It looks like a consensus, the factory gauge sucks.

I'm going to mount an AutoMeter pod on the piller, it will look cool and work.

Mark

 

Hey guys, I like many of you want to replace the factory guages will "real" one's. I have been trying to contact Autometer about an A-pillar gauge pod that will hold 3 guages in it for the Lightning (same as F150 so this is what i ask for), but all they make right now is a double guage set for it. I figure i'll wait for a tripod guage to come out then fit 1 in there. If any of you find one please post a thread on it (manufacturer & part # if possible).

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Driver of a FF Lightning
Black 99
Very Dark (read illegal) Tint
looks great on the Black Bolt
Bone Stock
Phoenix, Az

 

Besides boost, what are essential gauges to have in a supercharged vehicle. I imagine fuel pressure might be good. What other gauges?

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Aaron Luck
'99 Red SVT Lightning
Superchip, Ford soft tonneau cover, 6 disk changer, ford bedliner, CL III tow package, 15+ coats of Zaino

'98 Silver Frost SVT Contour
KKM Induction Kit, Superchip, 73mm MAF

'90 Cardinal Red 5.0 LX Convertible Mustang
Removed intake silencer

 

This is sort of for Wyldman, but others as well.

There has been a lot of dialogue about the accuracy/non accuracy of gauges, whether it be for Lightning boost/oil pressure/low fuel or whatever.

I am pretty disappointed that from the postings that I have read that FMC has pretty much decided to offer to Lightning owners in particular, the same menu of "duh" type gauge indications sort of the same as a once upon a time Chev C-10 WT truck I used to own.

While I really hate to spend my own hard earned money to overcome these shortcomings, I am willing to do so if someone can come up with a really good suggestion for some sort of gauge pod that can give us accurate readings for the really important maintenance/survival type readings that will help us to keep our vehicles in an optimum operating mode.
Comments?
Bill Murray

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Bill Murray
99.5 Lightning
Oxford White
Bedrug/ARE LSII lid

Tow Package CD Player
Superchip
HobbyTownUSA Graphics
Identical 1/10 Scale Tamiya RC Truck incl. graphics.
Truck interest e-mail:
fastwhitey@myf150.com
4 heavy decals!
Kennesaw (Atlanta) Ga.

 

Trying not to flame or get flamed but does it really matter if you can identify whether its 8.2 or 8.6 lbs of boost? I worried about mine when I first got it because it wasn't dead on "0" when you first energized the circuitry. Now it's either at one end of the gauge or the other and rarely in between except during mediocre acceleration. The only time the gauge was of any use is the time at the track when the boost didn't come in and then for the first time ever it was dead on "0" and the gauge became useful. If the gauge was dead on accurate what are you gonna do to change anything? Especially since they are sensitive to barometric, humidity, and temp changes. It would probably drive the dealers crazy if we ran in there every time a warm front passed through and we registered a 2# drop in the boost . I think Ford had that in mind. Kinda like the oil pressure gauges, which I thank the good people here for educating me on that one .

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Red 99.5 Lightning,#0975,Born 5/6/99...Adopted 5/27/99 Chipped w/SuperChip Flipchip chip,Water Wetter, Mobil 1, 13.573@101.08

 

I don't have a lightning, but I do know a little about the "guages". They are not guages at all just indicators, they display resistance measured from a sensor. The boost guage may be different, but I doubt it. They only way to find out is to disassemble the dash and see if there is any lines hooked up to the cluster. I work for a mazda dealer, and almost everything we get is in a ford box, all of our "guages" are actually indicators.

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stock 98 XL, Reg. cab,4.6, Auto, Tow package, 255/70R16 on styled steel wheels,3.55LS, Black with chrome grille and bumpers! MODS: custom stereo by me, building speaker box was a !@#$%. K&N air filter w/ airbox mod, a complete keyless entry system.

 

I don't have a lightning, but I do know a little about the "guages". They are not guages at all just indicators, they display resistance measured from a sensor. The boost guage may be different, but I doubt it. They only way to find out is to disassemble the dash and see if there is any lines hooked up to the cluster. I work for a mazda dealer, and almost everything we get is in a ford box, all of our "guages" are actually indicators.

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stock 98 XL, Reg. cab,4.6, Auto, Tow package, 255/70R16 on styled steel wheels,3.55LS, Black with chrome grille and bumpers! MODS: custom stereo by me, building speaker box was a !@#$%. K&N air filter w/ airbox mod, a complete keyless entry system.

 

Not refuting anyone's opinion here, but....

When I had the calibrated gauge set up on my truck during the dyno pulls, it indicated 11+ lbs of boost on every run. This validated the "pegged" condition that my dash gauge was indicating.

The fact that the gauge was close, if not spot on is good enough for me at this point. My only interest was to see if I am/was making in excess of the 10 lbs of boost indicated.

This appears to be born out by the calibrated gauge, and IMHO, means that Ford has badly under-rated not only the HP potential, but also the boost potential of the stock configuration.

Personally, I find this to be good news. To me, it means I can spend my $$$'s toward making mit der go fast, and not fixing something that doesn't really need fixing.

Just my .02 worth...

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Chuck 'Wyldman' Shelton
wyldman@houston.rr.com
Black 99.5 Lightning Build # 1273, DOB 5-14-99
CD Changer; Tow Pkg.; Lojack; Sal's custom nitrous chip; G-Tech/Pro; SnugLid; BedRug; Invinca-Shield, full kit; NOS KIT 80 hp shot (currently); Clear and smoke Lexan fog light covers; 3M Ti Window Tint; Bel radar detector (shouldn't be an accessory); PowerStack cone filter (a.k.a. supercharger waker upper); American Auto Designs ram air hood - in transit; Cal-Tracs traction bars

 

I agree Wyldman, Ford understates the horsepower, but I think they have a reason. If you notice the numbers on the SS Silverado they are more HP, but their time sucks. I think they post these numbers and Shovie works to beat them and then...oops, I guess it's more. Back to the drawing board. Somebody at Ford has an interesting sense of humor.

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Red 99.5 Lightning,#0975,Born 5/6/99...Adopted 5/27/99 Chipped w/SuperChip Flipchip chip,Water Wetter, Mobil 1, 13.573@101.08