Well i finally got up the courage to drill my exhaust manifold and install a pyrometer. I've been short on money lately so i went ahead a gave Glow shift Gauges a shot since the price is deffinitely right. I got a tinted 7 color pyro, all wiring, thermocouple, and single pillar gauge pod shipped to my door for $120. I have both some good things and some bad to say about glow shift. I got my gauge in 3 days, it shipped out the same day i ordered, very pleased with that.

Figured installing the gauge is the usual, Find location to mount the gauge and pod, drill and tap manifold, install thermocouple, route some wires, install gauge and tada.

If only it would have been that easy. I got a single gauge pod supposed to be made for a 98-02 Dodge Ram and i got the right one because it was the correct ID#. I took out the stock pillar, go to mount the pod and come to find out the pod was no where close to fitting up against the stock Dodge a-pillar. There was spots of over a 3/4" gap between the pillar and the base of the pod. Which it was just supposed to screw right up against the factory pillar. So i took out my dremel and went to work. After about 2 hours of cutting, test fitting and sanding i finally got the pod to fit up pretty well to the factory a-pillar. I then used some plastic epoxy and glued the pod to the a-pillar. Could use some sanding and paint, but i'm not picky about what it looks like, as long as it holds a gauge it works for me.

Other than that it went pretty smooth. I was very nervous about tapping the manifold, but now it's a piece of cake. I did all three steps, i used a magnet, greased the bit, and i also used a vacuum. Deffinitely not affraid to do it again now. Say my only other complaint was the wiring diagram is terrible. Other than that though, it was a great purchase. I'll post up a pic of my gauge installed tomarrow in the daylight. I'd highly recomend glow shift to anyone else looking for a set of gauges and don't want to spend an arm and a leg and want something a little different from the usual autometer and isspro.

 

Do you have any readings from it yet?

 

Yeah i've gotten some readings now from it. If i really get on it while creating a decent amount of boost from a stock turbo i can get it upwards of 1000*, but that was as hot as i could get it. Most of the time it stays between 6-700*. Here's a pic from mine mounted on the pillar.

As you can see i painted mine a little bit so i remember what the max temps i should be pushing through there without damage since they do run up to 2400* on the gauge since they're designed for imports. Specially since my Fiance' and Dad drive my truck once in a while and neither one of them drive a diesel daily so i don't expect them to remember. Works great and for the price can't complain one bit.

 

Thanks for the info. I am with you on it just holding a gauge and all, but I would sand and paint it a little, maybe use a little bondo to smooth it out.

 

Yeah when i have more time and the weather warms up a little bit i'll bondo it up, sand it down, and give both side pillars a coat of paint so they match. However, until then i won't rant about it. Serves it's purpose and can't complain about that. I just wanted to post my expierence with glow shift gauges since they're all over on ebay and not very many people have tried them yet on here. I was looking for info a week ago when i ordered and the few posts i did find were mixed opinion, but enough positive that i went ahead and tried it out. I just couldn't see spending upwards of $200 for a single gauge like i was finding on some of the Autometers. Not to mention, everybody has either autometer or isspro, i wanted to be different and i kinda like being able to change the color of the backlighting by the press of a button. My only thing i'd say is don't get their single pod for a 98-02 Ram. The one i got was no where near the correct one for my truck without a lot of custom cutting. However the gauge is a great product and i'd deffinitely recommend it to anyone looking for a pyro at a good price.