Any recommendations for tach' and vacuum gauges?

[robroy]

Hi Troy and Mike, thanks for your replies!

I suppose if the mechanical gauges aren't very much more difficult to install I'll just go for them. I'm planning on installing four gauges: water temp', vacuum, tach', and oil pressure.

Are there other gauges that I should consider installing (that I'm not thinking of)?

Thanks again!
-Robroy

[theskytoucher]

Um im not sure if your replacing everything or just adding some but the obvious if replacing all would be a speedometer!!

[robroy]

Hey Troy! Thanks for replying!

I'm actually just adding in stuff for the gauges that are most important to me. The stock speedometer will probably be fine since I never really care exactly how fast I'm going! The stock oil pressure and temperature gauges seem pretty crude (at least for somebody who really pays attention to these things while driving).

Thanks Troy!
-Robroy

[theskytoucher]

I know what your saying i have added a tach and mechanical oil pres. water temp and volts to my truck cause i like to know whats acually happening!!

[robroy]

Hi Troy! I looked through the photos of your '68 in your Photobucket account. It looks like you did a great job!

So how do those mechanical gauges hook up? Do you actually have a hose carrying engine oil up in to the cab? And how about the water temp' gauge?

Thanks!
-Robroy

[theskytoucher]

Thanks for the props on my truck!!! The oil pressure is adapted into the existing sending unit block then piped into the cab with copper tubing, and the water temp gauge will come with a tube of some sort that you thread the loose end into a water jacket on your intake manifold!! it was really simple!!! I would recommend buying a better brand of gauge though, my water temp gauge took a crap about 6 months ago so i have to use the electric on in the dash but im not as worried about the water as i am the oil!!!

[robroy]

Hey Troy! Thanks for the info on gauge connections!

It's interesting to me that the water temp' gauge connections with a tube to the intake manifold. Although I don't have any experience with this, my imagination tells me that the water would probably cool down quite a bit going through a thin hose like that.

But perhaps this is not an issue?

I suppose you just hope not to spring a leak in any of that stuff! Oil and water spraying around in the dash would be a major bummer!

Thanks again Troy,
-Robroy

[theskytoucher]

The water cooling didnt seem to be an issue with me the temp gauge always read 180 degrees which was wat the thermostat i have is rated at!! it did go above it a couple times but that was puloling hills with a load so my guess is it stays pretty accurate!! And yeah about a line breakign you just kinda hope everything stays together nice and tight!!!!!!

[td]

robroy,

the water doesn't travel through the line.
its a solid copper (flexable) line that transfers the temp only not the water.
there very accurate and very dependable.
here's a pic of my set-up.

[robroy]

Hi Troy and Td, thanks for your replies!

Td, thanks for pointing out that the water temp' gauge doesn't have water going to it! And your dash setup looks truly fantastic!

I can't see the two gauges on the left very clearly; what are they?

If you have a vacuum gauge, what's the range of its measurements, and how much of that range do you see being produced by your engine? I'm just curious to know if the ranges on those gauges are ideal for our engines or not. For example the Auto Meter #5484 goes from 0 to 30 In. Hg., but I'm not sure if this is really a suitable range for strong FEs.

Thanks very much for all the great advice!
-Robroy

[robroy]

Hi Td! I got to looking more closely at your dash and I'm curious--are those Auto Meter gauges? And is it true that the ones on the right have orange pointers while the left hand ones have red pointers, or is that just an optical illusion? Okay two more questions: are those the Pro-Comp liquid filled models, and are they truly Made in the USA?

Thanks very much Td!
-Robroy

[td]

robroy,

they are autometer procomp series but not the liquid fillied. all the pointers are the same theres just funny light in the pic. sorry but im not running any vacume gauges, and to the best of my knowledge all autometer products are made in the USA. the two on the left are fuel and amp.

[robroy]

Hi Td! Thanks for your reply. Your dash looks awesome! -Robroy

[Thunderfoot]

I'm planning on installing four gauges: water temp', vacuum, tach', and oil pressure.

Are there other gauges that I should consider installing (that I'm not thinking of)? Robroy

I would get a "Volt" gauge as well.

[robroy]

Hi Shayne, good recommendation! Thank you.

I've been reading through the documentation from Stewart Warner, VDO, and Autometer.

From what I've seen so far, the highest performance gauges are the Autometer Pro-Comp liquid filled, mechanical gauges. I haven't seen any gauges yet that are liquid filled from Stewart Warner or VDO, but I may not be reading enough fine print.

It also looks like the vast majority of gauges designed primarily for styling do not perform super well. Maybe this is because the folks who care primarily about performance are putting them in race cars and don't care very much about the styling? What's the deal.

What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks!
-Robroy