gauge questions...????

answers...

I can answer all of your questions except the vac/boost gauge.

I just installed AutoMeter Sport Comp electric water temp, oil press, and tachometer this week. Aftermarket electric gauges are NOT dependent on stock wiring or sending units. AM gauges come with new sending units, as well as adapters to go into the stock locations where the old sending units were. Then you run new wires from the sending units back to the new gauges. It's all straight forward and simple, just tedious and time consuming if you want it to look right. Incase your AM gauges don't come with adapters, you need a 1/4 to 1/8 NPT reducer for oil pressure and a 3/8 to 1/8NPT reducer for water temp (AM gauges are all 1/8 male NPT, so you have to adapt from there). Some people use a tee on the oil pressure and keep the stock sending unit and gauge working. Some also tap the thermostat housing and use that for either the AM sending unit or the stock sending unit. On my install, I removed the stock sending units all together and have "dead" gauges in the stock location. My oil pressure sending unit was shot anyways, so there wasn't much point in keeping it hooked up.

The electric gauges are still full sweep and still seem very accurate and responsive (I can see my oil pressure fluctuate at a rate consistent my tach.). Therefore, I would suggest sticking with electric gauges. Here's a pic of my install (as you can see, I chose the a-pillar for mounting b/c it keeps important gauges in your line of sight at all times).

i have mechanical gauges, reads awesome!!!!

I would say go with mechanical. The water temp goes into the same place that the stock one does except it basically sticks a thermometer in there. The only thing I would recommend is for the oil gauge if you go mechanical don't use the tubing it gives you buy copper tubing and you won't have any problems. It is all pretty simple, it comes with everything you need and instructions.

which is easyer to install mechanical or electric?

ninety15.0 said:

can i use it properly as a vac gauge on an NA car? thanks for the help guys!

Click to expand...

You can use a boost/vac gauge on a N/A car. Just install a Tee (or use an unusued port) at the vac tree.

I agree that electric are generally easier to install (with less risk of leakage down the line). But if you dont mind mixin and matching, elec temp gauges are worth the effort (there's no coolant in the line).