View Single Post
  #4  
Old 01-10-2011, 12:38 PM
Blown353 Blown353 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Central Valley, CA
Posts: 925
Thanks: 0
Thanked 88 Times in 34 Posts
Default

I'm using a Stack ST-700-SR as the centerpiece in my new dash (tach, speedo, shift light, trip/odometer, voltmeter, 2 multifunction gauge inputs with programmable warning lights depending on what senders you purchase to hook up to it, timers, etc.)

I was going to use one of their multifunction ST81XX series of tach/displays but I couldn't fit it into the stock dash without major rework and thought it would look a little out of place.

While the car isn't back on the road yet I've powered it up to test it and play with it... great piece in terms of functionality, ease of reading, and looks. I configured the ST-700 for fuel pressure & oil pressure inputs as both of these are rather critical and the ST-700 makes it very easy to program a warning level. You even get an RPM-gate on the warnings so you can have the warnings disabled below a certain RPM threshold. For example, that way you can set the oil pressure warning to a much more effective "less than 60psi above 1500 rpm" rather than say "less than 25psi at any RPM" to keep the light from coming on constantly on at idle.

A minor drawback when it comes to using the ST700 in a street car is the lack of an external input to automatically change between the day/night illumination levels when you switch your headlights on. You have to set the day/night illumination level in the ST700 and once that is done you switch between them by simply rotating the multifunction knob when the unit is powered on and not in an alert or programming state. Easy enough and a very minor gripe but it's one more thing to do when you turn your headlights on.

One thing to keep in mind is that other than their tachs and multifunction display units the majority of their other gauges are "refaced" autometers that were added to their product line after Autometer purchased Stack a couple years back and side by side comparison shows this to be the case. Not saying that's a bad thing, just pointing out that Stack's auxiliary gauges are simply rebranded autometers.

Here's a pic of the dash test fit back into the car after I built it. It's back out now as I still have to install the new Vintage Air unit, Pantera EFI box, etc. I also removed the VDO volt gauge (redundant as the Stack has a built in voltmeter with programmable warning level) and replaced it with an EGT gauge.

__________________
1969 Chevelle
Old setup: Procharged/intercooled/EFI 353 SBC, TKO, ATS/SPC/Global West suspension, C6 brakes & hydroboost.
In progress: LS2, 3.0 Whipple, T56 Magnum, torque arm & watts link, Wilwood Aero6/4 brakes, Mk60 ABS, Vaporworx, floater 9" rear, etc.

Last edited by Blown353; 01-10-2011 at 01:59 PM.
Reply With Quote