Prototyping my Alipna style gauge setup - what should I monitor?

[MC Hammered]

My original thread is here: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=160510



If you want to know more about what I do visit my website at www.podi.ca

So my vent pod prototype as shown above is being made and the display modules have been made, so what should the displays monitor? Help me decide what items should be made for this first prototype as I do not know what the most 'common' items would be for an e30. When the production model is made available you can choose any items from the list, from just 1 to all 4, for your custom setup.

You can choose 4 display items from the following list:

boost pressure
air fuel ratio
oil pressure
oil temperature
EGT
IAT
water temperature
fuel pressure
voltmeter

The digital displays will look like this when lit up BUT they will not be encased in the 52mm gauge body, they will be hidden behind a single flat lens and fit into a vent. My design is to mimic the Alpina vent gauge setup and increase functionality at the same time.

[blefevre]

This will be interesting to see the finished product!

Oil pressure
Fuel pressure
AF ratio if it is tied into a wideband

[E30SPDFRK]

My pick would be oil pressure, oil temp, A/F and a volt meter. Any pics of your idea? How much do you think it would cost?

[MC Hammered]

My pick would be oil pressure, oil temp, A/F and a volt meter. Any pics of your idea? How much do you think it would cost?

I updated the OP to show pics of the vent pod design I made. It has taken over a year to get to this point as I was too busy making pods for the new VW Mk6 and Audi B8 models.

You can see the Mk6 design which is almost completed here: http://www.golfmk6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14199

Cost? I don't know at this point as I have not made the steel injection mold but the setup with displays and senders will be a lot less than the Alpina setup that I see posted up for sale and much more customizable for the users needs.

[CabbE30]

Oil pressure, fuel pressure, voltmeter, oil temp. I would say AFR but i already have one.

Thats just me.

[Click]

Could you make it modular and just sell the shell and let people buy the gauges they want and pop them in? One might buy it for a stock e30 then if they go turbo down the road it would be great to swap in a boost gauge etc.

[MC Hammered]

Can I make it modular?

I already have :-)

[MC Hammered]

Bump for more suggestions

[Mtriple]

I'm sold. This is exactly what I want...

[MonkeyMadness]

Wow.. Love it! I want just boost, in my air vent..
what's your price?

I wanted to do analog in the vent, but yours looks clean and tight..

I'm in...

[Kershaw]

^ that looks awesome

[flyboyx]

instead of just "boost", it would be more useful to have boost/vacuum.

i think it would be a good idea to make it as versatile as possible which it sounds like you already plan to do.

make the brain computer compatible with all or as many inputs that are feasible. depending on what the customer wishes to measure, you can simply plug the display into the corresponding pin and the sending unit into the matching corresponding pin. some pins(such as temperature) could be the same for several types of readings.

[TrentW]

Oil pressure, oil temp, coolant temp and voltage.

[10Toes]

If you can make it similar to the Alpina vent gauge I am in.

[10Toes]

instead of just "boost", it would be more useful to have boost/vacuum.

This pic looks like it is showing vacuum.