Anyone using Stack Instruments in their car [Archive]

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SDMAN

01-09-2011, 10:05 AM

Time to get the dash sorted out. I really like the stuff I see at Stack, but have no real knowledge of their stuff. Looking to go with a 3 guage (Speedo, oil press and Tach) cluster and put the rest on their digital display. Should make for a clean look with as much info as I care to monitor.

So has anyone used any of their products? No second hand or opinion please. Just the first party facts. Thanks.

wiedemab

01-09-2011, 11:49 AM

I don't know much about it. DSE used one of thei gauge defile in their Chevy II, but I haven't really asked how they like it. It looks good in the early Chevy II dash though :)

I'll be interested to hear what some folks with experience using their stuff have to say.

SDMAN

01-09-2011, 05:24 PM

By all the features and options it really looks like good stuff. I especially like the analog looking tach (stepper motor). Available in 0-8000, 0-10000, 0-13000 and 0-15000 ranges in both linear and compressed, a sequential shift light, a warning indicator and a dual input digital display to show additional info on the tach (like fuel press and boost).

Blown353

01-10-2011, 01:38 PM

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.

http://home.comcast.net/~swedish_chef/stuff/ForumStuff/dash5.jpg

Mick Mc

01-10-2011, 03:10 PM

Steve Rupp has Stack in Bad Penny.

SDMAN

01-11-2011, 06:50 AM

I appreciate all the input from everyone. Nice dash Blown353. Ive heard enough to help me buy with confidence. Thanks again.

Blown353

01-11-2011, 12:02 PM

I appreciate all the input from everyone. Nice dash Blown353. Ive heard enough to help me buy with confidence. Thanks again.

I think you'll be very happy. It really is a very nice and functional "all in one" solution that doesn't really have any compromises that you run into with other multifunction tach/display options because of the multitude of programming options and the easy button & rotary knob control method.

When I was planning my dash about 2 years ago I initially wanted the ST-700-SR but balked at the price. I looked for months for something else that was as well designed that offered a comparable feature set (only SPA technique's multifunction tach display came close to the ST700, but still fell quite short in my opinion.) In the end the Stack was simply the best product for the job and I'm glad I picked it up.

Keep in mind if you buy the ST700 series and you want to use the dual sensor inputs you need to purchase sensors and the optional sensor harness... unfortunately they're not cheap. With the ST81XX display units the sensors and sensor harness is included, unfortunately this isn't so with the ST-700. If you purchase the ST-700-SR (street version with odometer but lacks some of the lap timing options of the more race oriented versions) it comes with the hall effect pickup for the speedometer. If you want to use an OEM style in-transmission VSS sensor you need to buy Stack's pulse amplifier box which is a $170 or so option.

Steve1968LS2

01-11-2011, 12:52 PM

I have thier stuff in Penny.. the main STACK unit is very nice and top quality stuff.

The smaller ancillary gauges are made by Autometer (Elite line?) for Stack (since they own Stack) .. they are also really nice and the color change feature is a really butt saver.

I like that it had a analog tach.. not that I ever look at guages while on the track. lol

http://i52.tinypic.com/akk2zm.jpg

Huyzel

01-15-2011, 10:47 AM