What gauges most closely match 3rd Gen OEM

[Sean Flanagan]

I accidentally posted this in the 2nd gen forum. Sorry if you have already seen it. No wonder I was getting unexpected results! I guess I am still thinking I have my old '98. 5. Anyway...



I've finally scraped together enough spare cash to put some gauges in my truck. I never have really liked the white faced gauges, but I am finally getting used to them. The question I have for you is, what brand / model of gauges most closesly match my OEM gauges for both daytime and night time viewing? And are these gauges easy to read at night?



I had some ID priocol gauges in my last truck (a '98. 5) and they looked great in the day, but the pointer didn't light up on the EGT gauge, making it hard to read at night. I was hoping not to make a similar mistake this time.



Thanks for your help,



Sean

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[RobertP]

you have really two choices here with ones that match very closely. the

DI Pricol gauges match very well. so do the isspro gauges.

 

[Sean Flanagan]

you have really two choices here with ones that match very closely. the

DI Pricol gauges match very well. so do the isspro gauges.

Do the Di Pricol ones have illuminated pointers? The ones I bought for my old '98. 5 did not, making them hard to see at night.

Do both of these illuminate at night the same way the OEM ones do? That is. show up as light letters on dark background by night and dark letters on light background by day.

 

[ScottLewis]

My Isspro in the dash pod are easy to read at night and are a good match to the OEM gauges.



Dan

 

[StLouisMO]

I couldn't stand my DiPricol's after looking at the color difference at night time between all three gauges... boost, trans temp, pyro. Sent them back the next day and bought Lunar gauges. Match OEM perfectly. Lighting is consistent with all three gauges. You can click on my rig pictures to take a look for yourself.



Ordered mine from Dieselsite.com. Great service. Can't beat the prices and he will install the gauges in whatever pod you want and do the preliminary wiring before he ships them to you. That way, you only have a couple of wires to hook up when you receive them.

 

[ENafziger]

Everyone prefers something different, but my vote would be the DiPricol Optix series. The orange pointer doesn't light up by itself, but some light from the gauge seems to shine through the pointer; I have never had any trouble reading the gauges, even with the dimmer set very low. I believe that the new Optix series uses LED lighting as opposed to the incadescent bulbs that would have been in your previous gauges.



The Lunar series gauges light up the entire gauge. The Optix just light up the numbers. I guess it's which ever one you prefer. Also, if you order the wiring harness to go with the Optix gauges, there is a small potentiometer for each gauge that lets you adjust individual brightness to your liking.



Here are some very poor pictures of my Optix gauges... note that only the 3 gauge dash pod and single a-pillar gauge are wired up.



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Again, the picture quality couldn't get much worse, but if you look closely you may be able to see some light reflecting through the orange needles on the 3-gauge dash pod.



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Unlit shot...



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Hope this helps, Eric

 

[Blue Ox1]

I have the autometer phantom 2 and have been happy with them ,they are easy to read at nite.

Joe

 

[MMcKenzie]

I have the Isspro stuff in mine.



Here are some not-so-good pics. There are some better ones on this page. DieselManor - Taking the Mystery Out of Diesel Performance

 

[RonCar]

I am on my second set of Autometer Lunar series. They look great with the stock guages.

 

[Sean Flanagan]

Enafziger

Wow, you sure have a lot of gauges and gizmos. That thing looks like the control panel for the space shuttle! What is the thing below the radio

 

[ENafziger]

What is the thing below the radio?

Yeah, I've been working for the past year and a half putting all these gizmos in... and still not done yet! I plan on keeping the truck for a LONG time, so just trying to do everything right the first time. That, and it's a good learning experience!



The lighted device below the factory radio, is a DSP unit -- Digital Signal Processor made by Kenwood. I don't think they even make them anymore, but they are unbelieveable. It not only acts like a full digital equalizer, but allows you to adjust nearly every parameter imaginable for sound imaging/staging/effects/etc. You can change simulated room size, placement of instruments on stage, wall material of the room you're sitting in, reverb, vocal dynamics, you can "center" the music staging for the driver's seat, passenger seat, front of the cab, etc. There's a bunch of stuff I don't understand either, but it really makes the stereo system come alive like nothing I've heard before! About $40 on ebay. I made a mount out of aluminum and it fit in the cubby hole under the radio!



Good luck on the gauges! --Eric

 

[wneubauer]

Another vote for the Isspro's. Got mine from Geno's, really like them.

 

[donnier]

Have two Isspros installed in mine and getting ready to order the rest in Isspro.

 

[hotram03]

I got mine from Mancinni Racing, they are made by Autometer for Mopar, they are white faced with the Blue Mopar M in the bottom. I love'em.

 

[JAKE 2544]

isspro from dieselmanor.com,check them out they are great to deal with.