VDO water temperature gauge - electrical or mechanical?

**Homestar** · 8th March 2016, 09:39 AM

Originally Posted by Pickles2

"Guages"?...Anyone remember the Smiths guages,...beautiful stuff,...had 'em in a few of my cars in the "old days",..Amps, Oil, Temp, Perf (vac), & in my Austin Lancer, I removed the speedo binnacle & installed matching Smiths speedo & tacho (similar to MGB!).
I do remember the capillary type, I think many used the electronic one because it was easier, the capillary was a bit "bulky".
Pickles.

Yep, lovely gauges, I had a set in my old IIa.

All still available if you want to pay

- Smiths

**Pickles2** · 8th March 2016, 10:02 AM

Aaahhh, very good Homestar,...takes me back, they're a bit dearer now then when I last bought any.
I thought at one time that a few of these in our Puma would be good, but nowhere to put 'em really, & it'd look a bit "silly" I think!
Thanks, Pickles.

**Homestar** · 8th March 2016, 10:33 AM

If the funds permit it when we start the fitout of Cam's Series 3, I'd like to do a custom dash using them.

**Aaron IIA** · 8th March 2016, 12:46 PM

Check out Pricol gauges. They look a bit better than the bright colours offered by others.

http://www.redlineauto.com.au/s-110-pricol.aspx

Aaron

**cjc_td5** · 8th March 2016, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by Pickles2

"Guages"?...Anyone remember the Smiths guages,...beautiful stuff,...had 'em in a few of my cars in the "old days",..Amps, Oil, Temp, Perf (vac), & in my Austin Lancer, I removed the speedo binnacle & installed matching Smiths speedo & tacho (similar to MGB!).
I do remember the capillary type, I think many used the electronic one because it was easier, the capillary was a bit "bulky".
Pickles.

I installed a smiths duo temp & oil pressure gauge in my 86" s1. Looked the part ☺☺.

Nothing like an old MG or Jag with a full dash of lovely smiths gauges.... ☺☺☺☺

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**cjc_td5** · 10th March 2016, 12:33 AM

To continue the theme lads, what are your opinions on mechanical vs electric oil pressure gauges? Do the electric gauges suffer from the same potential earthing issues as temperature gauges?

Thanks,
Chris

**Aaron IIA** · 10th March 2016, 07:25 AM

Same earthing issues with oil pressure gauges. Mechanical oil pressure gauges are a bit easier as their capillary can be cut or lengthened. You do have to get all fittings tight though, or you could get an oil leak at the gauge.

Aaron

**cjc_td5** · 10th March 2016, 08:36 AM

Having filled a foot well up with oil in the past due to a loose connection, I am nervous about oil lines in the cabin.

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**gromit** · 10th March 2016, 05:03 PM

Some nice Smiths gauges here (including the water temp/oil pressure combo gauge).

Gauges for vintage & classic cars

Colin

**Mercguy** · 14th March 2016, 11:23 PM

Have used Pricol in the past >20 yrs ago. Neat, uncluttered, price was good and choice of mechanical or electric. I went with mechanical temp but electric oil pressure purely because of the copper capillary tube's propensity to be damaged easily.

Used auto meter sport comp and pro-comp liquid filled gauges, but they went with the car when I sold it some years ago. Not all they are cracked up to be, but very easy to read. quality is good, but you pay for it. I would use metric pro-comp gauges again if I had a car which the bezel didn't look out of place on.

Currently using VDO gauges in the boat and the aux gauges in the 16v are vdo 52mm. again, quality is there, and they are nice compact packages and very easy to read. natural backlight which suits my eyes. none of this LED backlit crap.

Pretty much get what you pay for these days. I happen to like the uncluttered VDO style. However....

There are a couple of things that really 'annoy' me. like requiring individual gauges when you want combined ones.

As much as I hate to say it, if you are completely flush with $$$$ then redarc make some absolutely top notch gauges, which are variable backit, LCD and easy to read. But they come at a price.
Possibly the most horrendous price for a 52mm gauge I've ever come across.
Made in Australia, but even auto-meter can't usurp them on price.

They have dual temp, dual combos /temp/pressure dual voltage etc... goes on and on.... best bit about this is you can get twice as much information in half the required space.
The only bitter pill is the price.

I would use them but I simply cannot justify those kind of costs, so I'll stick with my electric VDO gauges, which are just as good.

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