Projects Mechanical Gauges

Hello.
Anyone have good luck buying aftermarket mech gauges,?
I need an oil and temp gauge for a 200 ci..
The ones at the auto parts stores ****.
Not looking for anything fancy just reliable.
Tia

 

I got some Stewart Warner gauges in 2014, they've been working fine....

 

Stick with known brands. I've run plenty of mech oil pressure guages in the past but don't plan on it in future.

I used summit brand guages a few years ago and was happy with them from an install and quality standpoint. They had a splashy logo that may not fit into the car or era you want.

 

I've got VDO gauges in my '39 p/u. The oil pressure is mechanical but the temp gauges are electric. Electircs were the only temp gauges that I could find that didn't go to 280 degrees. With the 220 max VDO gauges the operating temp reading is right in the middle of the gauge not way down on the left side like a 280 degree gauge. Plus they matched the 4000 RPM VDO tach. Went with the VDO tach because I didn't want an 8 grand tach for a stock flathead.

 

VDO gauges have worked well for me.

 

I've heard/read good things about Marshall Instruments. The next time I need to buy a set of gauges, it will be from them. It also appears as though they are made in the U.S.
Performance Auto Gauges from Marshall Instruments

 

I’ve had pretty good luck with Stewart Warner mechanical gauges and some trouble with their tachometers. Of course, the tachs are electric and you asked about mechanical. I believe current SW gauges are all made in Mexico but that’s expected these days. I can’t speak to the calibration accuracy but they seem to work just fine and they look traditional.

 

Since '63 I've always installed Stewart Warner mechanical gauges in all my cars. Recently I've got them off eBay or at swap meets. This is one of the gauge panels in my '55 Chevy.

 

I just looked at the Marshalls, they are nice, and the 0-100 lb oil pressure gauge I looked at was a bigger gauge - 1.6”Diameter. Very nice.

 

Have you ever found any old style ones? All I can find is 1980s and newer designs.

 

I've never found any, either. So I got new SW gauges.

 

Elco, that greenie volt gauge is rare!

 

I have had great luck with USA made old (pre mid 70's) Stewart Warner. Swapmeet or ePay, just look down under the bezel (at an angle) under the pointer for the "USA". The older ones you might have to rig up some lightening if they have light windows (I used a single led) on mine.

 

I had a few old SW gauges, and the lighting on them ****ed...the new ones are much better in that regard.

 

Jim, I have replaced the 1157 bulbs in all my SW gauges with led's, makes quite a difference and the ones I got can be dimmed.
Amazon, Yoder BA9S 12v white, 10 for $12.95

 

I tried that, didn't help.

 

I have some sw gauges...do you guys just replace the senders?

 

Mechanical gauges don't have senders.

 

I also like the older S&W cl***ic , Sun, green line's , Blue, Yes lighting not good on most old gauges , OT solution I use is Led bulbs, most of my testing is @ night I can just glance & see @ 100 pulse now in 1/8 .

 

Seconded.
I've had good luck with the modern Stewart Warner offerings also.

 

I mean the copper tubing with the coil around it..that I ***ume that has the merc inside it?

 

The temperature gauge has a capillary tube with a bulb at the end, it's filled with ether....if that's been broken or cut off, you're better off getting a new gauge. They can be repaired, using a tube and bulb from another gauge (you throw away the donor gauge), but it's kind of tricky to get it soldered back together, with the right amount of ether inside.

 

^^^^ I think I remember someone posting their process for fixing mechanical temp gauges. I was surprised that it could be done without some special equipment.
I’ve always preferred the SW mechanical gauges but my Morris Minor woody has a full complement of SW electric gauges and so far, so good. Come to think of it all of my flatbottom ski boats had SW electric gauges and I never had any problems.

 

Check surplus stores. They sometimes have name brand gauges at really good prices, hit or miss though. (Surplus center, Baily Sales)

 

There are gauge guys that can replace/repair the bulb for around $100, which makes it worth only fixing rare gauges. The regular small ones with a black face can be had for pretty cheap and you can check them with boiling water and a candy thermometer. All the ones I've had/have that work are pretty accurate still (and 95% of them still work). Obviously find them with the tube and capillary in good shape.

 

Any idea who these $100 fixers are? I got lines replaced over the years by four different sources & never paid that little. I'd be happy to get away with double that. Also, all of the fixers that I know charge more for the gauges that start under 100 degrees, because the gas they have to use is different & apparently a bit toxic. I don't think they're giving me a line on that, because I was told that by every source. In addition, there's usually a pretty long turnover time, as there are relatively few people doing it. And, the prices would probably be more if I hadn't done some of the work myself, before hand (like removing the bezel & gl*** & then reinstalling it when the gauge came back to me). I hope I'm wrong on all this.

 

I've had SW gauges repaired at: MoMa Manufacturing, 1321 2nd Street NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87102, (505)766-6661. Been about six years so call them for current prices.