Gauge Placement

[416stroker]

Ok I want to avoid using electrical guages. I want to use mechanical due to the fact I have some laying around. I know I can find a longer tube for the oil pressure gauge they make 16' ones. But I need to find a longer set up for the temp. I want to put it in the check panel. so it has to run the pillar. If it comes down to it Ill have to buy a electial gauge?

[SamE30e]

Don't run oil lines inside the car.

[nando]

oil temp inside the car isn't going to be accurate, the oil will cool significantly by the time it gets to the sensor and if it's not actually flowing through the gauge it won't have any reading at all (unlike a pressure gauge which doesn't need to be flow, the line can just dead end at the sensor).

there isn't really anything wrong with running an oil line inside the car for pressure (it's done all the time, and the line is usually small). But I don't really get the technophobe attitude towards electrical gauges.. I guess because in the past they were just crap.

But things like electric temperature have been in use for decades (how do you think your car measures air temp and coolant temp, or how does your computer monitor the CPU?) and a thermistor probe is probably 10x more accurate than a mechanical temp gauge anyway.

[416stroker]

oil temp inside the car isn't going to be accurate, the oil will cool significantly by the time it gets to the sensor and if it's not actually flowing through the gauge it won't have any reading at all (unlike a pressure gauge which doesn't need to be flow, the line can just dead end at the sensor).

there isn't really anything wrong with running an oil line inside the car for pressure (it's done all the time, and the line is usually small). But I don't really get the technophobe attitude towards electrical gauges.. I guess because in the past they were just crap.

But things like electric temperature have been in use for decades (how do you think your car measures air temp and coolant temp, or how does your computer monitor the CPU?) and a thermistor probe is probably 10x more accurate than a mechanical temp gauge anyway.

I dont see anything wrong with aftermarket Electrical gauges. I just dont want to have to buy some because I have the mechanical gauges off my old car. But i do want to run a coolant temp and a oil temp. I dont know where I should put my gauges. I dont want to block off the pocket in the center console. I was thinking about putting it in the console under the dash.

[nando]

that place works ok but the problem is it's too low to see it while you're driving.

the best place is definitely the center air vent for visibility, it's just not all that practical on a street car.

[der affe]

as ricer as it is, the a pillar is also a good place. they make the a pillar kits for a reason............


if you dash is cracked like mine is, you could put a gauge pod on the dash top above the center vents or the drivers side A/C vent. VDO makes some decent fiberglass gauge pods that would look good and are reasonably priced.

[nando]

I hadn't even thought about the a pillar. good point.

[416stroker]

I want to keep ot all hidden so the pillars out The cars a driver I dont want to draw atention to it.I just switch to electrical gauges for temp.