I had been dabbling around with the idea of changing the gauge faces on my stock Miata gauge cluster but a few things came across my mind such as pros and cons of why would I want to keep the gauge cluster stock?

The pros of keeping the gauge cluster stock:
1. Simplicity
2. Already functioning
3. Legal (Motor Vehicle Division requirements)

The cons of keeping the gauge cluster stock:
1. Gauges aren’t 100% accurate
2. Tired and old
3. Starts to squeak more often with the speedometer
4. Needles warble more with new harmonics from the 5-oh motor.
5. Mix of mechanics and electronics…
6. Positioning of tach and speedo are reversed
7. Oil Pressure Gauge doesn’t function accurately
8. Coolant gauge doesn’t function accurately

The cons won. I figured that I would go ahead and create my own gauge cluster with gauges that i could use and not have lame duplicates. I already have a vacuum, oil pressure, and coolant temperature gauges on the a-pillar. I had acquired them with the intention to provide me more accurate information of what’s really going on in the engine. To support the con number 7 and 8, the autometer gauges I have read back 40psi for oil pressure at warm idle. The miata oil pressure gauge reads between 55 and 60. I know this is a simple resistor issue, but if I can’t have a trustworthy gauge, I don’t want it. The coolant gauge on the stock gauge moves like a millimeter for every 40 degrees. This is unacceptable. I need something more accurate for my own peace of mind.

With the autometer gauges in the pillar for vacuum, oil pressure, and coolant… I figured that I would go ahead and make my own gauge cluster with gauges that could be of use and flip the two gauges, the tach and the speedometer.

Here are the pictures of what I’ve done:

I am working on correcting/improving the Monster Miata manual into a Wiki that allows people to view the manual electronically off my site.

I am also including my experiences appropriately with certain areas and such. The reason why I’m doing this is not to make money (donations are appreciated), but to provide the most accurate information about dropping a V8 in a Miata the right way to keep yourself safe and to protect your investment.

The manual has some problem areas and many confusing areas that I intend to clear up in my wiki version of the manual.

The benefits of a wiki allows me to correct parts quickly with minimal hassle and the like. The truth be told, I’m developing this manual because I thought that the Monster Miata manual was hard to follow and a jumble of instructions that could have caused the experience to go south fast.