Gauge upgrade project

#1

My car had 2 5/8th inch Voltage, Oil Pressure and Coolant Temp gauges. I wanted to add an Oil Temp gauge (2 5/8th), reduce the voltmeter to 2 1/16th inch, and also put in oil and coolant temp warning lights.

Surprisingly it took about a week’s worth of evenings just to make the gauge plate.

Tonight I’ll take a picture of the amber and red warning oil pressure lights which are on top of the dash to either side of the OEM gauge cluster. They will be connected to adjustable pressure sensors. I’m leaning towards 30psi for amber and 25psi for red. The purpose of the amber light is to indicate if there are turns that are troublemakers.

http://www.gress.org/Home/Cars/TrackTales/DIY/GaugeProject/GaugeProject.htm

#2

I’ve been thinking about getting one of the IQ3 displays instead of a Traqmate and all those guages. What did it run to do all that? I’m trying to decide price vs convenience vs visibility, etc.

#3

Do they actually work? :laugh:

Rotate the gauges 911 style so that they point north when they’re in the money:

Editor’s Note: A buck 30 on the streets… Let the discussion begin.

#4

drumbeater wrote:

Every idea you come up with that doesn’t work is going to cost you money. If you can send back the parts that you don’t use, the project won’t cost much.

I don’t recall the exact numbers. Seems like senders and switches run around $30-$40 each and gauges $40-50.

I already had the oil pressure and coolant temp gauges and senders.

Places to shop.
Pegasus Racing
EGauges
Jegs (high prices)
Summit (high prices but fast shipping)
ANFittings

Parts list:
2 5/8th oil temp gauge
2 1/16th VDO voltage gauge

Oil temp sender
Water temp switch for warning light
Oil temp switch for warning light
2X adjustable pressure switches for oil pressure amber and red warning lights

Warning lights $20

1/8NPT hose ends, adapters, T connectors and hose in support of connecting 3 pressure devices to the OEM oil pressure switch port. $40

I’m not yet done on how I’m going to get the oil temp sensor and switch into the oil stream. I think that my sensor plan will work, but the big-ass 1/2NPT oil switch is going to take some imagination.

Among the parts I’ll be sending back is various warning lights, to include LEDs, lamps, and a shiftlight looking thing that is actually a warning light.

#5

Best prices on gauges I have found are at egauges.com Autometer ultra lights. I only use mechanical gauges…accurate and don’t generally fail. (I really dislike the cantilevered load of an electric gauge sending unit.) They have most gauges in stock and actually know what they are doing. Chuck

#6

I’m with you on an electrical oil pressure sender cantilevered off the block. But there’s an easy solution to that. I mounted my pressure sensor on the rear of the engine mount arm and plumbed it to the block with copper lines and swagelok fittings.

Having had a mechanical oil pressure gauge fail in the cockpit and make rather a mess, I’d rather not have an oil line running out of the engine bay.

#7

Agreed, egauges has good prices. But Summit’s fast shipping is sometimes worth the extra $.

I don’t know anything about mechanical gauges so I went all electrical.

My oil pressure gauge will be coming off of the block and will be replaced by a hose that goes up and fastens to the fender. That oil pressure gauge sticking out there just looked like a sore thumb waiting to get hit by track debris. The hose then connects to 1/8NPT “manifold” that supports a pressure sensor and 2 adjustable pressure switches (30psi amber & 25psi red).

#8

Plan now shows photos of amber and red oil pressure lights.

#9

Yeah, this is a dated thread, but I think it’s worth keeping info lumped together.

Will 2 5/8" gauges fit in the upper A/C vent?

#10

rrroadster wrote:

[quote]Yeah, this is a dated thread, but I think it’s worth keeping info lumped together.

Will 2 5/8" gauges fit in the upper A/C vent?[/quote]

Yes, just fit. Tight and holds them very well.

Also check out Glowshift for gauges. Seem to have pretty good prices.

#11

I GOT SOME HOT GAUGES OUT OF A FOUNTAIN POWER BOAT I AM GOING TO MODIFY FOR MY BUILD. THEY ARE LIQUID FILLED AND SHOULD MATCH MY KICK ASS THEME:blink:

#12

2phast4u wrote:

wat

#13

WAT YOU ASK. WELL I JUST CANT TELL YET BUT NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT FOUNTAIN TILT/TRIM GAUGE WILL BE PEGGED TO THE TRIM SIDE WITH ALL THE LADIES HANGING OUT UNDER MY TENT.:wink:

#14

2phast4u wrote:

do you realize that on the interwebs, all caps is considered to be yelling?

#15

What ladies?