stored in memory or do other programming functions with the gauge. If you just wire it up without this extra switch, you would have to shut your truck off to turn on the backlight for night driving, for example.

 

[almitchell]

I have the DG111 pod mounted on the dash near the pillar. Only problem is the hot Texas sun affects the digital readout when the sun is hitting it directly. E-mailed SPA and they said they are coming out with a newer version designed to withstand the heat and would swap out with me when it is available (should be within a month). Mine was installed by Diesel Injection Services in Lubbock, Texas (325 + 40 installation) Very pleased so far (1 month) except for the heat problem.