Dudeman
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Gauges - Mechanical or Electrical? and why?
Ok, So i'm looking at putting three 52mm gauges into a din slot. Oil temp, oil pressure and transmission temp. Considering putting an aftermarket temp gauge in place of the factory jobbie. (Not sure if its possible, give it a crack though) I'd put a new fuel gauge in too just to match but for the trouble of installing the sensor i'll pass - that and the factory one tells me just fine whats going on with fuel. Omori boost gauge is ordered and and its way to shoo the factory one out. I'm going to use an old n/a cable driven cluster, remove the volt meter and put the Omori in there. Looking for an ADM cable driven speedo to replace the JDM one in there. Undecided to to with AutoMeter Cobalt range, look nice enough and they get good reports, or go with good functional VDO gauges. Edit* So as a poll - what would you go for Electrical or mechanical? VDO or AutoMeter?
post edited by Dudeman - 2013/02/06 00:17:59
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WIDEMR
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Re:Gauges - Mechanical or Electrical? and why?
2013/02/06 00:01:59
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I dont understand the poll. Elec, mechanical, vdo or autometer?
Elec or mech standard dash? or should you get elec or mechanical versions of aftermarket ect?
If the 2nd, if your getting oil temps and pressure, then the temp would have to be elec, and the pressure i would deff recommend elec, saves having high pressure hot oil lines running into cabin when you dont have to.
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Dudeman
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Re:Gauges - Mechanical or Electrical? and why?
2013/02/06 00:08:45
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WIDEMR
I dont understand the poll. Elec, mechanical, vdo or autometer?
Elec or mech standard dash? or should you get elec or mechanical versions of aftermarket ect?
If the 2nd, if your getting oil temps and pressure, then the temp would have to be elec, and the pressure i would deff recommend elec, saves having high pressure hot oil lines running into cabin when you dont have to.
I want to get some gauges, The poll > what would you go for - Electrical or mechanical, VDO or AutoMeter. Its a standard mech dash for my daily, going to try and put an aftermarket temp gauge in place of the factory one. The other three, oil temp / pressure and trans temp are for the din slot. So yes, looking for the answer you have just given, avoid the hot oil lines into the cabin when not necessary.
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Eric
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Re:Gauges - Mechanical or Electrical? and why?
2013/02/06 00:34:30
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I would vote electrical as the last thing you want is oil inside the cabin...
I run a water temp, vacuum and oil pressure gauge in my car, all are electric bar vacuum.
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Reddtarga
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Re:Gauges - Mechanical or Electrical? and why?
2013/02/06 12:33:01
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No contest, go for electrical. I chose VDO because they are a great match for the stock instrument panel with appearance and night time lighting.  I made the pod assy from 50mm plastic plumbing sockets and mounted them in the center console, above my one din unit CD/radio But it took quite a bit of effort to fit them, because the pod is slightly larger than one din unit, so I had to scollop the console housing at the top to get it to fit. IMO it is the best spot to mount them for easy visibility. Have you seen this: Check out a few posts down. I believe they are Prosport gauges and looks like they fit one din unit. http://www.mr2australia.c...mp;m=51019&mpage=6
post edited by Reddtarga - 2013/02/06 12:36:49
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Dudeman
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Re:Gauges - Mechanical or Electrical? and why?
2013/02/06 15:10:34
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Thanks for the example red. They are a very good looking gauge.
Where did you source them? I have emailed a couple of suppliers in Australia but no replies.
The AutoMeter ebay seller in the US get back right away to any enquiry.
How deep is the VDO temp gauge? Was considering using in the factory ones place.
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Senor_2
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Re:Gauges - Mechanical or Electrical? and why?
2013/02/06 15:33:43
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+1 for electrical gauges over mechanical
I think we were chatting briefly about this on the last club run, my previous Autometer Cobalt elec boost gauge reacted noticeably quicker than the Omori that I've replaced it with, something to consider between the different brands etc
A man in Dandism ========================== SW20 Midship Runabout
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Mrskylighter
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Re:Gauges - Mechanical or Electrical? and why?
2013/02/06 16:20:13
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100% use electric gauges. In my old car I installed a Defi Din gauge under the stereo which blended in with the rest of gauges in the car. (Same colour green backlighting etc) The Defi Din has two temperature gauges and one pressure gauge which you can use for whatever you like. All the senders are electrical. Pic below is the same I used.  I used it for coolant temp, oil temp and oil pressure but would work just as well with your gearbox fluid temp monitoring requirement. It does cost a premium though, but is a bolt in (To the dash) solution which looks quality and is quality. I think I bought it through Dylan (Gorilla Ind.)
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Reddtarga
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Re:Gauges - Mechanical or Electrical? and why?
2013/02/06 16:25:09
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Dudeman
Thanks for the example red. They are a very good looking gauge.
Where did you source them? I have emailed a couple of suppliers in Australia but no replies.
The AutoMeter ebay seller in the US get back right away to any enquiry.
How deep is the VDO temp gauge? Was considering using in the factory ones place.
Body length of all VDO gauges I have seen is 45mm + 20mm extra for the connectors = 65mm deep overall I don't think one would fit very well in stock temp gauge position in the fascia even if you could squeeze it in because it may sit too far back. I got my VDO gauges from a local supplier here in Geelong Vic, 'Gaugeworks' and it only took a couple of days for then to order them in. I think the style I have is 'cockpit vision', and I chose PSI for pressure, and degrees centigrade for temp. With VDO stuff there are so many different types (black face, white face etc) with different scale calibrations in metric, or imperial so you have to be careful what you order. That would apply to most different brands of gauges as well, and check face diameters as well as depth because some of them vary a lot Google is your friend to find out more on this stuff and don't buy anything till you research it thoroughly.
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gcat
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Re:Gauges - Mechanical or Electrical? and why?
2013/02/06 17:47:21
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auber is good gauges, for snap mounting. has a small dimensions (panel cutout 22x45mm) can display boost, egt, oit/water temp,voltage, fuel/oil pressure they present on ebay too with any sensors http://www.auberins.com/i...21&products_id=139 
post edited by gcat - 2013/02/06 17:52:26
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esskay
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Re:Gauges - Mechanical or Electrical? and why?
2013/02/06 18:00:20
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definitely go electric - I've seem oil temp/pressure gauges fail, it's not pretty, or nice trying to clean up oil from interior/inside the dash. Re. VDO or autometer - I'd say VDO, they're used in a lot of OEM applications and appear to be good quality, have a few options to choose from - Having said that Autometer seem to have a massive following; I think it comes down to personal preference - VDO for a more understated (classy? boring?) look, Autometer if you want everyone to know you've spent a lot of money buying gauges 
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MIDN1T3
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Re:Gauges - Mechanical or Electrical? and why?
2013/02/06 18:12:23
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Mrskylighter
100% use electric gauges.
In my old car I installed a Defi Din gauge under the stereo which blended in with the rest of gauges in the car. (Same colour green backlighting etc)
The Defi Din has two temperature gauges and one pressure gauge which you can use for whatever you like. All the senders are electrical.
Pic below is the same I used.
I used it for coolant temp, oil temp and oil pressure but would work just as well with your gearbox fluid temp monitoring requirement.
It does cost a premium though, but is a bolt in (To the dash) solution which looks quality and is quality.
I think I bought it through Dylan (Gorilla Ind.)
MrSkylighter, am very interested in the DEFI gauges (have been looking for a quality 'clean' gauge option for a while) - did they fit in an SW or AW? Is the din dimensions the same size? Dudeman, electrical all the way. I love my Omori electrical boost gauge.
1990 SW20 MR2 N/A with 1994 Gen 3 GTS 3S-GTE swap.
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Mrskylighter
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Re:Gauges - Mechanical or Electrical? and why?
2013/02/06 18:27:59
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MIDN1T3, yep the Gauge is one DIN in size. Fits exactly like an aftermarket stereo does. Same mounting hole options etc. MIDN1T3
Mrskylighter
100% use electric gauges.
In my old car I installed a Defi Din gauge under the stereo which blended in with the rest of gauges in the car. (Same colour green backlighting etc)
The Defi Din has two temperature gauges and one pressure gauge which you can use for whatever you like. All the senders are electrical.
Pic below is the same I used.
I used it for coolant temp, oil temp and oil pressure but would work just as well with your gearbox fluid temp monitoring requirement.
It does cost a premium though, but is a bolt in (To the dash) solution which looks quality and is quality.
I think I bought it through Dylan (Gorilla Ind.)
MrSkylighter, am very interested in the DEFI gauges (have been looking for a quality 'clean' gauge option for a while) - did they fit in an SW or AW? Is the din dimensions the same size?
Dudeman, electrical all the way. I love my Omori electrical boost gauge.
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Dudeman
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Re:Gauges - Mechanical or Electrical? and why?
2013/02/06 21:36:30
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esskay
Re. VDO or autometer - I'd say VDO, they're used in a lot of OEM applications and appear to be good quality, have a few options to choose from - Having said that Autometer seem to have a massive following; I think it comes down to personal preference - VDO for a more understated (classy? boring?) look, Autometer if you want everyone to know you've spent a lot of money buying gauges
Reddtarga
Body length of all VDO gauges I have seen is 45mm + 20mm extra for the connectors = 65mm deep overall
I don't think one would fit very well in stock temp gauge position in the fascia even if you could squeeze it in because it may sit too far back.
I got my VDO gauges from a local supplier here in Geelong Vic, 'Gaugeworks' and it only took a couple of days for then to order them in.
I think the style I have is 'cockpit vision', and I chose PSI for pressure, and degrees centigrade for temp.
With VDO stuff there are so many different types (black face, white face etc) with different scale calibrations in metric, or imperial so you have to be careful what you order.
That would apply to most different brands of gauges as well, and check face diameters as well as depth because some of them vary a lot
Google is your friend to find out more on this stuff and don't buy anything till you research it thoroughly.
Its a pretty much non-bling car so i'll probably stay with practical things, not to say AutoMeter aren't the goods, just a bit more dazzle for $. If I were to go Autometer (really is the easiest looking option right now, no replies from VDO dealers in Sydney) i'd go for the 'Cobalt' range, in metric. Definitely analogue gauges, not into digital. The VDO 'International' range look pretty smart... I have been trawling forums all over the place looking for reviews, its going to come down to whatever is the better price VDO/AutoMeter. Will try and persevere putting a new temp gauge in the factory gauge spot, I have an old cluster which I can cut the back out of so here's hoping it fits in nice. I'll give it another few days waiting to hear back from local VDO dealers, may have to go USA but will make sure measurements are metric. Thanks for the opinions.
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kameleon
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Re:Gauges - Mechanical or Electrical? and why?
2013/02/06 21:37:57
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Forget the mechanical gauges unless you were referring to a boost gauge.
mechanical gauges are illegal to have inside the car, hence you see muscle cars with scuttle panel mounted gauges.
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