How many of these friggin things do you need?

me27821

Member
Oct 18, 2002
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Long Island
OK, this is about gauges. Take a look at the pic below...

Mach1Mustang2.webp


Now, this is from the pile that was in a sema car show. Some of you might know it. It used to be a Mach 1 coupe, until the guy detroyed it, and made it into a ricer chop top. Very sad. On top of that, I counted 14 gauged here. I might have missed some in the back seat though, or the glove box, or trunk, next to the 3 LCDs, or wherever else the moron put them. Why? I mean seriously. I'm in the Air Force, and I work on F-16s. We don't even have 14 gauges on those cockpits. Seriously, we don't. So what's this guy's deal other than he loves rice?

On a more serious note though... I'm looking at getting some customs gauges from speedhut. They do the Mustang stock pod, A/C panel, and even aftermarket gauges (2-1/16" and 4" and more) with whatever designs you want. Whatever glow, or reverse glow, color, background, font, style, and logos you want. I'm sure many of you already know this.

So here's where my actual question comes in (How many of these friggin things do you need?). For example, right now my GT is stock. So obviously I only really need (want) the stock pod, and A/C panels. That way I have a nice match. But sooner or later I'm going to want to supercharge this thing. Maybe add nitrous too, but probably not. What gauges are essential for a supercharged engine? I know Saleen's have 2 extra gauges (boost and water temp?). Then again, on the flightline I drive an F-250 V8 turbo deisel, which only has the standard 6 gauges typical to any ford. Then again, uh again, majority of the modded Stangs I see have at least the Saleen pod added, plus a few more gauges running up the A-pillar.

So before I place this order, knowing I want everything to match, and I'll be adding a supercharger (once the car is paid off), I think I should order everything I need now. That's incase later on they stop offering the design I ordered, at least I'll have it all already. So, what other gauges do I absolutely need, for a supercharged engine, for normal street use?

(let the argument begin lol)
 

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Honestly, if you're going to mod your motor, you want more than a boost gauge. I would go with:
fuel pressure
water temp
oil pressure
oil temp
boost
tachometer
and maybe a voltmeter.
Pretty much anything goes wrong with any of the systems those gauges watch (except maybe the volts), and you can blow your motor to hell. Keeping a close eye will give you a better sense of security with the car, and if you should happen to catch something, like spiking temps or dropping oil pressure, you may be able to shut her down before something terminal happens. The stock gauges are way off. I know when I built my 87, I had all of those except for boost, because the car was N/A. I caught many an early problem watching those gauges. If you're going to spend all the time and money, keep a close eye on it...
 
So astronut1885, basically there's no avoiding it? I'm gonna make a mess like that guy in the pic did?

Anyway, I really don't think I'll mod the hell out of my engine. Just a supercharger kit. But I know how you can put in 1 part and realize you need other things to go with it. Just to be deffinate, what 2 gauges are on the pod in the Saleens? I think I'll just get those 2 for now, and hope the design I pick doesn't get discontinued.