Boost gauge question

[Luckypabst]

On the subject of boost gauges and vanagons -

Is there any negative effect from running the reference tube the distance from rear engine to front dashboard? That just seems like bad practice and I never really cared for mechanical gauges anyhow.

And why are the electric boost gauges so much more expensive? The gauge itself should be no more complicated than an electric oil pressure gauge, the sender only needs to be more sensitive. Why the incredible price jump?

Thanks
Chris

[trev]

For the price thing, one word. Volume.

 They sell thousands of oil pressure gauges for every boost gauge. The can charge what they want.

 Sucks, but that's it, I think.

 There should be no issues with the long run. Pressure in one part of a closed system, is going to be the pressure in all other parts of the system. Might change up some of the tuning, if you were using massive hose, but the 1/8 line that is used is pretty much invisible to the engine.

 You could always scrounge around the wrecking yards for an electric one, but ... how much time is that gonna take?

 Cheers
  Trev

[hillfolk'r]

sort of the same,but different
i use a summit digital electric oil psi guage for my fuel pressure since i use a lift pump
try one of those ,it seems sensitive enough,and it was under 30$
woops a few pennies off
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=SUM%2DG2985&N=700+4294822093+4294908436+400304+115&autoview=sku


i have used a mech boost guage for years,i just use brake line for most of the run , less swelling,better guage response ,and rubber at the ends only,double clamped  each end too

[Otis2]

There should be no issues with the long run. Pressure in one part of a closed system, is going to be the pressure in all other parts of the system. Might change up some of the tuning, if you were using massive hose, but the 1/8 line that is used is pretty much invisible to the engine.

That's my experience with a mechanical boost gauge in my own vanagon.

It's not an issue at all.  I wouldn't waste my money on an electric one.

Hillfolk'r is running a lot more boost than I am.  Maybe if I had his kind of boost levels, I'd upgrade the line to the gauge like that, too.  But if you're running less than 20 psi, it's really not going to be an issue in a vanagon, even with 15+ feet of 1/8" rubber hose.

[Vincent Waldon]

Or go for 1/8" copper line... almost as flexible but probably less "expandable"  over that length of run, and uses the same fittings.

Used it on a mechanical oil pressure gauge in my 69 vw van back in the day.... held 100psi no problem.