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Gauges

mccalebr

Jedi Knight
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The car is a '62 Sprite that is being constructed a resto-mod with a street legal weekend racer as a theme. Modern parts (guages in this instance) will be incorporated.

I needed to go ahead and place an order with Summit Racing today for a speedometer. I'll be going to Rivergate next week and Will suggested bringing the speedo with me so he can either match it to a cable/gear set, or have one made.

I had previously decided on Autometer gauges and the Sport Comp series. The Sport Comps have a black face with white numbers and are available in two different sizes; I settled on the smaller gauges, the 3 3/8" tach and speedo and the 2 1/16" Fuel Level, Oil Pressure, Voltmeter, and Water Temperature. The smaller sizes should not overwhelm or crowd the dash.

Other than the gauges mentioned, are there others I should consider? Oil Temperature? Fuel Pressure?

Also, I have the choice on the Oil Pressure and Water Temperature of either electrical or mechanical. I have tentatively settled on the mechanical models. I realize that the tube routing is more of a problem than just running a wire, but I have also heard that the sensitivity/accuracy is better on the mechanical versions.

Your suggestions are appreciated.

Ray
 
Exhaust gas temperature?
 
I have sport comp gauges in mine. (Other than the tach which kinda fell in my lap.) The smaller gauges fit in my orginal dash holes. (although not so original any more.) I only run the tach, and oil press/ water temp. I find the oil works perfectly in electric. (Has always been super accurate best I can tell.) and the water is mechanical. Mind you mechanical gauges were designed for much bigger cars, So I coil up the tubing under the dash. Speedo is still original, so I got a few things going on but hey its built for racing right, its all just gotta work. You can see th gauges in my last post about my american wiring harness. Of course now I made a new dashg, Im sure Ill post some pics once its buttoned up. Oh yea the tach fit the stock hole in dash as well. too the smaller one, Had to stretch the hole a bit but no one could notice once it was in there. I may add a voltmeter one day. currently no fuel gauge either. again ran the old one for a while. Let me see if I could dig up a pic of my wood dash.... God now that I think about it these gauges have been around the block!

newdash.jpg
 
NEVER race anything with a speedometer in it!!
I did it a couple of years ago, and happened to glance at it at the end of the back straight.
Scared myself!
Jeff
 
Hehe, me as well, said 160. That was the last time I races on a real track.
 
Just a personal thing, but I like to have a vacuum guage too!
 
Bugeye58 said:
NEVER race anything with a speedometer in it!!
I did it a couple of years ago, and happened to glance at it at the end of the back straight.
Scared myself!
Jeff

lol. Good point. I have to keep it there just to get a plate on it unfortunatally, Otherwise it-s just another annoyance. Ill have to remember to make a blanking plate to cover it at the track...
 
I went to all Autometer Sport Comp gauges and quite honestly, the investment saved me within the first month of driving. My oil plug rattled out and when I saw that oil gauge drop I was able to shut'er down thereby saving the engine. They all fit in the original holes, plus I put a gauge in where the heater selector knob used to be and then I added an addition gauge just above the speedo which is still the original. From left to right they are voltimeter, tach, oil, fuel, water temp. I also have a matching A/F ratio gauge but I haven't had the time to weld in a O2 sensor bung.

762889_3_full.jpg
 
Jeff is so right. I was driving my 95 Lebaron convertible on the track during a break at the Historic Race a few years ago. Street car, no cage, no helmet, just seat belts. Not supposed to be going to fast. I was. At the same spot on the track that Jeff mentioned I looked down at the dash. Almost pooped myself.
 
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