Gauges vs...gauges...
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Gauges vs...gauges...
That's right. This is where we get some facts straightened out. Which gauges to get, which gauges are the most reliable, and which gauges are just there for looks (crappy reliability)?
Ok, the biggest debate out there is electrical vs mechanical. Now, for those who don't know the difference, mechanical gauges are attached directly to whatever you're measuring. What this means is that you'll run large tubes, and you don't worry about hassle. However, that means, if you f-up, then you'll be leaking fluids into the passenger cockpit.
Electrical gauges, obviously, work off of electricity. What does that mean? It means that proximity of the gauge to the item that they're reading is not an issue. This also means no fluids to play with. Now, as far as which one is better, back then (around the 1970s) mechanical gauges were more accurate and affordable than electrical gauges; times have changed. Welcome to the Digital Era. Electrical gauges now have proven to be just as accurate as mechanical gauges, if not BETTER than mechanical gauges. In fact, electrical gauges can be much more accurate than even the most expensive mechanical gauges made.
Now, we've figured out the difference between electrical and mechanical. If you want to go with mechanical, please note that PROXIMITY is an issue. Meaning if you use longer tubes, you'll increase the chance of a false/inaccurate reading on the gauge.
Now...the main part of the debate: which gauges are better to get? Well, let's look at several companies, now shall we? There's Autometer, VDO, Dakota Digital, Omori Meter, DEFI, ISSPRO, Classic, Stewart Warner...and so much more that I know I'm not including b/c I'm about to fall asleep. (Excuse me if I become incoherent).
Now there's been talk about Autometer gauges failing customers...also providing inaccurate boost readings for boost gauges. But Autometer also has a huge line of ricer gauges, dedicated to making your gauges look "tricked" out at car shows. (Cobalt, C2,...blah blah blah)
VDO, from what I've heard, are decent. Not much talk about them, but this thread is open to the floor, so anyone can butt in.
Dakota Digital, they are only biased on digital reading outputs...meaning...you won't see an analog needle bouncing back and forth...just digital numbers flashing before your eyes. A word to the wise...I know I've seen digital gauges on GBs on this site: it takes longer for you to process the digital number than it does for you to view a needle pointing to a number. Why? B/c you only see a number, but your brain responds faster to images (position of needle) than numbers.
Omori Meter, the Suby guys use these gauges b/c it matches their interior gauges nicely. As for quality, not quite sure.
DEFI, another ricer gauge, but supposedly higher quality than Autometer...or at least the large price tag on them infers. However, I have heard that people have noticed that these gauges are rather inaccurate.
Classic, supposedly a really good company that tailors to muscle cars...so don't expect a race-spec set of gauges. Most of these new high-tech gauges are tailored with the old-school gauge style. Personally, I find that really nice...in domestics. There is a style and zest to imports, but you always see people overdoing it with flashy body kits. As for actual quality from customers, not sure.
Stewart Warner, similar to Classic, that they're tailored to domestics, but they're slowly moving into the import scene. As for quality, again...I'm not too sure.
Feel free to leave anything you seen or read about these gauges...if you have other gauge companies, give at least a URL to them. Most of these gauges I've listed are not clandestine...so most of you may have heard the names every once in a while. I know Autometer is like the only brand many people will talk about...but they're just Civics...an abundance of them, but ricey...which brings up the question of reliability. Are they reliable? Is there a series that is very reliable? I know Nexus is their new series, but from what it looks like...it's just one of the retarded gauges that change color, like for your dash.
Ok, the biggest debate out there is electrical vs mechanical. Now, for those who don't know the difference, mechanical gauges are attached directly to whatever you're measuring. What this means is that you'll run large tubes, and you don't worry about hassle. However, that means, if you f-up, then you'll be leaking fluids into the passenger cockpit.
Electrical gauges, obviously, work off of electricity. What does that mean? It means that proximity of the gauge to the item that they're reading is not an issue. This also means no fluids to play with. Now, as far as which one is better, back then (around the 1970s) mechanical gauges were more accurate and affordable than electrical gauges; times have changed. Welcome to the Digital Era. Electrical gauges now have proven to be just as accurate as mechanical gauges, if not BETTER than mechanical gauges. In fact, electrical gauges can be much more accurate than even the most expensive mechanical gauges made.
Now, we've figured out the difference between electrical and mechanical. If you want to go with mechanical, please note that PROXIMITY is an issue. Meaning if you use longer tubes, you'll increase the chance of a false/inaccurate reading on the gauge.
Now...the main part of the debate: which gauges are better to get? Well, let's look at several companies, now shall we? There's Autometer, VDO, Dakota Digital, Omori Meter, DEFI, ISSPRO, Classic, Stewart Warner...and so much more that I know I'm not including b/c I'm about to fall asleep. (Excuse me if I become incoherent).
Now there's been talk about Autometer gauges failing customers...also providing inaccurate boost readings for boost gauges. But Autometer also has a huge line of ricer gauges, dedicated to making your gauges look "tricked" out at car shows. (Cobalt, C2,...blah blah blah)
VDO, from what I've heard, are decent. Not much talk about them, but this thread is open to the floor, so anyone can butt in.
Dakota Digital, they are only biased on digital reading outputs...meaning...you won't see an analog needle bouncing back and forth...just digital numbers flashing before your eyes. A word to the wise...I know I've seen digital gauges on GBs on this site: it takes longer for you to process the digital number than it does for you to view a needle pointing to a number. Why? B/c you only see a number, but your brain responds faster to images (position of needle) than numbers.
Omori Meter, the Suby guys use these gauges b/c it matches their interior gauges nicely. As for quality, not quite sure.
DEFI, another ricer gauge, but supposedly higher quality than Autometer...or at least the large price tag on them infers. However, I have heard that people have noticed that these gauges are rather inaccurate.
Classic, supposedly a really good company that tailors to muscle cars...so don't expect a race-spec set of gauges. Most of these new high-tech gauges are tailored with the old-school gauge style. Personally, I find that really nice...in domestics. There is a style and zest to imports, but you always see people overdoing it with flashy body kits. As for actual quality from customers, not sure.
Stewart Warner, similar to Classic, that they're tailored to domestics, but they're slowly moving into the import scene. As for quality, again...I'm not too sure.
Feel free to leave anything you seen or read about these gauges...if you have other gauge companies, give at least a URL to them. Most of these gauges I've listed are not clandestine...so most of you may have heard the names every once in a while. I know Autometer is like the only brand many people will talk about...but they're just Civics...an abundance of them, but ricey...which brings up the question of reliability. Are they reliable? Is there a series that is very reliable? I know Nexus is their new series, but from what it looks like...it's just one of the retarded gauges that change color, like for your dash.
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From: Los Lunas, New Mexico, USA.
Vehicle: 2001 Hyundai Tiburon, 2004 Kia Sorento, 2010 Kia Soul
I know I've messed with DEFI a bit, and LOVE THEM. They look great (Hey, it's a gauge, it's supposed to get looked at), and I haven't heard any issues. David has been running a set of 4 of them for a few years on his Turbo'd Tib, no problems.
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From: SOUTH Jersey
I am a BIG proponate of proper gages.
You mentioned VDO but could not find much about them. VDO's big money maker is OEM.. they supply gages for Porsche and most other German brands. If that is not a testiment to their reliability and accuracy, I do not know what is. They have also been around a LONG time.. since before the second world war.
The only trouble with VDO.. being a german concern.. they are boring. The most flashy thing you will find is a white faced gage. I have used them in the past though on my vdubs.. they are a good gage.
Autometer seems to be a nice middle of the road gage. ranging from classic to flash and everywhere in between. While I do not yet have any of my C2's hooked up, just from looking them over, they seem to be a good quality construction.
Another system you did not mention.. Stack ( www.stackltd.com ) They cater mostly to the race and rally crowd and their gages range from standard analoge round gages up to configurable clusters with a big analoge tach and a readout centre at the bottom.
You mentioned VDO but could not find much about them. VDO's big money maker is OEM.. they supply gages for Porsche and most other German brands. If that is not a testiment to their reliability and accuracy, I do not know what is. They have also been around a LONG time.. since before the second world war.
The only trouble with VDO.. being a german concern.. they are boring. The most flashy thing you will find is a white faced gage. I have used them in the past though on my vdubs.. they are a good gage.
Autometer seems to be a nice middle of the road gage. ranging from classic to flash and everywhere in between. While I do not yet have any of my C2's hooked up, just from looking them over, they seem to be a good quality construction.
Another system you did not mention.. Stack ( www.stackltd.com ) They cater mostly to the race and rally crowd and their gages range from standard analoge round gages up to configurable clusters with a big analoge tach and a readout centre at the bottom.
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mad-Machine)</div><div class='quotemain'>Another system you did not mention.. Stack ( www.stackltd.com ) They cater mostly to the race and rally crowd and their gages range from standard analoge round gages up to configurable clusters with a big analoge tach and a readout centre at the bottom.</div>
Yeah, I was reading up on VDO the other day....apparently Siemens bought them out. Interesting enough, though. But they are pretty boring.
As for Stack, I actually think some of their gauges are really nice, especially the street-legal/race pedigree ones. Though, it's always nice to have an analog speedometer, vs digital. wink1.gif
However, I may get the ST8130 for my project Tib:
What I'm trying to look for is a company that makes speedometer gauges as well...seeing how the Tib I'm getting has the gauge cluster stripped out anyway, and I really don't feel like spending $50 or so to get a stockie that can be inaccurate.
What I'm trying to appeal for is the higher end gauges that are extremely accurate. Stack is definitely up there with VDO with Stewart Warner and Classic.
Yeah, I was reading up on VDO the other day....apparently Siemens bought them out. Interesting enough, though. But they are pretty boring.
As for Stack, I actually think some of their gauges are really nice, especially the street-legal/race pedigree ones. Though, it's always nice to have an analog speedometer, vs digital. wink1.gif
However, I may get the ST8130 for my project Tib:
What I'm trying to look for is a company that makes speedometer gauges as well...seeing how the Tib I'm getting has the gauge cluster stripped out anyway, and I really don't feel like spending $50 or so to get a stockie that can be inaccurate.
What I'm trying to appeal for is the higher end gauges that are extremely accurate. Stack is definitely up there with VDO with Stewart Warner and Classic.
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Ok.. you talked about gauges.... and most of those gauges I have never see it before.... thanks.. something new for me and something new to investigate....
But what about the sensor of those gauges???? most of them came with universal sensors.... that could be the problem of the inaccurate meass.. or I'm wrong??
But what about the sensor of those gauges???? most of them came with universal sensors.... that could be the problem of the inaccurate meass.. or I'm wrong??
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TiburonWao)</div><div class='quotemain'>Ok.. you talke about gauges.... and ost of those gauges I have never see it before.... thanks.. something new for me and something new to investigate....
But what about the sensor of those gauges???? most of them came with universal sensors.... that could be the problem of the inaccurate meass.. or I'm wrong??</div>
Well...no. A boost gauge measures pressure,...and pressure is often times consistent (not constant). So if you're doing 14psi of boost, technically, any gauge should read 14psi...not 1-2psi off. Which also brings in the part of tick marks are inaccurate. See, with pressure, it's not like HP. HP has so many factors to it that affect wHP readings. Think of HP as inches on a ruler. One dynamometer may measure inches to be the diameter of a quarter, and another one could say one inch equals the height of a beer bottle. But pressure is measured by how much force is acting on an area (pounds/square inch)...it'll always be consistently the same...unless you modify the boost pressure (basic physics).
But what about the sensor of those gauges???? most of them came with universal sensors.... that could be the problem of the inaccurate meass.. or I'm wrong??</div>
Well...no. A boost gauge measures pressure,...and pressure is often times consistent (not constant). So if you're doing 14psi of boost, technically, any gauge should read 14psi...not 1-2psi off. Which also brings in the part of tick marks are inaccurate. See, with pressure, it's not like HP. HP has so many factors to it that affect wHP readings. Think of HP as inches on a ruler. One dynamometer may measure inches to be the diameter of a quarter, and another one could say one inch equals the height of a beer bottle. But pressure is measured by how much force is acting on an area (pounds/square inch)...it'll always be consistently the same...unless you modify the boost pressure (basic physics).