I don't live in the best neighborehood and I don't want to bring any attention to car. However, I plan on doing some power mods (up pipe/down pipe/utec) and I understand that gauges are nessecary. Does anyone have any recomendations for a way to install gauges but keep them low-key -- either through the installation or the gauges themselves. Seems mounting them on the pillar or or using the OEM pod would be too visible. Anyone see an install of guages squeezed into the dash w/ the speedometor, etc? Is that possible? What about replacing the stereo with a 1 DIN stereo and using the other DIN for guages? Anyone have pictures of a steath gauge install? I would like to firt 2 gauges: turbo and EGT. Are the electronic "hide away" gauges any good?

Thanks!

I've had my boost gauge mounted in the sorta 'crotch' between the center console and the side of the lower steering column (like where the handbrake was with the bench style front seat). I made a custom holder for it, which was polyurethane foam shaped to fit flush against the plastic, then i covered it all over and faced it with polyester resin, sanded smooth and spraypainted grey. Then i epoxied some velcro hookandloop strips to it and the plastic, stuck that in place.
Right now i have it out to make another one to hold both the boost gauge and a greddy AFR.
Im not interested in steering column and A pillar mounts myself, i like the stealth vibes.

Anyone have pictures of a steath gauge install? I would like to firt 2 gauges: turbo and EGT.
If you're considering only 2 gauges or not too many more, there are 2 possible places to put them.

One is similar to autometer's bezel pod, which mounts 2 gauges on the bezel trim around the oem tach/speedo cluster. I posted a thread long time ago on a DIY version where you can remove the gauges relatively quickly and hide it.
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=310009
Unfortunately, the server I am using to host the pictures have been having problems.

Another is to replace the center vent (the square ones with a hazard button in the middle) with gauges. I posted a thread on this too, but unfortunately, since the pictures are hosted off the same site, you probably won't be able to view it. Here's the link in case the server is back online.
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=352814

The first one is an easier DIY.

Satrya - Both of those options sounds really interesting! I guess I'll check periodically to see if the pictures are working.

Joth - could you post pictures of your solution?

Ok, try here http://briefcase.yahoo.com/joth69 in the 'forester' folder

Nice job. That worked out really well.

Satrya - Both of those options sounds really interesting! I guess I'll check periodically to see if the pictures are working.
I found a temp server for the time being. The photos below are for the DIY bezel solution. They are identical to the photos used in the first link I posted above, so you may be able to correlate each photo with the comments on that original thread if need be.
http://me.berkeley.edu/~satrya/pics/photos/clusterbezel/bezelmod001.jpg
http://me.berkeley.edu/~satrya/pics/photos/clusterbezel/bezelmod002.jpg

I take that back. It would probably clutter this thread if I posted all of them. Here's a closeup look of the removable pod, showing how the gauge snaps and twists into the pod:
http://me.berkeley.edu/~satrya/pics/photos/clusterbezel/bezelmod012.jpg
And here's the view from below, where the pod doesn't extend all the way for mechanical boost gauge consideration.
http://me.berkeley.edu/~satrya/pics/photos/clusterbezel/bezelmod014.jpg

The rest can be found at:
http://me.berkeley.edu/~satrya/pics/photos/clusterbezel/

satrya, that looks great! thanks for posting the pictures.

satrya, that looks great! thanks for posting the pictures.
No problem. The picture below shows both the DIY bezel pod and the DIY center cluster pod. As I previously stated, the bezel pod is the easier mod. In addition, you get the ability to quickly remove the gauges out of sight when necessary. The center cluster requires the relocation of hazard buttons, and replacement vents that are smaller than the original square ones.


http://me.berkeley.edu/~satrya/pics/photos/dash20030705.jpg

FWIW: I've seen someone with the 1-din-stereo, 1-din-gauges thing done and it looked awesome. I forget where the mounting plate came from but it was a set of the 45mm Omori WRX-look gauges. My roommate has a head unit in his Civic which matches the 02-03 WRX gauges perfectly, but you have an 04, so for the best effect you'd have to find a head unit that matched the red of the 04 cluster.

-john

satrya - The center cluster pod looks great. It looks very stock.

Originally posted by beta
satrya - The center cluster pod looks great. It looks very stock.
Thanks. Given that you were originally considering only 2 gauges, and want them to be installed as low key as possible, the DIY bezel pod would probably be a better idea. If you do, make sure the edges of the sheet metal are sanded off to prevent scratching the oem speedo/tach bezel. Those cost about US$40 to replace iirc.

check out http://www.defi-shop.com

the "vsd concept" will hook in to a defi link system and give you a "heads up" display but will not (sadly) show boost .. i have the Defi BF link setup (the gauges look like just plain blank black empty gauge faces when the car is off) and also have the defi-link display (not vsd) and it wont show boost either - they do have a 3 gauge DIN unit that has boost and 2 other gauges (if you put in a single din head unit and have a free slot)

Anyone seen glovebox gauge pods. Visibility is a concern for me on these pods. The gauges would have to be angled. I have electronic gauges so all i need is a red warning light to come on and i'd be able to see that in the corner of my eye.

I have a lotek pod and its way too visible. Everyone thinks you want to race and sometimes when i do want to race they see the gauges and think "its built, oh ****" heh.. I'm looking at getting a glovebox pod. I never use the glovebox so i'm going to have a local shop fab one for me or i'll keep looking for one online.

I'm looking at getting a glovebox pod. I never use the glovebox so i'm going to have a local shop fab one for me or i'll keep looking for one online.
I've seen someone sell a glovebox kit on eBay in the past, not sure if it is still around.

One thing about the glove box approach is that it will be less visible to others when closed, but at the same time, even if you have electronic gauges, I think the location is too far off even for the warning light to be always noticeable.

If you're willing to go with a custom fab solution, I'm assuming you don't mind spending several hundred dollars for your solution. In that case, another alternative is to get a hold of a source in japan (friend or contact www.japanparts.com ) to get the JDM navigation option shroud for the GD/GG impreza. The shroud replaces the oem usdm clock pod, and normally hides the optional navigation monitor screen. You could easily get a plate and drill holes for the gauges. (in place of the monitor)

Thats a great idea, but the jdm navigation unit is sold as one piece for 2k. Japan parts and everyone we've tried to get those through has said its 2k and the navigation only works over in japan. If anyone finds this i'm all over it!

That VSD concept is a great solution, i called spi off the dealer list on defi-shop and they said 2 weeks until they come in stock.

Here's another option that I've done in my car:

Stealth Gauges (http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/e28fixer/lst?.dir=/Starter+Button)

The gauges aren't cheap though. You can only get them at Dynotune. (http://www.dynotune.org)

Scott

check out these.. they might be the ticket.

http://www.isrperformance.com/main.html

Instrument Cluster Bezel for the WRX

Holds 52mm gauges( not included)



[Part#AUT20015]


Our Price: $79.95

Check out the PSI S.E.C.S. unit. It can either come in a clock replace bezel or a 1 DIN mount Look here. (http://quantum-racing.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/Gauges.html)

They seem like the ultimate in stealth and they do more too.

The PSI unit is hot. It looks so simple, to the untrained eye, it would look like a clock, especially with the black buttons. Price is really the only draw-back. Since the EGT ensor from ECU is toast from a up-pipe upgrade, and the boost is incorrect if you have a UTEC, then you need boost and EGT sensors for a total of $1000 bucks with the main unit.

Originally posted by beta
The PSI unit is hot. It looks so simple, to the untrained eye, it would look like a clock, especially with the black buttons. Price is really the only draw-back. Since the EGT ensor from ECU is toast from a up-pipe upgrade, and the boost is incorrect if you have a UTEC, then you need boost and EGT sensors for a total of $1000 bucks with the main unit.

Boost is correct even with the Utec. It's the MAF that is wrong. It is a slick unit though.

p.s. A Defi EGT sensor is about $200 with the long connecting wire.

I got the Defi VSD Concept from edoperformance.

Its CRAZY. I love it, 320 shipped. Linked with my Defi link v1 unit and v1 gauges. I hate that it can't display boost but oh well. At least when i'm doing 120+ i'll be able to see if my EGT is getting too high.

I'm going to relocate all my analog gauges out of sight now.

I'll post pix

two words:

HKS CAMP