MearCat

I'm just waiting on the thermocouples to be delivered. These kits will be available from ~14/8/06. DATA LOGGING has now been added to the features of this kit. Logging of data via a serial/RS232 can be performed using some freeware software and an optional serial download cable (for $15)

Update : The pods are being fabricated right now and will be available in a week or so.

If you can't find one, just get someone like EnZed to make one. Cost me $85 for a braided steel line with banjo fittings

Do you want the indicator that's in the front bar, or side fender?

Indeed! I know of several insurance companies that won't have a bar of you of you've got Harlequin paint

I've got a 'fake' plate on the front my R33. All I did was get a signwriter to make a sticker with the same font/colour and reflective background - the same size as the front bar opening. I stuck it on a piece of perspex. I've never been pulled over for it in 5 years of having it.

Dale, Did you drill out the banjo bolts to allow more oil flow to th turbo. You said that Nissan heavily restricted the oil flow with a 1mm orifice but did you increase teh size of the orifice - even by 0.5mm??

PM Sent to all replies...

I have enough poeple interested now to get the mould etc made... but due to some unforseen delays due to the employees of my fibreglass guy, the mould for this pod will not be made until 2-3 weeks time and first batch of these fibreglass pods will be ready mid-September. I have organised fot them to be prepainted in a dark grey to try and match the dash colour. Any other takers?

So far, 7 people are interested in this LCD display. I have put together a test kit in the last week and the actual product will start being sent out to in interested parties in approx 4-5 weeks. Any other takers?

The plugs have "NGK Apexi 8 Iridium" stamped on them, so I'm not sure what the heat range is. The car is running an estimated 250rwhp.

The car has only done 23,000km (Yes it's genuine) and I've only had the car for a few thousands kms. When I got it, the black spark plug/coil cover was not on it (it is now though). This is the first time I've pulled the plugs and I intend to get a vacuum cleaner and brush and get rid of all the white crap from in the wells and clean up the corrosion on the spark plugs with a wire brush. In the short time I've had the car, I've never had any problems with missing, hestitation or any other problems. Well ... apart from the clutch I destroyed last week After the clutch is fixed, the Power FC is getting tuned (which also came with the car)

I had a thought today that it might be that kind of white powder that absorbs moisture (dessicant). Like the stuff you get in bike tire tubes. Although the plugs do have a bit of corrosion on them.

I pulled my dump pipe off yesterday to get a small leak fixed in it and thought I'd have a look at the exhaust wheel while I was there as well. I'm not sure whether the wheel is supposed to be a grey/whiteish colour, so I pulled the plugs as well. The rubber seals on the coils where covered in likea white dust, as were the recess in which the plugs sit. The plugs themselves looked fine. Attached are some pics. Should I be worried about the colour of the exhaust wheel? What is all that cr@p in the spark plug recess and all over everything else?

I COMPLETELY agree. Anybody I see with "NV" in the number plate I laugh at and usually quoted as saying "YOU STUPID W@ANKER".

PM Sent

The thermocouples that will be supplied with the kit have bare tails. The tails are screwed into a header/connector on the circuit board and hence do not have the thermocouple/banana plugs attached. I haven't actually got any of the thermocouples at the moment, I contacted my supplier today about getting a batch made. I will contact you guys with information RE: when they will be ready.

The compression gland is a component that the thermocouple is mounted through and tightens to form a airtight seal to measure things like EGT and intake temperatures. Here are some pics of the compression gland and where I mounted them for my EGT and intake probes. The probe sticks into the intake/exhaust pipe around 35mm giving it more than adequate exposure to the air streams. As for a temperature change response speed, my EGT reading (this unit of course is installed in my car) in can change from 500degC to about 650degC within a couple of seconds.

The 4 Channel Temperature Displays have been fabricaated and are now available... Over the last 6-12 months, I have been building an In-Car temperature display for myself that displays multiple (4) temperatures in real time. I have recently decided to redesign this unit which I intend to make available as an actual kit for your car. Pics can be found at http://www.mearcat.com.au. It has the following features ... - Displays temperatures of up to 200 degC for 3 of the temperatures - Displays temperature of up to 1000degC for fourth temperature (for EGT values). - Twin turbo option - which displays 2 temperatures up to 1000degC - Accuracy of +/- 1-2degC over small range and +/- 10degC over large range - Fast temperature response; Updates the values several times per second - Large numbers in a backlit LCD (easy to read at night) - Fits into standard DIN slot (underneath stereo) and uses Nissan and Toyota mounting holes for fitting - Peak temperature value display for all 4 temperatures - Peak values can also be reset on-the-go - Configurable alarms limits for two of the four temperatures. Can turn alarms off or set their alarm limits - Ultra-bright (4000mcd) 10mm Red LED and buzzer activated when alarm limits reached or exceeded - All configuration via 3 menu/function buttons on front display facia - Utilises standard K-Type thermocouples (K-Type ONLY) screwed into the back of unit - Powered from 12V from car - Professionally fabricated circuit board & metal case (NOT a backyard job) - 6 Month Warranty included Note - This unit is designed to display temperatures ONLY and I do not intend on modifying it to display other parameters eg. boost levels, voltages, injector duty cycles etc What you wish to measure is only up to thermocouple mounting possibilities (Ambient, Intake, Before/After intercooler, coolant, oil, turbo, exhaust gas, fuel, head/block, engine bay) Work necessary after receiving the kit : Since the front of the stereo/DIN slots are slightly different sizes in some cars, the front facia (made of thin 0.6mm sheet metal) will need to be trimmed down to the size of your cars DIN slot face before attaching to the main bracket. For some cars it does not have to be trimmed as it sits neatly behind the plastic dash cover. An adhesive label for the fascia will be provided to your requirements (text labels, pictures, logos, watermarks etc). I have has this display installed in my car (during & after developing the kit) since February 2006 and I find it much more useful and subtle than analog gauges sitting on the dash/A-Pillar Price is $450 for the FULL kit (with thermocouple probes). - Compare that to the price of four quality gauges! I supply low temperature (up to 200degC) and high temperature (up to 1000degC) K-Type thermocouple probes with 2.5m 304SS stainless steel braided cable for $25ea (retail price is normally $40+) and brass compression mounting glands for $3ea for anyone that requires them. Also, if there is enough interest, I may be able to supply washer thermocouples for mounting to eg mounting onto turbo flange bolts/oil sump plugs for around the same price. Email me at [email protected] or PM me if you are interested and whether you'll need any thermocouples/glands. For more information, Download the User Manual Here .

If you're not too keen on making one yourself though, I'll probably end up making a batch of them for R32s as well pretty soon. At the moment I've only made them for R33

I've now organised someone to make these pods in fibreglass and have posted a Expression Of Interest thread HERE for anyone interested in purchasing them.

A while ago I posted a DIY Tutorial of the fibreglass gauge pod that I made for my R33 - See HERE. A lot of people asked me whether would make them for other people but there is a lot of work involved for me. I have now looked into some pricing of getting a fibreglass company to make them instead. I need at least 10 people interested in buying one of these to justify getting a mould and small batch made. Lead time on getting the mould and pods done is approx 4 weeks. I will keep everybody updated on their progress & ship out as soon as I get the batch made. Each pod will be supplied in raw fibreglass form with undercoat - ready for painting. See pics below. Note : The 4 shift lights in the pic are NOT included and will not have any holes cut in the front. These pods will only fit R33 Skylines, will fit gauges up to 60mm (as seen in pic below) and probably won't constitute a defect for Police because it does not affect your vision due to it's lower profile on the dash. If there is enough interest I may make them for other cars as well. Email me [email protected] or PM if you would like to express interest in these R33 corner gauge pods, or if you would like me to make a similar style for other cars (R32, R34, Ceffy, Silvia/180SX etc)

Mmm - could the temperature reading from a probe in the exhaust gas be used to accurately determine when to turn the car off after a hard run? Or is "turning the turbo off when it's hot is bad" a myth?

Which would be more useful? - a probe in the exhuast gas flow (EGT) or a probe ON the turbo itself?

A guy by the name of Martin had something similar fitted to his 180SX more than a couple years ago yeah, but he had boost, battery voltage, oil temp & EGT. I designed mine specifically for temperatures only because I already have a boost gauge. I used a PICAXE chip in my design and like Martin, will not be publically releasing the source code or entire design for it- Sorry!. If it was a small project that took a day then I'd release details but I've put way too many hours (upwards of 100+ hrs) into the design/construction/coding it to give it away for free. Will I look into selling them as a kit? - maybe, but I've got other higher priorities in the coming months.