DIY - Defi 60mm Boost Gauge Install in AC Vent - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

msile · 01-25-2013, 06:27 PM

After perusing all options on the threads here, I decided to take a stab at it myself. My goals were as follows:

1) Minimal modifications to the car.
2) Easily reversible.
3) Should not block any other gauges.
4) Should not look tacked on.
5) Easy and quick to read.
6) Should retain the AC air flow.

The left vent gauge come off very easily. Use a pry tool carefully and pull out with your fingers.

Vent:

There are four pieces that constitute the vent. They are held together by locking tabs which separate very easily.

Take the part with the vent flaps (third one from the left in the picture above). The actual flaps are simply slotted into holes in the side and act as a pivot. Pull them out. There are two parts.

For the next step I used automotive weather seal (thick rubber) and I cut up a grippy rubber mat that I had. The type that you put on the car fender when you work on the engine. Stick this on the sides as shown.

Insert the gauge. It will be quite snug so you may have to push hard. Mine was quite firmly held with no play.

You can vary the length of the weatherstrip to adjust for air flow.

Test fit by reassembling the parts. At the same time, drill a small hole where I have, to run the wires through. The location of the hole sits outside the vent tube in the car so the wires will not be pulled in. Seal the hole around the wires. I used some Dynamat.

You can also rotate the gauge in the vent like the stock one as long as you left some play in the wires.

Xdragonxb0i · 01-25-2013, 06:45 PM

Sexy. Just like other mod for oil coolant and water temp. What size guage did you use? Any special tools to mount it?

Kuzuri · 01-25-2013, 07:09 PM

looks awesome! good idea!

ParangWala · 01-25-2013, 08:12 PM

This might be a stupid question but I assume that the vent is now useless? And since it is no longer used did you do anything to prevent the air from going through? Because by the looks of things it seems that dust may still go through the cracks and I'm a little paranoid about varying dust/fine dirt stuck in crevices of my car....

EDIT: Other than that awesome job!

msile · 01-25-2013, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xdragonxb0i

Sexy. Just like other mod for oil coolant and water temp. What size guage did you use? Any special tools to mount it?

Thanks. 60mm. Tools: Scissors. Double stick tape. Brain.

msile · 01-25-2013, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fancy

looks awesome! good idea!

Thanks.

msile · 01-25-2013, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ParangWala

This might be a stupid question but I assume that the vent is now useless? And since it is no longer used did you do anything to prevent the air from going through? Because by the looks of things it seems that dust may still go through the cracks and I'm a little paranoid about varying dust/fine dirt stuck in crevices of my car....

EDIT: Other than that awesome job!

Thanks. Not sure what you are asking. Read the goals that I had. Vent is not useless. Works fine.

ParangWala · 01-25-2013, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msile

Thanks. Not sure what you are asking. Read the goals that I had. Vent is not useless. Works fine.

AH! Thank for pointing it out, skimmed through that

. Everything makes sense now.

Sportsguy83 · 01-26-2013, 01:50 AM

Awesome!

doggy · 01-26-2013, 03:09 AM

That was my first option then I was thinking about Gauge pods - but that just isn't right if you live in fogy / wet country...

BUT - its the best option for people wanting to mount single pod cheap and with the really good visibility! Great DIY! And great idea about leaving some air channels!

Hachi-roku · 01-26-2013, 10:47 AM

Can the heater part effect the gauge, since the vent is still in use?

msile · 01-26-2013, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doggy

That was my first option then I was thinking about Gauge pods - but that just isn't right if you live in fogy / wet country...

BUT - its the best option for people wanting to mount single pod cheap and with the really good visibility! Great DIY! And great idea about leaving some air channels!

Thanks doggy. Coming from you especially....compared to some of the things that you have done. lol.

msile · 01-26-2013, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hachi-roku

Can the heater part effect the gauge, since the vent is still in use?

When you say effect, do you mean functionally? If so, not in my case. Of course time will tell.

Lee358 · 01-26-2013, 12:01 PM

Wow this is great good work!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

01-25-2013, 06:27 PM	#1
msile Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: ISF Location: FL Posts: 295 Thanks: 76 Thanked 234 Times in 97 Posts Mentioned: 8 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	DIY - Defi 60mm Boost Gauge Install in AC Vent After perusing all options on the threads here, I decided to take a stab at it myself. My goals were as follows: 1) Minimal modifications to the car. 2) Easily reversible. 3) Should not block any other gauges. 4) Should not look tacked on. 5) Easy and quick to read. 6) Should retain the AC air flow. The left vent gauge come off very easily. Use a pry tool carefully and pull out with your fingers. Vent: There are four pieces that constitute the vent. They are held together by locking tabs which separate very easily. Take the part with the vent flaps (third one from the left in the picture above). The actual flaps are simply slotted into holes in the side and act as a pivot. Pull them out. There are two parts. For the next step I used automotive weather seal (thick rubber) and I cut up a grippy rubber mat that I had. The type that you put on the car fender when you work on the engine. Stick this on the sides as shown. Insert the gauge. It will be quite snug so you may have to push hard. Mine was quite firmly held with no play. You can vary the length of the weatherstrip to adjust for air flow. Test fit by reassembling the parts. At the same time, drill a small hole where I have, to run the wires through. The location of the hole sits outside the vent tube in the car so the wires will not be pulled in. Seal the hole around the wires. I used some Dynamat. You can also rotate the gauge in the vent like the stock one as long as you left some play in the wires. __________________ 1993 MR2 Turbo - Red 1996 Supra Turbo - White 2011 ISF - Mercury Metallic / Black Suede 2013 Scion FR-S - Firestorm Red 2014 Lexus GS F-Sport - White / 2015 Lexus RCF - Blue (Nov Delivery) Last edited by msile; 01-25-2013 at 09:20 PM.

01-26-2013, 10:47 AM	#11
Hachi-roku Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Drives: 2015 Subaru WRX Location: Dallas Posts: 58 Thanks: 9 Thanked 23 Times in 15 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Can the heater part effect the gauge, since the vent is still in use? __________________

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01-25-2013, 06:45 PM	#2
Xdragonxb0i Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Drives: ex500r Location: AR Posts: 859 Thanks: 13 Thanked 105 Times in 77 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Sexy. Just like other mod for oil coolant and water temp. What size guage did you use? Any special tools to mount it?

01-25-2013, 07:09 PM	#3
Kuzuri __(X)__ Join Date: Feb 2012 Drives: '11 Legacy, '89 190E, '78 GS1000 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 958 Thanks: 300 Thanked 697 Times in 332 Posts Mentioned: 24 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	looks awesome! good idea!

01-26-2013, 03:09 AM	#10
doggy Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: Scion FRS Firestorm MT Location: Lithuania Posts: 327 Thanks: 4 Thanked 613 Times in 176 Posts Mentioned: 39 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	That was my first option then I was thinking about Gauge pods - but that just isn't right if you live in fogy / wet country... BUT - its the best option for people wanting to mount single pod cheap and with the really good visibility! Great DIY! And great idea about leaving some air channels!

01-26-2013, 12:01 PM	#14
Lee358 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: nissan frontier, DGM MT BRZ Location: North nj Posts: 1,576 Thanks: 404 Thanked 419 Times in 254 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Wow this is great good work! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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