Electronic or Manual Guages??
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Junior User
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Electronic or Manual Guages??
I am restoring the interior of my '79 and thinking about doing the aluminium dash conversion. However, I don't know the pros and cons between electronic and manual guages. In some cases they are comparable in price, sometimes not. If it is worth it, it may be a good investment, perhaps some guages should be electric, some should be manual...I don't know. Someone who has done this or knows the dilemma give me a hand.
Thanx,
James
Thanx,
James
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Spokane, WA
My .02 worth: I prefer mechanical guages any time you can use them. They're dead on accurate and reaction time is instant. I understand Torque's point though. My buddy has a mechanical oil pressure guage in his Chevelle. On his wedding night he hopped in it and caught the pressure line. Oil went EVERYWHERE . . . it was a mess. That being said I'm running one right now and I've found that with the proper fittings they're not a problem. I can't pull the line out of my guage or engine (maybe because I'm a weakling 
) and all my lines stay up under the dash where they won't catch on anything.
I will say that my water temp guage was a little tricky to route since the sensor and line could not be detached from the guage but once I got it all figured out it was nice. The only electric guage I've got right now is a tranny temp and I'm looking to replace that with a mechanical soon.
The other plus to mechanicals (in my opinion) is they are typically sweep almost all the way around whereas most electric guages have a short sweep. It's easier to read and seems to be more accurate with mechanicals.
) and all my lines stay up under the dash where they won't catch on anything.I will say that my water temp guage was a little tricky to route since the sensor and line could not be detached from the guage but once I got it all figured out it was nice. The only electric guage I've got right now is a tranny temp and I'm looking to replace that with a mechanical soon.
The other plus to mechanicals (in my opinion) is they are typically sweep almost all the way around whereas most electric guages have a short sweep. It's easier to read and seems to be more accurate with mechanicals.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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I have seen a couple instances where those 1/8" lines broke while the truck was running down the road. The plastic line gets brittle. One sprayed hot oil all over the driver. The other one dumped the oil in the engine compartment and the engine blew. A lot of oil can come out of those lines quick.
The accuracy of the common automotive gage whether mechanical or electrical is not the best tho. They aren't exactly set to the national lab standards... I suppose you could say they were +/- 10% type units if you are lucky and pay some $$$. The cheapo sets are questionable at best.
The accuracy of the common automotive gage whether mechanical or electrical is not the best tho. They aren't exactly set to the national lab standards... I suppose you could say they were +/- 10% type units if you are lucky and pay some $$$. The cheapo sets are questionable at best.
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Is the fuel guage elec. or mechanical? I am still using my sending unit for my oil idiot light. Is there any nastiness involved with installation of electrical? Do you have to buy sending units seperately for everything, I have mechchanical oil and water ones right know, and the sending units were included in the box. Sometimes the logistics of these things send me spinning, but in reality, once thought out, not that hard.
Thanx for your help,
James
Thanx for your help,
James
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11,945
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From: Spokane, WA
Fuel level guages are always electrical, using a sending unit in the tank. There's no nastiness to installing electric guages. Most will come with sending units. I highly recommend Autometer guages (always come with sending units). They seem to be very reliable and accurate, not the cheapest but you get what you pay for. 
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Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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Now some of them old tractors and implements had mechanical fuel gages -hehe! They had a twisted metal rod that was rotated by fitting thru a slot in a non-rotating float. I am sure there were other designs also. Just some extra info for you. 
I haven't seen anything but electrical fuel gages on a car or truck tho.
I haven't seen anything but electrical fuel gages on a car or truck tho.
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Post Fiend
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From: Spokane, WA
Okay Torque, I didn't even think about that but I know the exact guage type you're talking about. We have one on our old forklift and one of our lawn tractors use them. Can't get much more mechanical than that. I should have known you'd have an exception to the rule. 
I should have known you'd have an exception to the rule.
Posting Legend
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Hey I like to have some fun sometimes I keep pretty busy just reading hundreds of posts everyday and taking care of user problems.
Some of those mechanical gages were built into the screw cap on the tank. Those are easily damaged tho.
I keep pretty busy just reading hundreds of posts everyday and taking care of user problems. Some of those mechanical gages were built into the screw cap on the tank. Those are easily damaged tho.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: SD
Originally Posted by spyderchamp
Is there any nastiness involved with installation of electrical? ... Sometimes the logistics of these things send me spinning, but in reality, once thought out, not that hard.
Wiring electric guages is easy, just 4 wires per guage: power, ground, dash lights and wire to sending unit. Very easy, just take it one guage at a time.
Marty
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From: Spokane, WA
You mean I was supposed to use a grommet?!? 
Where would a person buy a brass line that small? I'd be interested in doing this once I put my new dash in but I've never seen that small a brass tube, not that I've looked.
Where would a person buy a brass line that small? I'd be interested in doing this once I put my new dash in but I've never seen that small a brass tube, not that I've looked.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Cleveland, WI USA
I like the mechanical oil pressure guage. I do understand the concerns though. You guys have me all concerned now. I'm gonna have to look at how I routed it again.
Is it OK to wrap the extra slack around the exhaust manifold? What about the accelerator linkage?
Kevin K.
Is it OK to wrap the extra slack around the exhaust manifold? What about the accelerator linkage?
Kevin K.