Instrument Gauges in the Air Vents...

[Lotus F1]

I currently have a boost gauge in one of the center vents. I was considering putting in a oil pressure gauge in the other center vent. This would be a clean easy to see factory look and setup. I am however concerned as to what the A/C system would be like with the two center vents no longer in operation. My question is, does the air flow from our cars A/C system really need four vents becuase of it's volume of output air? I am thinking that the two remaining vents can easily handle to volume of air and not cause any real resistance or backpressure. I would however expect that the air pressure although not as evently dispersed throught the small cabin, would be much stronger coming out of the two available vents. Thus not really being to much of a penalty. What do you guys think? ...Thanks

PS. Maybe someone can close the two center vents and tell me how the two remaining vents did in terms of flow and cooling.

[abechen]

Well the rear passengers are not going to get any air.

Boost Gauge? Did you get the Forcefed Turbo?

[ekological]

He got the MonkeyWrench turbo...his was the guinea pig. Does this mean that you got the car back?

[MattG]

I usually have both passenger vents closed, so I see no problem with blocking two vents with gauges.

[Ncturnal]

I put a boost controller and turbo timer in one of the heat/ac vents on my MR2. Back behind the components, I stuffed a piece of foam in the vent blocking off airflow to that one vent. I've had this setup like this for over 3 years without any problems. HTH.

It's kind of hard to see in this pic...just above the headunit.

[ttowsontt]

turn the ac off and take the top off, problem solved seriously though i think you should be fine with the 2 blocked. different car but my friend's tt had the guages in the middle 2 and only had the far left and far right open and it was fine.

[Raindem]

Originally Posted by 1FASTMX5

I currently have a boost gauge in one of the center vents. I was considering putting in a oil pressure gauge in the other center vent. This would be a clean easy to see factory look and setup. I am however concerned as to what the A/C system would be like with the two center vents no longer in operation. My question is, does the air flow from our cars A/C system really need four vents becuase of it's volume of output air? I am thinking that the two remaining vents can easily handle to volume of air and not cause any real resistance or backpressure. I would however expect that the air pressure although not as evently dispersed throught the small cabin, would be much stronger coming out of the two available vents. Thus not really being to much of a penalty. What do you guys think? ...Thanks

PS. Maybe someone can close the two center vents and tell me how the two remaining vents did in terms of flow and cooling.

Nifty idea. How did you secure the guage? Where do you enter the duct system at with the wires? Got a Pic?

I wouldn't mind an oil pressure and temp guage. I find the Elise's digital temp guage especially hard to read.

[Lotus F1]

Originally Posted by Raindem

Nifty idea. How did you secure the guage? Where do you enter the duct system at with the wires? Got a Pic?

I wouldn't mind an oil pressure and temp guage. I find the Elise's digital temp guage especially hard to read.

I really couldn't tell you how it was done as Monkey Wrench Racing installed it. I believe the temp gauge you are looking at in the stock car is the coolant temperature. Not really as useful as the oil temp and pressure gauges.

ekological; MWR still has my car.

How important would you guys rate the oil temp gauge when you already have a oil pressure gauge. I would think that when you oil pressure drops you can bet that the temp is rising. I am however wondering if you are about to have a bearing failure what you would see first. I would think a rise in temperature would be first and then a drop in pressure. If just using just a pressure gauge it might be too late. Anyone with good experience concerning engine instrument gauges and there relevent importance?

[Lotus F1]

Here is a pic of it. I will be changing the gauge to the carbon fiber variation ultra-lites.

[Raindem]

Originally Posted by 1FASTMX5

Here is a pic of it. I will be changing the gauge to the carbon fiber variation ultra-lites.

Now that looks sharp.

[iwilson]

Originally Posted by 1FASTMX5

How important would you guys rate the oil temp gauge when you already have a oil pressure gauge. I would think that when you oil pressure drops you can bet that the temp is rising. I am however wondering if you are about to have a bearing failure what you would see first. I would think a rise in temperature would be first and then a drop in pressure. If just using just a pressure gauge it might be too late. Anyone with good experience concerning engine instrument gauges and there relevent importance?

Oil temp is very useful if you're using the car on track. But...

As a tool for preventing catastrophic failure I have my doubts. Firstly a bearing letting go generally happens so quickly no gauge will save you. Secondly you have to be watching the gauge. Thirdly the gauge needs to be accurate and most standard single wire gauges are not that great. My last engine died as a result of a bearing meltdown - see here. First indication was the noise, second indication was me looking at the oil temp gauge and seeing it off the scale, far to late in both cases. If you are going to fit gauges for other than show purposes it must be able to trigger an alarm at a preset level. I've now gone for a SPA dual oil temp/pressure gauge. Firstly it's very accurate, secondly it stores peak values and thirdly it has an alarm and can be used to trigger an external light/audible buzzer to alert you to a problem. For oil starvation situations this is very useful since you're likely to miss a brief fluctuation in oil pressure that is the first indication of potential trouble to come. So gauges can be useful to warn you that you need to fit an oil cooler or that fluctuations in pressure when cornering mean you need to baffle the sump. But they won't generally prevent the failure itself, if you see what I mean.

SPA website

[Lotus F1]

I had them remove the silver gauge and had them put in the carbon fiber with yellow markings to better match my yellow Elise. Boost and Oil pressure on top and Performance Meter and A/F meter down below.

[Randy Chase]

Wow, impressive.

[Dro]

Very cool.

[Donovan]

Those lower center guages look really cool - to be honest I liked the top guages when they were white faced more than the carbon ones - only because the white ones matched your current guages...

however my car is krypton so obviously I have no taste..

[keith86a]

I also prefer the white ones, they have a "stock" look to them, while the CF/yellow ones look aftermarket and out of place. Now what exactly is "Performance Meter and A/F meter down below."? I dont believe you mentioned these before.

[looney]

My elise doesnt even have face level vents, because ive got the proper version without AC, not the soft version you guys all have

[Vantage]

Originally Posted by looney

My elise doesnt even have face level vents, because ive got the proper version without AC, not the soft version you guys all have

We have an A/C delete option.

[Lotus F1]

Originally Posted by keith86a

I also prefer the white ones, they have a "stock" look to them, while the CF/yellow ones look aftermarket and out of place. Now what exactly is "Performance Meter and A/F meter down below."? I dont believe you mentioned these before.

Try to image those yellow/CF gauges with... a yellow car, a yellow center console and other bits and pieces of C/F in the interior as well as yellow door insert leather and possibly some yellow seat insert leather.. I think then it will have some supporting interior pieces to bring it together better. I also have no preference for a "stock" look. That really means nothing to me as custom done well is more interesting and exciting in my opinion. My miata is so non stock and everyone who ever sees it in person falls in love with it.

The Performance Meter is the Autometer D-PIC performance meter. It is the only 2 1/16” gauge on the market that has..

Real–Time G’s
0 to 60mph Acceleration Time
Capture Peak Acceleration G Forces
60 to 0mph Braking Distance
Capture Peak Deceleration G Forces
¼ Mile ET and Speed
Capture Peak Acceleration G Forces
Reaction Time
Horsepower Mode

In this way I can see if any changes i may do to the cars suspension, brakes, tires, wheels, power have any effect on the car. No more butt measurements.

A/F Meter is an Air/ fuel ratio monitor.

[fitfan]

Originally Posted by Vantage

We have an A/C delete option.

Not when i ordered my car!