place for gauges

Post by **pskipper** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 11:27 am

Now searching around for guages.....anyone used / heard of these / got an opinion?

http://www.gbdriver.co.uk/acatalog/Onli ... fg_80.html

I used one of their gauge pods, cut a slot in to allow for the ridge under the dashboard, sprayed it to car colour and put my two gauges down there, a couple of people have thought that they were standard fittings

It's well worth looking for gauges on e-bay, that's where Rosies came from.

Post by **grahamt7** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 11:35 am

Cam are those mostly 2" gauges in yours - and what model of mog is it?

Post by dp » Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:16 pm

Kate,

These might be cheaper
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro ... 1&ts=15932

Guage fitting: If someone can help me make a picture available I can show it but basically I cut a piece of ribbed aluminium * clad thin plywood to the shape of the hole in the driver's side 'glove-box with a hole'. I then got a Skoda 130 rev counter, water temp and a standard (52mm) oil pressure guage from a breakers. The Skoda instruments are unusual sizes that work well in the shape that is available. I got the glass off the dials and blacked out stuff that stopped the guages from matching. First attempt looked wrong so I knocked it up in a cad program and moved things around until they looked right. You could cut out cardboard circles of the same size as the instruments to get the positions you like before cutting.

* A work briefcase sprung open once to often, dumping my files all over a tube platform so it went into my useful textured metal pile. Being very thin aluminium glued to plywood it was very easy to shape to the dashboard hole. Thin MDF, perhaps clad in suitably coloured vinylcloth could also work well. Better yet, a textured aluminium that looks like the stuff around the speedo might look more original.

Post by **paulk** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:38 pm

a textured aluminium that looks like the stuff around the speedo might look more original

.

My 1970 2dr has a sort of weave effect ally panel around the dial. I've not seen this in alloy stockists but Stucco sheet is not a bad comprimise

PS

Stucco sheet is the one that looks like tiny Pixies have taken little hammers to the sheet (almost hammerite type finish). Only seems to come in thin sheets upto about 1.2mm so would probably need to be mounted on mdf or something like that (but waterproof)

Post by **pskipper** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 1:43 pm

Stucco sheet is the one that looks like tiny Pixies have taken little hammers to the sheet (almost hammerite type finish).

Oh no, cornish slave labour!!!

Post by **Packedup** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 2:45 pm

There's plenty of s/h Smiths guages in good condition kicking around Ebay and most autjumbles. Though Ebay madness seems to strike if the seller uses magic words like Stag or MG in the listings

Never had an electrical oil pressure guage, but it is worth considering over a mechanical. The line on the mechanical type is generally very reliable and unlikely to fail either under bonnet or inside the cabin... Until the one time you actually need to be smartly dressed and immaculately clean...

Post by **Cam** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 3:23 pm

grahamt7 wrote:Cam are those mostly 2" gauges in yours - and what model of mog is it?

Yes, mostly 2" ones. I got mine from a scrap yard, but they are few and far between nowadays.

That Mog is a 1969 4 door saloon in Almond green. For more info, have a look at: http://potteries.mmoc.org.uk/Members_Ca ... 9_1000.htm

Post by **Peetee** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 4:19 pm

like tiny Pixies have taken little hammers to the sheet (almost hammerite type finish).

Not far from the truth actually. The Elf cobblers make them during the lean summer season.

Tea...... I need more tea.

Mmmwahhahhaha!

Post by **KirstMin** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 5:35 pm

also try these guys:

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.co.u ... auges.html

bit cheaper...

Post by **KirstMin** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 6:20 pm

I have similar q's to graham as Ive been planning to do this for a while but am unsure what to purchase. Can anyone answer what the best way to go with this is?

1. Water temp: do i need to buy a mechanical or electrical? what's better/easier/possible to connect?

2. Same as above but for oil pressure

do i need to fit a voltage stabilizer for these? I'm fitting a rev counter too?

ta very much like

Post by **Cam** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 6:26 pm

Go for all electrical except oil pressure which is fed through a capillary tube from the engine block.

You should have a voltage stabiliser on the back of your speedo which feeds the fuel gauge use this for the temp gauge. The others don't need it. If you don't have a voltage stabiliser then either do without it or get one from a later car and wire it in!

Post by **KirstMin** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 7:57 pm

Cheers Cam. Is the capillary tube obvious? I've got the Ital block as I think you know. Also, where does the water temp get it's reading from/where's it wired to get the actual temperature!?

PS: if you ever need any advise with SQL Server I'd be more than happy help

Post by **minor_hickup** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 9:00 pm

I've got a mechanical temp guage and its great! I'tt tell you the water temperature regardless of whether the ignitions on and i've found it to be acceptably accurat.

Post by **les** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 10:05 pm

Fit gauges in a standard Minor and say goodbye to stress free motoring!

Post by **Cam** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 2:13 am

KirstMin wrote:Cheers Cam. Is the capillary tube obvious? I've got the Ital block as I think you know. Also, where does the water temp get it's reading from/where's it wired to get the actual temperature!?

Is it obvious? Well, it's a small diameter tube running from under the oil filter through the bulkhead. Actually it's a bit of a pain on the Ital engine to fit a T-piece adapter so you can use the oil pressure light at the same time. I have done away with the light and just used the gauge.

The water temp gauge has it's sender located just under the thermostat in the side of the head. A wire runs from this to the gauge and 'earths' it variably according to what temperature the water is.

PS: if you ever need any advise with SQL Server I'd be more than happy help

Maybe so in the future. Things are afoot at the moment, so perhaps so. Thanks.

les wrote:Fit gauges in a standard Minor and say goodbye to stress free motoring!

Ignorance is bliss eh mate?

Actually, I sort of agree. My standard '63 Minor does not have any extra gauges and I like it that way.

Would not dare with the tuned 1380 though as that needs watching over!

Post by **Pyoor_Kate** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 7:36 am

Actually it's a bit of a pain on the Ital engine to fit a T-piece adapter so you can use the oil pressure light at the same time. I have done away with the light and just used the gauge.

It is a bit of a pig. I ended up bending the connector on the oil pressure warning sensor because otherwise it'd foul the starter motor. It does work though

Fit gauges in a standard Minor and say goodbye to stress free motoring!
Ignorance is bliss eh mate?

To be fair, when my 1098 died (spectacularly, for those who remember) it showed no signs of anything being wrong apart from one brief flick of the oil pressure needle; immediately after which the engine stopped, so, I didn't really get a chance to stress about it.

These might be cheaper
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro ... 1&ts=15932

Cheers! Although they're vinyl not vinyl nitrile, which is somewhat tougher. I actually tend to get freebies from work - because I'll pick up gloves to do something, realise I don't need them, they end up in my pocket and come home with me. Once they've come home...

Post by **KirstMin** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 2:35 pm

Kate/Cam. Ta for the advice. With regards to oil pressure, are you saying that I can get away with an easier job if I do away with the oil pressure light in the speedo and use that for the pressure gauge I will install? If so then I know what I'm going to do

Les, I agree, but only for a standard 1098! Mines a 1275, tuned with performance parts and i would very much like a rev counter + some stuff to monitor temperature and oil.

Post by **Cam** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 8:58 pm

KirstMin wrote:Kate/Cam. Ta for the advice. With regards to oil pressure, are you saying that I can get away with an easier job if I do away with the oil pressure light in the speedo and use that for the pressure gauge I will install? If so then I know what I'm going to do

Well you use the engine connection. You just then ignore the warning lamp (as it won't be connected to anything) and just watch the gauge.

Post by **KirstMin** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 3:09 pm

Excellent! I've bought rev counter, water temp and oil pressure gauges so all I have to do is wait for them to arrive and fit them! Cheers

PS: Cam, that facet fast road pump has done the trick

Post by **Cam** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 12:07 am

Great stuff.