So I finally broke down after reading Jedi's Racing Beat Gauge pod thread, and installed my own set. Here's Jedi's original thread: http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=133938


I went with the RB gauge pod but picked Cyberdyne gauges after unsuccessfully trying to purchase Nordskog. Apparently they have been bought out and, for the time being, have ceased operations indefinitely.


First, drain your oil. I find having a friend do most of the work while you take pictures and smoke cigarettes is a very great way of doing this:

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e364/mdobilas/Gauges/DSCF1415.jpg


Hmmm... is that Royal Purple? Why yes it is. I've run nothing but dino oil since I bought that car, figured I'd give RP a try.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e364/mdobilas/Gauges/DSCF1418.jpg

The oil filter was being a bit of a pain in the ass, but nothing a long screwdriver and lots of fun can't fix.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e364/mdobilas/Gauges/DSCF1413.jpg

The RB water temp adapter as well as the oil plate are things of beauty, the machining is just top notch. Here's a shot of the water temp adapter installed.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e364/mdobilas/Gauges/DSCF1417.jpg


Here's the oil adapter installed. It doesn't show the grounding wire we installed later... yeah, we forgot until after the install was almost complete.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e364/mdobilas/Gauges/DSCF1412.jpg

This is a shot of what I consider the weakest part of the RB gauge pod. It is curved much like our stock ash tray face plate, but gauge are not curved. This leaves us with two issues. Most standard methods of mounting gauges will not work and we'll be left with some gaps on the sides. Black silicone to the rescue!

It no only fills the gaps nicely but it will also hold the gauges firmly in place. If i ever need to replace a gauge a simple trim with an exacto blade will free the gauge.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e364/mdobilas/Gauges/DSCF1424.jpg

The Cyberdyne gauges come with memory recall of HI and LO. It uses a small switch for each gauge. Since we had time and I just wanted to get a feel for the feature we installed it this way. I'm planning on getting different switches and a new blank, so don't mind the less the straight or centered install.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e364/mdobilas/Gauges/DSCF1425.jpg

Almost done, time to turn on the car and make sure everything works

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e364/mdobilas/Gauges/DSCF1427.jpg

All buttoned up and looking nice

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e364/mdobilas/Gauges/DSCF1431.jpg

Here's a short video of the HI/LO feature of the gauges. Not sure what the red streaks are, maybe aliens in my car or something.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/V-t_9Wy4w60&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/V-t_9Wy4w60&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=146722&stc=1&d=1255320258

pure sex good right up

Looks good.

thanks

they look awesome!

Very very nice!

I'm really liking them. It's nice not having to scroll through the AP menu to check water temp and then back to afr's. Also seeing the Oil pressure is pretty interesting.. i've been reading all the oil threads and seeing the actual pressure at different RPM's is nice.

Great work.... uhhh.... Zach!

in all things there needs to be a supervisor.. that was my role here.

in all things there needs to be a supervisor.. that was my role here.

Spectator...not supervisor

jk, hahaha...

Good times, was a fun install, I know that ACE hardware like the back of my hand now

Still love the ghetto ziptie washer on the coolant bypass

I'm really liking them. It's nice not having to scroll through the AP menu to check water temp and then back to afr's. Also seeing the Oil pressure is pretty interesting.. i've been reading all the oil threads and seeing the actual pressure at different RPM's is nice.

yeah but electrical gauges dont have the resolution that mechanical guages offer...

What a crock of shit, yeah, springs and wax thermo pellets with some bubble gum and paper clips versus a printed circuit board...right

http://www.nordskogperformance.net/home.php?cat=8

they appear to have the gauges here...

Those look nice! Good job, laythor.

thanks elf.. i've been wanting these for awhile

Tekk.. nordskog still has their online store running, but if you place an order you'll get an email the next day stating they are indefinitely ceasing operations.

Zach, I'm still baffled by Racing Beat suggesting mechanical gauges are the way to go, not sure if they just got a great deal on them so that's why their premade kit comes with them or what.

thanks elf.. i've been wanting these for awhile

Tekk.. nordskog still has their online store running, but if you place an order you'll get an email the next day stating they are indefinitely ceasing operations.

Zach, I'm still baffled by Racing Beat suggesting mechanical gauges are the way to go, not sure if they just got a great deal on them so that's why their premade kit comes with them or what.

I would have to agree that mechanical gauges are the way to go. They are more precise and reliable. I still might get these gauges u got.. they look good

I would have to agree that mechanical gauges are the way to go. They are more precise and reliable. I still might get these gauges u got.. they look good

as far as accuracy and precision goes, its neither here nor there, more has to do with the amount of R and D a company has invested, or "borrowed"

on the comprehension side, whats easier to read while driving? an analog scale and a needle or a straight up number?

Reliability? solid state electrical systems by far outlast mechanical systems, no moving parts, nothing to wear out, nothing to fall out of calibration

I dont mean any offense, I just strongly believe that electrical gauges are the way to go in the 21st century...

I agree, these days electrical gauges are essentially the way to go.

analog v digital is a different story. the terms gets misused pretty often. electrical gauges can be analog as well, and most are.

Lookin' good Laythor! congrats on getting these installed, they look pretty sharp, especially with your current interiour setup.

yep.. can never have too much blue!

do they dim when you turn on the headlights?

yep, the go to about half strength

update on these gauges.


AVOID THEM LIKE THE PLAUGE. All three gauges have now lost parts of their display. Cannot get a response from the guy who sold them or the company that makes them to utilize their "lifetime warranty"

DO NOT BUY THESE GAUGES!!!!!!

oh crap!
sorry to hear this Laythor, good luck with that 'warranty', hopefully someone will eventually get back to you and resolve this.

oh man sorry to hear that....they looked damn good to

I'm not holding my breath for anyone to get back to me on this. Think I'll be chalking it up to one of those "life lessons".

On the up side I've decided to replace them with Defi gauges. The local rotary shop, Rotorsport, carries them and the owner is just an all around great guy. I'm planning on having him install them when my replacement BHR midpipe arrives.

http://www.defi-shop.com/product/rg/rg_top.html#movie

Clean. nice.

those defis should be awesome

So I followed a link what happen to the gauges ? What went wrong.

post #22.
did you miss it?

At first I didn't understand then it clicked my head lol. I got u now. Thanks for the help

if this thread kept you from buying these cheap gauges then my money wasnt wasted on them. I ended up getting DEFI gauges and really love them.

Yeah I wish I could really justify dropping tons of money on extremely nice gauges . But I'm just na so it mite be over kill lol. I play bass guitar and on the site I go to we have a saying " I got gas". Gear acquisition syndrome , you see nice stuff and just want it lol.