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DIY: Installing a boost gauge on an R33 A pillar NO DRILLING REQUIRED

Messiah

By Messiah,
in Engines & Forced Induction

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Messiah Mentor

Messiah

Posted
Posted

Well its in and installed now, it turns out that routing the tubing is actually pretty easy... heres how i did it.

For an S1 R33

1. Remove the dash panel below the steering wheel.

2. Remove the lining that runs up the a pillar then along the top of the drivers door.

3. This should reveal a gap at the base of the a pillar.... run your tubing down this to get it under the dash.

4. take the end of the tubing and tread it through the existing hole in the firewall (located just behind the right hand edge of where the stereo sits, maybe a little higher)

5. this should exit just to the right of the intake manifold if your looking at the engine from the front.

6. Now comes the choice of lines to tap. The closest line is the line that runs to the stock boost sensor (little black box located in the back left corner of the engine bay when viewed from the front). This line leaves from the back of the intake manifold and runs straight left. This is nice and convenient, But if like me you have an apexi mech boost gauge, the supplied T peice is too big for this hose, so instead use the hose from the front of the manifold, its thicker and just like the one from the back... it will gauge the intake manifold pressure. For this i ran under the air intake and other leads to the front.

7. Cut the desired hose where u wish to join and insert your T peice.

8. Attach your gauge hose to your T peice.

9. use cable ties or similar to tighten the join on the T peice

10. find and attach gauge wires to power if applicable (i'm not going to tell you which one, just find on with power when the lights are on but non when they're not (lighter adapter for instance).

11. Depending on the length these wires can either follow tyhe tubing or instead shortcut down the side of the dash and under the panel removed earlier, dont worry when we put the panel back on it will be protected/hidden.

12. Next replace the 2 removed panels (the a pillar panel and the footwell panel)

13. connect your gauge to your hose and wiring and mount as needed....

All done with no hole drilling...

did i miss anything?

dojobi Experienced

dojobi

Posted
Posted

How do you keep the A pillar mount on? I put mine on with sticky tape for a week or 2 and then removed it because I wasn't prepared to drill and it looked dodgy with electrical tape holding it on. The only way I can think of that you can do it is to drill it.

Messiah Mentor

Messiah

Posted
  • Author
Posted

You mean like a greedt apillar mount? or just a standard mount at the a pillar?

I am just using the gauge mount that came with the gauge for now (my a pillar mount is on its way, should have it in a week or 2) and with that i just turned it sideways and lodged it into a gap in the dash (surprisingly secure there actually).

As soon as i get my mount i'll post a follow up to this for it. that said if u gimme a pic of the back of the mount i might be able to figure something out before hand.

dojobi Experienced

dojobi

Posted
Posted
You mean like a greedt apillar mount? or just a standard mount at the a pillar?

I am just using the gauge mount that came with the gauge for now (my a pillar mount is on its way, should have it in a week or 2) and with that i just turned it sideways and lodged it into a gap in the dash (surprisingly secure there actually).

As soon as i get my mount i'll post a follow up to this for it. that said if u gimme a pic of the back of the mount i might be able to figure something out before hand.

Ahh ok, yeah I was thinking of my dual gauge GReddy one. Pain in the arse it is. Anyone want to buy it? $50?

  • 1 year later...
nsta Mentor

nsta

Posted
Posted

just to confirm, is the circle marked in green the "little black box" everyone refers to when talking about the hose that the bosst gauge should be "t" into???

if so does that mean the green arrow i have pointed to, is the right hose to tap into, as that hose is coming off the black box and into the back of the manifold.

does it matter where i cut off the hose and "t" it in or not?

nsta Mentor

nsta

Posted
Posted (edited)

just to confirm, is the circle marked in green the "little black box" everyone refers to when talking about the hose that the bosst gauge should be "t" into???

if so does that mean the green arrow i have pointed to, is the right hose to tap into, as that hose is coming off the black box and into the back of the manifold.

does it matter where i cut off the hose and "t" it in or not?

post-6529-1137118079.jpg

Edited by nsta
  • 2 years later...
RicsR33 Enthusiast

RicsR33

Posted
Posted
just to confirm, is the circle marked in green the "little black box" everyone refers to when talking about the hose that the bosst gauge should be "t" into???

if so does that mean the green arrow i have pointed to, is the right hose to tap into, as that hose is coming off the black box and into the back of the manifold.

does it matter where i cut off the hose and "t" it in or not?

Hi

Im about to install this myself and was wondering if somebody could confirm the above? sorry to bring up a dead thread :sick: thanks alot guys :banana:

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