Gauge picks
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,251
Likes: 8
From: North Carolina
Wow, that's a real nice custom setup. Unfortunately it wouldn't work very easily for those of us with the optional "Human Passenger Seasonal Comfort Group" (e.g. heat/cooling vents):
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
Yep, same problem I have, which is why I really hope to get the factory gauges to work accurately and reliably.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,251
Likes: 8
From: North Carolina
Agreed. They are right there already, supplied by Ford for your monitoring use. Why shouldn't they be trusted? It never occurred to me that I couldn't trust the factory gauges until I started seeing it mentioned here. Is the same true for my Volvo wagon (another Ford). Should I doubt it's guages? One reason I trust my factory guages is that they seem to be consistent and vary depending on what I do to the engine. For example, my Temp guage usd to always read very low, the truck never warmed up. I found my thermostat was stuck open. Replaced with a 192 deg. T-stat, and temp now rises quickly stops right around "R" in NORMAL. Flushed cooling system and replaced water pump, now it stops right at "O" in NORMAL. These observations lead me to believe it may be actually functioning correctly.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
Agreed. They are right there already, supplied by Ford for your monitoring use. Why shouldn't they be trusted? It never occurred to me that I couldn't trust the factory gauges until I started seeing it mentioned here. Is the same true for my Volvo wagon (another Ford). Should I doubt it's guages? One reason I trust my factory guages is that they seem to be consistent and vary depending on what I do to the engine. For example, my Temp guage usd to always read very low, the truck never warmed up. I found my thermostat was stuck open. Replaced with a 192 deg. T-stat, and temp now rises quickly stops right around "R" in NORMAL. Flushed cooling system and replaced water pump, now it stops right at "O" in NORMAL. These observations lead me to believe it may be actually functioning correctly.
Then I'll put a few of the gauge units I have on the bench and test them awa several temp senders and pressure senders - maybe even new ones. I'd like to establish the resistance of each at a given temp/pressure awa what the gauges read at given resistances. Assuming I find consistency between senders and between gauges that should give us not only a good idea of what the gauges are telling us awa a way to check sending units.
But, don't hold your collective breaths, as I'm currently having too much fun holding 5 week old grandtwins to worry about the truck. However, all good things must come to an end, and we'll head home in a few days.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,295
Likes: 25
From: NJ
Not a great picture, but you get the idea. I don't care for the tach location as I can't easily see it at a glance while driving. I'm trying to find a factory tach. In any event, I don't think there's a better place for gauges on these trucks to be clearly and easily visible but not in the way or awkward.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,753
Likes: 5
From: Middletown, CT
Those appear to be the 1 1/2" gauges you have there. Do they feel small at all, or are they easily enough visible? I also have the vents, but mine are connected to nothing as I do not have a/c. I think the gauges could still be easily implanted into those spaces with a minor custom panel.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,295
Likes: 25
From: NJ
They are a little small but I can easily read them at a glance and tell if something is not right. I went with the smaller gauges so I could fit the ones I wanted in the space available, and i'm happy with them.
If you want to do similar go junkyard or ebay hunting and get a non air conditioning dash panel... it will be easier and look nicer than patching up an air conditioning panel.
If you want to do similar go junkyard or ebay hunting and get a non air conditioning dash panel... it will be easier and look nicer than patching up an air conditioning panel.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 6
From: Florida
Surprised to see so many of you guys running just engine gauges and none for the transmission. Eventually I want to run trans temp gauges in both of my trucks, especially the Ranger, since complete trans rebuilds have become quite costly, especially for the electronically controlled automatic transmissions. It's just cheap assurance when you can see issues within the trans just by the temp it's running at.
Now obviously manual transmissions are a little simpler, so you guys don't necessarily need one unless you feel that your fluid is burning up.
Now obviously manual transmissions are a little simpler, so you guys don't necessarily need one unless you feel that your fluid is burning up.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,753
Likes: 5
From: Middletown, CT
It is extremely tough to find xls trim, so I figured on checking other locations for the gauges before going with that spot. I definitely plan on having a trans temp gauge in my truck
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,251
Likes: 8
From: North Carolina
Once I have the engine and tranny back in and a few minor details sorted I'm going to pursue the voltage regulator issue. I have noticed that temp and pressure change frequently, and together, so I'm sure the problem is the regulator. But, that was normal "back in the day" and is now easily fixed with solid-state regulators.
Then I'll put a few of the gauge units I have on the bench and test them awa several temp senders and pressure senders - maybe even new ones. I'd like to establish the resistance of each at a given temp/pressure awa what the gauges read at given resistances. Assuming I find consistency between senders and between gauges that should give us not only a good idea of what the gauges are telling us awa a way to check sending units.
But, don't hold your collective breaths, as I'm currently having too much fun holding 5 week old grandtwins to worry about the truck. However, all good things must come to an end, and we'll head home in a few days.
Then I'll put a few of the gauge units I have on the bench and test them awa several temp senders and pressure senders - maybe even new ones. I'd like to establish the resistance of each at a given temp/pressure awa what the gauges read at given resistances. Assuming I find consistency between senders and between gauges that should give us not only a good idea of what the gauges are telling us awa a way to check sending units.
But, don't hold your collective breaths, as I'm currently having too much fun holding 5 week old grandtwins to worry about the truck. However, all good things must come to an end, and we'll head home in a few days.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
From: Albany, Oregon
If you have the ability to relocate your stereo about 1/2" towards the floor, you can fit 3, 2-1/16" gauges above the stereo.
This was my original plan before I got carried away with it.......
This was my original plan before I got carried away with it.......
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Columbus
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,936
Likes: 9
From: Acworth, GA
I wish something like this could be done inside our stock factory gauge area, and look like it came stock from the factory. It would even be better if it could be done fairly simply without having to completely molest the stock factory dash. Oh well, wishful thinking.
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Sparx Macgyver
1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Oct 18, 2010 09:57 PM