Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

Was going to upgrade my gauges when I put my new engine in my'85,and WOW!!! I can't believe the prices of the Autometer gauges. I figured I would have close to $450 just in gauges,I can't believe they are that expensive. They are proud of them for sure.
Has anyone had good luck with accuracy with your stock gauges. Or if someone knows a better gauge company besides Auto $$$$$$.
Thanks guys!

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

My stocks are pretty accurate, except one... oil pressure. Will read zero when hot. Put in a new oil sender, same deal. Ended up putting a T fitting beside the distributor and the running that to a mechanical gauge under the dash, i got from canadian tire. Just a 20 dollar gauge but it work just fine. Now reads 20psi hot.

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

Try www.iequss.com

they are sold locally at o'reilleys

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

Most of the time you get what you pay for. Autometers are extremely accurate and thats what your buying. I put autometers in my dash but started kinda cheap. I had an autogage tach and a 3 gauge panel so i used them for the time being and am going to replace 1 by 1 with autometer stuff so everything matches.

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

I guess if I buy 1 at a time maybe it won't feel so bad on wallet. I haven't looked a gauges for years and would have thought there would be another good company by now.

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

I would start to buy them 1 by 1 and just stock pile the parts until complete.

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

I have Sunpro electric gauges in my S-10. The water temp gauge is off by 25-30 degrees. I called their tech line and was told I could expect a 20 degree discrepancy, yep, 20 degrees. My AutoMeter speedometer and Tach work flawlessly.

I plan to replace all of them with AutoMeter units in the near future.

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

just ordered my ultra lite II's yesterday:D its only money!

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

$500-$800 isnt bad if you say it real fast! :lol: Like Dennis said, it's only money, you cant take it with you when you die, might as well spend it now!

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

Welcome to car culture. My name's Bankroll and I'll be your reality check for the day.

Sterwart Warner I wasn't impressed with. "Our tolreances are set to within 10% of actual"

10% on a $25k motor is not acceptable... Autometer is known for being very accurate and their quality control is top notch. Spending an extra $20 for a temp guage is nothing compared to the $3000+ for a new motor...

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

I guess I could go ahead and order the tach. Autometer has a $60.00 rebate on the tach I want. That will bring the price down to $92.00. I need the temp and oil pressure to put on engine breakin stand,so I can breakin the engine.

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

:metal: do it!!

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

Are you doing a surface mount or recessed?

I have those, had them surface mounted, and now in the middle of recessing them. If you recess, let me know, I might be able to share some pointers with you.

Autometers are worth the coin, as mentioned accuracy is second to none, and the quality and support is great.

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

I'm going to recess them. There was a guy on this site that had done it and it looks real nice. I like the recessed look,makes it look more original to me.

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

I used some dolphin gauges and installed them on a stock bezel with sheet metal its not prettiest but I needed my truck that day
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...ingc10/003.jpg
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...ingc10/396.jpg

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

Jeff, i'm going to recess them. any insight would be great buddy. thanks!

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

Dennis, the main things you should know are that you will need to trim the rings down on the back side of the bezel, you will need to remove the rings from your new gauges and have to epoxy the lens and inner ring to the gauge body. You will also have to come up with a way to mount them. I have seen them wired in with piano (or similar) wire, and I have seen them glued directly to the cluster. I was not about to glue mine, so I tried to wire them in...that turned out to be a PITA, so I am trying something different. I designed alum brackets that will connect the gauges together, and they will be fastened to brackets that are either mechanically or adhesively adhered to the bezel. I should be getting these back from the CNC shop this week, and will install them and post pictures. If it works out, I should be able to get you a set of brackets, you just pay for the cost and shipping. If these end up being in demand, then I may make more and sell for a small profit.

Before you start tearing apart your gauges, we should talk, I have a few other pointer for you, that will save you some hassle and potentially keep you from messing up your gauges.

Just let me know what you think.

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

If you buy them in a set of 3,usually your main gauges like oil water and volts is alot cheaper,that will keep you busy until you get more money.I bought mine at NAPA and I was told eqquus is made by SW

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

This. I had a full set on my old '85 300ZX turbo... no complaints whatsoever.

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

Cant go wrong with Autometer, best in the business. i have those in the nova also...and getting ready to intall a tach in my truck. you get what you pay for.
Same here, i bought mine one @ a time, then installed them when i got the set.

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

Bigblock you can count me in on those brackets.I'm like you I couldn't glue them in.

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

pm sent Jeff

Re: Was going to upgrade instruments until......
 

I'm good for a set of brackets as well. Keep us posted.