Electric Temp/Oil Gauge Recommendation

[mpatch]

Posted the question in my engine rebuild time thread, but thought I would put it up here too. Sorry for the overkill.

I have decided to go after market electric temp and oil pressure gauge. Mechanic recommended auto meter. Anybody familiar with that brand, have any recommendations on brand, color and size. I will probable place it center below the dash below the vents. I have an red interior, just looking for some ideas and would like for it to look nice.

[serehill]

Good brand name usually white back ground & black Background I prefer white.

[tgreese]

There are a handful of good brands. Stewart-Warner, AutoMeter, VDO are all good.

Go to http://www.summitracing.com/search/depa ... =Ascending and look at what you like. Since you want electric, pick digital or analog. Choose the dial design and colors you prefer, if analog. There are thousands of different combinations possible.

[mpatch]

I didn't even think about digital, is anybody running those? If so do you like the looks of them?

[haminawag]

I personally hate the digital gauges, hard for me to read, others love 'em, lots of different gauges to choose from in both analog and digital. The last Stewart-Warner gauges I bought, I returned, the quality was really poor, which disappointed me because S-W has been around a LONG time and always made top quality gauges. I've never gotten a bad AutoMeter gauge, but they tend to be pricey. VDO is another company that has been around a long time, they used to be associated with European cars, they've always had a good reputation. Order a Summit Racing catalog, or a Jegs catalog, they both show several types of gauges and their prices.

[fulsizjeep]

Analog for me. These are Autometer in individual surface mount pods. Sorry it is not better light.

[mpatch]

Anybody have an opinion on these. I don't want to go much more than hundred but I don't want to go cheap where I need to worry, that is why I am installing gauges because I worry about my stock. Having trouble finding what is a good electrical oil and temp, possible voltage plus a mounting bracket for a good price and brand.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-g2888/overview/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-g2889/overview/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-g2980/overview/

[FSJ Guy]

The digital gauges look nice. But I've seen an electric analog oil gauge for around $50 at the local parts stores. I haven't priced them recently, however.

[mpatch]

digital didnt get good reviews as a single unit, 50 for one unit puts me at about 100 for oil and temp. then mounting. Thats why I may go for complete set unit.

[haminawag]

The first set of analog gauges by Summit you show ought to be just fine for monitoring a stock or mildly modified engine. You definately want the electric oil pressure gauge, the mechanical is just an excuse to have oil drips on your FSJs carpeting. You can probably get a fine set of gauges at your local parts store, like Sun Gauges. Really all your shooting for is something that's going to deflect quickly if you're overheating, or if the oil pressure drops suddenly. They'll be as good as stock, probably better, and definitely easier to read if you can mount them up at eye level. On your oil gauge, buy a brass tee that will fit the port where the oil sender screws in, get an idiot light sender and thread it into one side of the tee, the oil gauge sender to the other side, run a wire from the idiot light sender to a bright red light where you can see it, now you'll have the gauge plus a warning light. You can do the same thing for the water temp light, but use yellow for that light, you can even hook up a buzzer if you want to that will sound off when the light goes on. etc. etc.

[fulsizjeep]

better view...

[dbabicky]

better view...

Exactly what I use in all my vehicles. Auto-Meter "Ultra Lites"

[mpatch]

That is sharp looking, I found a used summit digital gauge package. I am not sure how it will look but I am going to install them below the dash. I want to be able to look down quick and get a reading with out having to take much time. I really liked the auto meters and it is what was recommended to me but the cost of two of them and mounting was just two much right not. Hopefully I wont be regretting it.

If I mount them center under dash, will the heat vent in the back effect them?

[FSJ Guy]

Mine never seems to be bothered by the heat. Experiment with the mounting position. I angled mine towards the driver for ease of viewing.

[GhostMedic]

I'm gonna be running these in Old red. Gonna pick up a Tach as well.

http://www.harborfreight.com/electronic ... 41017.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/2-inch-led ... 98480.html (maybe this one but I'd be happier with black)

[haminawag]

If I mount them center under dash, will the heat vent in the back effect them?

If you've ever driven a car with the gauges mounted under the dash it's pretty difficult to get your eyes to refocus quickly from the road to the gauges and back again, especially if you've got a few years under your belt. That's why I recommended retaining the warning lights along with the gauges. Small warning lights, even LEDs, can be mounted almost anywhere.
But no, the heater air won't affect any decent quality gauges.

[mpatch]

I did think of that, I don't want to have to take my eyes off the road and look down for sure. That is one reason as much as the analog gauges would look better the digital will be able to give me a quick reading with out having to look to hard. I am also more concerned with the ideal pressure, so I would really be looking most of the time when stopping at a light, in traffic or when turning the car on and right before off.

But before I mount them, I will definitely look around for different options.

[haminawag]

Smart.

[mpatch]

Can I keep my stock pressure gage running along with an aftermarket electric gauge? Could I do some short of t-connection? Or would I not have strong readings from both?

And does using a nipple extension say 3 inches to get the sending unit more room have an effect on the readings?

Thanks,

[tgreese]

Can I keep my stock pressure gage running along with an aftermarket electric gauge? Could I do some short of t-connection? Or would I not have strong readings from both?

And does using a nipple extension say 3 inches to get the sending unit more room have an effect on the readings?

Thanks,

The main issue will be whether you can physically get the sender into appropriate fittings to go into the single pressure port. The pressure will extend out to whatever collection of fittings you can put together, so no worries there. But to fit two senders may need an unwieldy series of extensions and adapters.