Help!
I recently purchased some mechanical AutoMeter Pro comp gauges(Oil pressure/oil temp and water temp) and need help in finding the best way to route the cables from the center pod through the firewall. I have used search to no avail and none of my bud's have done this before. Do I drill somewhere? I have to remove the center dash piece I know but where do I go from there to miss any vital parts? I dont mind drilling I just want to have to remove as little as possible to get the job done. Using Racing Beats oil and water things to hook the sensors up.
anyhelp would be appreciated
olddragger

 

anyone?
Olddragger

 

screw that, for $1000 you can get the cheaper version of this:

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/diagnostic-connector-87062/

the only difference is it only has 128kb memory rather than 8mb and no accelerometer

http://www.aimsports.com/products/mxl-strada/buy.html

that's only the cost of four good gauges, you get so much more in this display

or, there's this which is a smaller display

http://www.aimsports.com/products/m3-xglog/index.html

 

Team --
You cannot read oil temps or oil pressure from the OBD interface of the RX-8. That is one of the factors oldragger is looking for.

 

That is a sweet set up Team but remember the first word of my name is "old"!
I just like the "old style" center pod mount gauges and I personally like the mechanical over the electronic. Again though that is a sweet setup.
Guess I will break out the flashlight and the rotor router this w/e.
olddragger

 

Many of us await your DIY on this installation. I'm curious where you go thru the firewall.

And by the way, a Dremel may give you a tad more room than that router

 

stay tuned I am currently looking at a Nav tray like set up and my center pod comes off tomorrow.
olddragger

 

let me know if you need any info on the nav tray. been there done it.


beers

 

I bought a used centre piece to hack up, for the same purpose.

The best place to tap the water temp is right below the ECU, there is a joint in the hose there. The best place to get to there is thru the rubber around the heater hoses, no need to drill! It is down between the intake and the windshield washer bottle.

Probably work to get to the filter for oil pressure too.

S

 

Thanks StealthTL,
Got my dash apart today and I did see that area and although I didnt pass a pull through to test it , it did look good.Good to hear it works. Where the steering rod goes through, or possibily drilling a little up and to the right of the top of the accelerator support/sensor are other options. Now to work on the NAv tray area. Swoope, you say you have done that? What I am thinking about is getting the NAv tray from MazdaParts and cutting the back screen support off and custom fabing to cover all that. May use some ALuminum somewhere.May use some honeycombed material. It is fun thinking of new ideas for this(new and inexpensive) project.
Any ideas from anyone?
olddragger

 

i would start planning after you get the tray... it is a nice part, but is probably deeper than you think it is. i dont think i can help with photos unless you want some from the outside of the car.

i have a 8 inch monitor in mine... why o why does obd 11 not have oil press and temp???? would have been sooooo much better...

pm me if you want some photos and at what angle.

beers

 

Swoope you are right--the tray is too deep--thanks for the advice--replanned now to build custom mount for the gauge cups. The mounts themselves will below the center pod so the gauge cups themselves will look to be resting flat on top of the dash. I think it will give a clean look --best I can come up with.
And Stealth--that is a really good spot to come through the wall--thanks. Come on RB where is my stuff!
Olddragger

 

RESURRECTION!!!!!!
^ I was wondering how the mechanical gauges worked out? Is anyone else running them? I have the Lotek gauge pod and was thinking about going with mechanical gauges to keep costs down but I am a bit worried about running an oil line through the interior.

 

I installed the RB gauge set, I have an automatic so I ran the cables"with a steel line for the oil" by the head unit and drilled a 1 inch hole a few inches above the foot feed in what looked lke a small flat spot, came out exactly where I wanted it. Sry I don't have a digital camera.

 

I never thought of using a Steel line for oil. Where did you get it or did you get it from racing beat?

 

Thx to EXPO for this one
http://www.amazon.com/Auto-Meter-323...5682899&sr=1-2

 

Nice I will have to check those out and maybe later write a DIY for mechanical gauges or something