Gauges.*DUW*

[Mr. Land Yacht]

So, I was thinking today about doing a custom gauge cluster for MAGNA...I had considered it before and am more seriously considering it now....since I'll have a pretty heavily built motor that I've invested a couple grand into, I figure it would be wise to know how its "feeling".

so...I was looking on Summit...and I've decided that I like both the AutoMeter Sport Comp and Traditional Chrome gauges...but I'm leaning towards the Traditional Chrome because I like the style of the numbers/letters more and they're the same price.
so here's the ones I'm thinking about...with the exception of the Speedometer and Voltmeter, the rest of these would have Electrical Sending Units:
Tach

Speedometer

Voltmeter

Water Temp

Oil Pressure

Fuel Level

Trans Temp-this is in the Maybe Pile. but I'm seriously considering it...if it wouldnt fit in the cluster with the rest, I can put it where the digital clock thingy would normally be.


I need to know something about the fuel level, its the only one I'm stumped on what exactly to get...it lists them with certain Ohms...first: what are Ohms?( I figure its a way of measuring resistance?) and second: what Ohm range do I need?
here's what they list...
0empty, 90full
0empty, 30full
16empty, 158full
73empty, 10full
240empty, 33full

thanx for any input mangs.

[gabegt90]

I like those gauges colin are you going to replace the speedo?

[OldBlue1981]

I love them! I think they would look great installed in your car!!! My favorite is the Sunpro gauges. I love the classic white background with the red needle. Can't wait to hear of your new engine!!! Let me know how things work out!

[1987cp]

Dude, I told you before, my fuel level sender is 73-10 Ohms. If you want to be certain, yank your sender and measure the resistance!

I do like the Traditional Chrome, not only for looks but for the price. The Z-Series might be good in your car too, what with the black dash theme. I guess you're not diggin' the Arctic White or Designer Black? Seems I may not have liked the price, but I'd think the numbers would be a better match for the '88-and-later stock stuff.

[Mr. Land Yacht]

Designer black was WAY too much for me...I thought about artic white but...I would like having black faced gauges...more muscular looking...most ricers I see got what/aluminum faced gauges...and with a lot of black being on the dash, it would only be more fitting that way.

sorry, Mike...I forgotyou told me..thanx mang.

thanx Gabe...yea, planning to replace teh speedo as well...prolly put the tach and speedo right in the middle and the others around them.
Tach/Speedo would be 3 3/8" and the rest would be 2 1/16".

OldBlue1981, I have a white faced Sunpro Tach...Sunpro isnt the best gauges from what I hear, but mine has not failed me...but the Sunpro label has faded from the Sun hitting it. how ironic.

[1987cp]

That does make sense. With even Dodge Caravans coming new with white-faced gauges, it is getting a little old.

Speaking of gauges, I was thinking a little more tonight about my dash plans. I've still got the Merc's original dashpad and main trim doodad, and sitting in the LTD tonight wishing it ran I realized the position and orientation of those two items are really pretty nice. If I can replicate the main dash piece from plywood or other material and brace it in in the correct position, maybe I can have the center console come right up to there. Just random brain waves ....

[Rojas109]

you have spent allot of money on that motor that your uncle and you are building. why don't you buy quality (in other words, expensive) gauges so that you may be able to detect any problem your car might throw at you more accurately. sure its expensive but doesn't your "magna" deserve it? for example this http://www.autometer.com/demos/nexus/ i like it cause of the "red alert warning" where the color changes when something is wrong. also it records what you have done for example how high RPM you ran or how long it took you to go to 0-60.this is just my opinion.

[1987cp]

Is there actually a different in the quality of the movement between the different AutoMeter lines? I assumed the difference was mostly, if not entirely, cosmetic .......

[Rojas109]

Is there actually a different in the quality of the movement between the different AutoMeter lines? I assumed the difference was mostly, if not entirely, cosmetic .......

its true its kinda mostly cosmetic but some lines have different features. i dont feel like explaning it so just go to there website and look into it for yourself www.autometer.com iam sorry im just tired.

[1987cp]

Okay, cool, I'll have to read up on that.

Vaguely related general question - is there any reason a '68 Mustang speedo cable should slip inside the drive thingey on the above-pictured Traditional Chrome Series speedo? Just got to wondering about that since the needle on mine sometimes moves kind of jerkily.

[Mr. Land Yacht]

well..I think I will buy the gauges tonite...I got paid this friday...so I think I will do eet.

[1987cp]

So you gonna go with Traditional Chrome? Our gauges are gonna match! :banana:

[Mr. Land Yacht]

schweet!
I ordered them last night.
all of them.
$374 total with the handling charge

[gadget73]

My only issue with a full custom gauge package is making it look decent in a stock dash without it turning into what appears to be a total hackjob. It can be done, but trying to stuff that many gauges in an area that was very much not designed to handle them is going to take some planning to make it look good.

[P72Ford]

My only issue with a full custom gauge package is making it look decent in a stock dash without it turning into what appears to be a total hackjob. It can be done, but trying to stuff that many gauges in an area that was very much not designed to handle them is going to take some planning to make it look good.

Very true.

On another note, Autometer gauges are the shit. I have sport comps (cheap and match factory speedo reasonably well (black face, white numbers, etc)). To be honest, I'm not really a fan of the ones you have chosen. But, as always, to each his own. I like the more modern look of the sport comp, pro comp, ultra lite, phantom, etc. The fat numbers and big bezels are a neat look... for me.

I also prefer the black faced gauges. I think that pretty much all of the autometer gauges themselves (as far as metering is concerened) are the same. The things that make some more expensive than others are the features. This may include lighting (LED vs. incandescent), mech vs. elec, liquid filled, etc. As far as tachs go, some units get retardedly expensive. Options like the dual scale (very neat for a higher RPM car [regularly running above 5K]), shift light, multi stage shift light, recall, multi run memory, etc make them so much more money.

At local car shows and cruises I see many cars with Autometer gauges. I think they're good. I have four auxillary gauges and then a tach from them. All great pieces to me. They are also a little cheaper than the SW ultimate, and in your case other classic styles.

Best of luck with this mod. I suggest taking time on the fab work. Also, make your wire harness really nice (so it looks as factory as possible). Nice gauges are a good tool to have.