28 replies to this topic

[carts60]

Iv currently got 3 holes in the centre of my dash awaiting the purchase of some gauges to fill them, but which gauges are most useful and worthwhile??

I like the look of 'autoguage' gauges which give the car a more modern feel, and i was thinking along the lines of: oil pressure, voltmeter, oil temp?

Does that sound like a good choice or should i replace them with others? - the car obviously already has water temp and petrol guage so i dont need those, although theyre both useless...

[AndyMiniMad.]

I have oil pressure (capillery),Volts And water temp, You are correct about the standard warter temp guage, It works........but I just like to see the temperature shown in more detail.
I also have amps, vacuume and a smiths clock in aux gauge pods. Its over the top i know, but i just like gauges.

Edited by AndyMiniMad., 04 July 2010 - 09:05 AM.

[Shaz_mini_Beast]

ive just purchased 6 gauges, like Andyminimad has just said, i like to see what the water temp is in more detail, mainly because its a turbo too. but i have oil temp, oil pressure, water temp, volts, air fuel ratio and boost. all come in handy in their own way. but its down to personal preference at the end of the day. What are you going to use or see benefit from.

[Dave33]

Personally i wouldnt worry about oil temp too much on a road car,main thing is oil presure,water temp,rev counter,and maybe a voltmeter, but you have a warning light on standard dash if you alternator isnt charging so its not essential.
Just make sure you put them where you can easily see them when driving,Mine are mounted on top of dash in a 3 clock console,( available from merlin motorsport) also have rev counter in line of vision on top of dash.
As said standard water temp really just shows if you have a prob,a gauge that that actually shows water temp is alot more helpful.
hth
Dave

[carts60]

What are you going to use or see benefit from.

Their only use is to fill the 3 holes in my dash and look nice. They're not necessary really, as you kind of instinctively know if somethings up with the car just by knowing how it drives at what speeds and its general characteristics.

Well, iv bought the gauges i said i was going to on ebay for a total of £75. They're Autogauges and i got Oil Pressure (Psi), Oil Temp and a Voltmeter. I was thinking getting another Tacho, but it seemed futil giving iv already got a perfectly useable one already!!

Heres the link if anybody wanted to know: Gauges (its not the exact link because i took the last set of 3, so this ones only for a pair)

Let me know what you think?

[Shaz_mini_Beast]

there the ones i was going to get. do they come with all the necessary fitting bits. as some of them just come with wires to connect to existing lambda sensors. as i found out. Let us know when you get them and get some pictures up when they arrive


my gauges
BOOST! these are mine

Edited by Shaz_mini_Beast, 04 July 2010 - 07:46 PM.

[carts60]

Now you say that, it makes me worried. Iv a feeling they wont come with all the bits to make them work with a mini - they look modern so im guessing they are only going to work on modern cars with lambda sensors etc (Mine is pre cat so no sensor) so i guess im going to have to buy extra things to get them to work properly??

How did you find my dial surround Aaron?? Sorry its missing the right tacho ring. What are you going to do to replace it??

[stormintrooper]

i personally have volts...capilliary oil press with braided hose and vacuum gauge (which i like to think of as an economy gauge)

all smiths too

Edited by stormintrooper, 04 July 2010 - 11:36 PM.

[carts60]

i personally have volts...capilliary oil press with braided hose and vacuum gauge (which i like to think of as an economy gauge)

What does a vacuum gauge show - apart from the obvious and why would it show economy?? Im not too up on my gauges if you hadnt noticed.

[stormintrooper]

it measures the vacuum pressure in the manifold...basically it shows if your giving it the beans or if your accelerating more smoothly, basically what it does for me is makes me more sensible because i like knwoing im saving money in petrol because im not going mad on the throttle

[Shaz_mini_Beast]

How did you find my dial surround Aaron?? Sorry its missing the right tacho ring. What are you going to do to replace it??

Ah dont worry, i had a spare 2 clock surround so i just took it out of that. so all is gravy!

Just email the guy and ask, thats why i paid a bit extra for mine, wanted to make sure it came with the right bits.

[carts60]

I emailed the same day i bought them and recieved them today. They're ruddy lovely. Absolutely black when they're not on and come to life with the ignition (iv only trial wired them so far but il try to get them in tomorrow and take some pictures and a video). The oil pressure gauge came with all the necessary bits and bobs (thats the only one iv tested so far), but the oil temp seems to have the correct sensor from what i can see and the voltmeter just needs to be wired into the current loom to work so it looks perfect. They just look so good, and a brilliant price too. I was debating getting a set of Smiths gauges to replace all the mini ones - Speedo, Tacho, Water temp, Petrol, Oil Pressure, & Voltmeter, but it was £200 and i just dont have that kind of dosh lying around - being a student and all.

Does anyone know if you can replace the lights in the back of the Mini Clocks with LED's so they shine a bit brighter than the stock bulbs and light up the speedo and rev counter better at night??

[Shaz_mini_Beast]

yea you can there just normal sidelight bulbs. Did you manage to get any pictures?

[carts60]

Well im in the process of re-furbing the dash and im currently waiting on some extra vinyl to cover the clock surround for the speedo/tacho/water/fuel dials. Until i get that i cant fit the dials because i cant fit the dash. Its just an annoying domino effect. Iv also ordered some White Xenon LED's to replace the standard clock bulbs so that should do the trick.

So first im going to cover the rest of the dash, then replace the bulbs & screw in speedo clocks. Fit and hard wire in the gauges (iv asked to exchange oil temp for water temp but no reply so i might just buy another tomorrow if i dont hear anything). Then refit the dash.

I think its still probably going to take a week or so because of all the postage times.

Il defo get up pictures though when its all done.

[mike.]

I think the most important are oil pressure and water temp. If I had to choose a third i'd probably go for oil temp, because really overheating oil will do more damage to an engine that overheating coolant...