Aftermarket Guages
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,855
Likes: 0
From: Cocoa Beach FL
Aftermarket Guages
I noticed a lot of you are (or have already) installed aftermarket guages. I am thinking about doing this and was wondering if on my '73 everything was mechanical and if so does that mean I have to replace them with mechanical guages or can I convert to electric?
Thanks! :thumbs:
Thanks! :thumbs:
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: Burlington NC
Re: Aftermarket Guages (Mystery Machine)
Either way, it's up to you. If you install the electrical gauges, all you'll need to do is run a few wires to your engine block to hook up the sending units. For most guages the sending units come with the guage. If you install the manual you'll be running the sending units through the firewall.
Either way, you'll be running something through the firewall. For mine I had electrical originally, I was able to tack into the original wiring.
Good luck, David
Either way, you'll be running something through the firewall. For mine I had electrical originally, I was able to tack into the original wiring.
Good luck, David
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
From: Burlington NC
Re: Aftermarket Guages (Mystery Machine)
Peice of cake to replace them. You'll just loose fuilds in the process. But regardless of wether or not you go with the Mechanical or the Electric you'll be replacing them.
The mechincal oil pressure gauge, for example, will come with flexible tubing that attaches to the block and to the back of the gauge. If you're going to replace the gauges IMHO you'd be smart to replace the original lines as well. When you discount the the original tube from the block, the time factor to screw in a sending unit or another tube is going to be the same.
From a benefit standpoint, again I don't think it matters. I like the full sweep of the Mechanical gauges. Some electrical gauges have the full sweep as well but they're more expensive. I choose the electrical gauges because of cost, total they were slightly cheaper - only slightly. I also found that everything I wanted was not available in Mechanical and I wanted everything to look the same.
One negative of the mechanical I could mention, on a previous vehicle I had an electrical short. The wire that shorted ran on top of the oil pressure tube. The tube was plastic and sprung a leak. Lost oil/oil pressure - caught it before major damage, however soaking up oil from carpet is not my idea of a fun time.
-David
The mechincal oil pressure gauge, for example, will come with flexible tubing that attaches to the block and to the back of the gauge. If you're going to replace the gauges IMHO you'd be smart to replace the original lines as well. When you discount the the original tube from the block, the time factor to screw in a sending unit or another tube is going to be the same.
From a benefit standpoint, again I don't think it matters. I like the full sweep of the Mechanical gauges. Some electrical gauges have the full sweep as well but they're more expensive. I choose the electrical gauges because of cost, total they were slightly cheaper - only slightly. I also found that everything I wanted was not available in Mechanical and I wanted everything to look the same.
One negative of the mechanical I could mention, on a previous vehicle I had an electrical short. The wire that shorted ran on top of the oil pressure tube. The tube was plastic and sprung a leak. Lost oil/oil pressure - caught it before major damage, however soaking up oil from carpet is not my idea of a fun time.
-David
