Using stock senders with aftermarket gages
01-17-2008, 05:07 AM
#17
Drifting
mike, my dash grew from the need to replace or otherwise re-feed the speedo once i had put a GTS 5 spd box in the car. then i saw the racetech tacho and it all went from there. ive put the fuel and battey gauges down in the centre console, i dont have individual warning lights anymore but the uppermost red light is for the master caution - i figure that if its flashing i need to investigate
i think if you use a vdo gauge for fuel it should work, the tacho needs to be configured to a 4 cylinder signal. the mechanicals look nice but the whole lot does add weight - there are some nice electrical alternatives out there with everything in one smaller package.
the only disadvantages with those eg stack or spa is the tacho normally reads to 8000 - which is a waste of gauge area and also they may not display numbers in large enough format for the other functions - although they do have programable alarms to make them more visible.
i think if you use a vdo gauge for fuel it should work, the tacho needs to be configured to a 4 cylinder signal. the mechanicals look nice but the whole lot does add weight - there are some nice electrical alternatives out there with everything in one smaller package. the only disadvantages with those eg stack or spa is the tacho normally reads to 8000 - which is a waste of gauge area and also they may not display numbers in large enough format for the other functions - although they do have programable alarms to make them more visible.
01-17-2008, 11:06 AM
#18
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In thirty years of using mechanical gauges, both in my drag cars and in my Eighteen wheelers, I've never had a line/gauge break causing fluids to enter the driver's area.
I believe Jim was just giving advice to maximize the safety factor. After all, who knows what may break and how it may break given a high speed collision?
01-17-2008, 12:31 PM
#19
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didn't infer that bad things can't happen, either.
I only relayed my past experience, which says that the failure rate (of electrical sending units versus mechanical gauges) was much higher, and accuracy was much more reliable with mechanicals. your experience may differ.
I did say that fuel pressure gauges were NOT used in the drivers area. I will say that oil pressure gauge lines would be/have been stainless steel braided for added safety, and I am not aware of any sanctioning body limiting their use. If you are aware of such, please say so. Don't just throw a "what if?" out there......
other than that, tach/temp/boost gauges don't spill fluids in a crash situation......
If you're really worried, stay off the track...or the street, for that matter.
01-17-2008, 03:25 PM
#21
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didn't say that-----
didn't infer that bad things can't happen, either.
didn't infer that bad things can't happen, either.
In any case, if the likelihood of a bad event can be reduced by some simple engineering choices, then I think that is the way to go.
I only relayed my past experience, which says that the failure rate (of electrical sending units versus mechanical gauges) was much higher, and accuracy was much more reliable with mechanicals. your experience may differ.
I did say that fuel pressure gauges were NOT used in the drivers area.
I will say that oil pressure gauge lines would be/have been stainless steel braided for added safety, and I am not aware of any sanctioning body limiting their use. If you are aware of such, please say so. Don't just throw a "what if?" out there......
If you're really worried, stay off the track...or the street, for that matter
01-17-2008, 09:48 PM
#22
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mike, my dash grew from the need to replace or otherwise re-feed the speedo once i had put a GTS 5 spd box in the car. then i saw the racetech tacho and it all went from there. ive put the fuel and battey gauges down in the centre console, i dont have individual warning lights anymore but the uppermost red light is for the master caution - i figure that if its flashing i need to investigate i think if you use a vdo gauge for fuel it should work, the tacho needs to be configured to a 4 cylinder signal. the mechanicals look nice but the whole lot does add weight - there are some nice electrical alternatives out there with everything in one smaller package.
the only disadvantages with those eg stack or spa is the tacho normally reads to 8000 - which is a waste of gauge area and also they may not display numbers in large enough format for the other functions - although they do have programable alarms to make them more visible.
i think if you use a vdo gauge for fuel it should work, the tacho needs to be configured to a 4 cylinder signal. the mechanicals look nice but the whole lot does add weight - there are some nice electrical alternatives out there with everything in one smaller package. the only disadvantages with those eg stack or spa is the tacho normally reads to 8000 - which is a waste of gauge area and also they may not display numbers in large enough format for the other functions - although they do have programable alarms to make them more visible.
Where exactly did you take your tacho feed from as I have a problem with inteference on my Nitrous race controller when feeding its tach input from the LT side of the left hand coil ???
All the best Brett