After market gauges

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Apr 21, 2023 | 06:35 PM

dfitch1

Thread Starter

Mountain Pass

Joined: Aug 2012

Posts: 100

Likes: 4

From: Wisconsin

After market gauges

Good evening to all,
Just want to put some feelers out their and get some opinions on after market gauges. My 79 F-250 Ranger is plan jane on the dash. Would be nice to install an oil and alternator gauge. I think the existing needle temp gauge is sufficient but the others are red warning lights.
Any suggestions on what brand and ease of install? I've read reviews on some brands, some say the temp gauges quit working over time or give false readings.
Any help would be appreciated!!

Apr 21, 2023 | 09:53 PM

Westcoast Highboy

Tuned

Joined: Nov 2013

Posts: 333

Likes: 219

From: British Columbia

Autometer gauges are the best you can get in my opinion. Of course you know what they say about opinions…. 😀

Apr 21, 2023 | 11:42 PM

77&79F250

Moderator & parts slinger

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 50,193

Likes: 5,793

From: S/W Missouri, Polk county

Oil pressure and temp are #1 in my book, alternator is a "light is on' you have a problem. Like a bad alternator, even if you do have OEM alt gauge it does not ever move, unless you have a problem. If you want a real elec system monitoring gauge, you have to convert from a amp meter to a volt meter.

https://www.rccinnovations.com/index...enu-trucks-all The F100C7V is the metal faced Amp meter.

Apr 22, 2023 | 07:01 AM

79F150400M

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 1,509

Likes: 333

From: Arlington,Wa

X2 for Autometer. I have a tach in the truck that I bought in 1989. Still going....

Apr 22, 2023 | 07:17 AM

FuzzFace2

FTE Legend

Joined: Nov 2015

Posts: 30,915

Likes: 4,123

From: Angier, NC

Quote:

Originally Posted by 77&79F250

X2
In my drag car I had Auto Meter oil / water temp / fuel psi / tach and volts but for street I dont think I would spend that much on gauges.
For street I would just run oil & water temp gauges.

My 81 F100 has factory gauges, some dont like them as they do not tell you what the temp or psi is just low / normal / high.
They are good for me. the AMP gauge never moves in any of the 80 - 86 trucks from what I have seen.

BTW DO NOT run the plastic tubing that come with the oil gauges get a copper kit.
Auto meter makes a copper kit IIRC
I have had a few plastic lines break over time and it is not pretty.
Dave ----

Apr 22, 2023 | 07:19 AM

77&79F250

Moderator & parts slinger

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 50,193

Likes: 5,793

From: S/W Missouri, Polk county

Good call FuzzFace2 X100 NO plastic oil pressure gauge line, USE copper.

Apr 22, 2023 | 07:45 AM

speedfreak78

Cargo Master

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 2,238

Likes: 475

Look at ISSPro, they aren't cheap but they are top tier gauges. They're a trusted brand in a lot of OTR trucks and in industry in general. Also Stewart-Warner makes really good gauges. Personally, I'm not a fan of Autometer. IMO they're just a run of the mill gauge with good marketing. I've seen alot of them installed and I've seen a high number of them have issues. I want something that's been proven in daily use for decades in working conditions.