15 replies to this topic

[IronmanG]

Taking the dash out to make something a little more ME
What do people think are the gauges that are
A essential
B desirable/ preferred
C showing off
I currently have 4 gauges on top of the standard centre binnacle which has 3. I am somewhat of a minimalist
Thanks

[nicklouse]

so what 4 have you got?

[smurfomatic]

Currently - aside from the "three clock" setup of speedo, fuel/temp and rev counter, I have 50mm gauges for the following:

 

Clock

Vacuum

Oil pressure

Voltage

 

Never seen the need for anything else.

[IronmanG]

Currently

Clock. Ye don't need that
Vacuum. Ye dont think I really need that
Battery. Not sure about that either
Revs. For sure:)

Standard big speedo. Water temp and oil pressure on the centre

Edited by IronmanG, 14 October 2019 - 02:08 PM.

[cal844]

You'll need an oil pressure guage and anything under 20 psi is asking for trouble.

The standard switch will illuminate at 7psi, way too low

[IronmanG]

Ok no problem. Want to keep it to 3 small clocks if possible as well as the speedo
So that's 2 slots water temp and oil pressure. What shall I put in the last 1. Most essential.
Rev counter will go somewhere else

[johnv]

You could combine the water temp and oil (mgb midget etc) that would give yo 2 more slots

[IronmanG]

Is that an oil temp or pressure

[smurfomatic]

Is that an oil temp or pressure

 

Smiths do a water temp / oil pressure gauge:

 

https://www.minispar...px|Back to shop

[IronmanG]

Ye that's pretty good. Not so sure about fahrenheit though?
Is a 2 inch rev counter crap? If anyone has 1. Tricky to read?

Edited by IronmanG, 14 October 2019 - 04:11 PM.

[smurfomatic]

Ye that's pretty good. Not so sure about fahrenheit though
Is a 2 inch rev counter crap? If anyone has 1. Tricky to read?

 

Minispares sell a Celsuis version, no picture though!

[dyshipfakta]

Vacuums the best one. Bounces all over the show looks great as for its utility it’s limited but makes it easier to get better economy or point out when you have an issue

[IronmanG]

Ye currently its the only 1 that I know works as it never stops moving. Thing is I know when I am not driving economically. Because my foot is buried in the carpet (a lot) what other advantages are there to it. How does it show something might be wrong

[RustyAutoCityE]

Ye that's pretty good. Not so sure about fahrenheit though
Is a 2 inch rev counter crap? If anyone has 1. Tricky to read?

 

I have a 2" Rev counter fitted next to a clock and a voltage gauge, it does the job and is plenty easy to read.

 

Of course it is in an Automatic, so I am not looking at it for gear changes.

[Spider]

I did go through a period long ago, where I had almost a whole Smith's Catalogue laid out across the dashboard.

 

Maybe I'm just old or ignorant these days, but for the past 20+ years, I've only run a Speedo, Fuel Gauge(s), Temp Gauge and a Clock. For Oil, I have the idiot light and in most cars I have, a Buzzer with that.

 

The Speedo is in part, to avoid tickets, but mostly so I can see how far I've come, how far to go and when it needs a service.

 

Fuel Gauge(s) for when the Car needs a feed.

 

Temp Gauge as that is something in one way or another, while on the road, I can usually do something about.

 

Clock so I know when the official feed time is for me and when it's time to stop for the day.

 

 

In regards to an Oil Pressure Gauge vs Idiot Light / Buzzer, I look at it this way;-

 

Gauge - 6 to 10 weeks (or longer) of worry, doubt, questions, asking mates (days before internet!) followed by pulling the engine, replacing the Oil Pump and crank grind, new bearings etc

 

Light / Buzzer - "oh look, it's time to pull the engine and give it a bottom end overhaul ".

 

The results are the same. There's nothing you can do on the road, to overcome low oil pressure.

 

I call them 'worry gauges' now days. I've also seen loads and loads of them on the road give funny readings that 'go away' but leave lingering doubts for years after and also many that the oil line, somewhere, breaks and makes a mess. I even know of 2 gauges that failed in the cab, showering the driver in hot oil.

 

In all my years of driving, I have had the Oil light come on twice in my own cars and once in a mates. His was a stuck Relief Valve. Mine were both bottom ends.

 

 

I think a Tacho is only useful when driving where you can't hear the engine, ie, in heavy traffic (but you're not likely to get high end revs here in any case) and on the track / rally course when you have a helmet on. The speedo, current gear selection and 'knowing / feeling / connection to the car will let you know when it's best to shift gears.

 

 

Vacuum Gauge can be useful to a small degree on long trips. It can show that the points are coming out of adjustment or the Air Filter is starting to block up. You need to know the car and how the gauge normally behaves and also how to read it to get the best from it. Mind you, you can always just look at these items too !

 

 

One other gauge I have contemplated fitting is an outside temp gauge, only so I can complain about how hot it is !