Projects Traditional Four Gauge Order?

I am installing a new four gauge panel and gauges and was wondering if there is a traditional left to right lineup for the gauges. May just be a personal choice but I'm betting there is a traditional lineup.

 

To be period correct and like they did in the 50’s they went in this order .

1. Any
2. Way
3.You
4.Want

 

It isn't necessarily traditional, but I arrange according to importance of I formation. From left to right for me is, water temp, oil pressure, ammeter/voltmeter, and then fuel gauge.

 

I prefer L to R fuel, oil, temp, volt

 

62 Corvette has fuel, temp, amps, oil.

My old Chevy truck from the same design era has temp, amps, oil, fuel.

The car I built has fuel, oil, temp, boost. And an idiot light for the electrical system. Also these gauges are not all right in front of me, so having oil closest is important.

 

I'm using the original '29 Model AA gauge panel for most of my gauges, keeping the fuel, volt (instead of ammeter) and speedo in the same places, but replacing the ignition switch with an oil pressure gauge. I wanted a tachometer, and water and transmission temperature gauges, too, but didn't want to cut a hole in the fuel tank (even though it's now hollowed out for heater/defrost/ac). I fabricated an overhead console to hold a 3-3/8" tachometer, and the 2-1/16" temperature gauges on each side. It's a truck, made to haul and pull, so I want to know the temperatures first and foremost. I've put the fuel gauge in (below) just for fitment purposes.
I guess that makes it a five-gauge order, but I'd think knowing how hot your transmission fluid is getting should be just as important as fuel level, charging, water temperature and oil pressure.

 

When I built my 32 Sedan , I used an original type oval shaped dash insert with 5 holes , I installed the gauges, 4 gauges and the speedo with the theory of the important gauges closer to the driver (water temp and oil pressure) . When I started driving the car I noticed that the steering wheel interrupted the vision of the "important gauges" and so I ended up moving them to the far side of the speedo.

 

NO ONE CAN say..!
First, it's YOUR car, YOU pick the positions.

Second, it depends on the seating, the steering wheel, and WHERE in the dash these gauges will go!

I ALWAYS put the most important gauges at the easiest to see..."at a glance"...position, then move onto the end, or least important gauge, that I need to move my head, or look farther to the side to see.

Again...your car, NO ONE else needs to care, but you ! "Traditional" is in your head, make it your...car.

Mike

 

I am left handed, so I prefer mine mounted right to left otherwise I can't read them......

 

We wouldn’t be able to read your gauges anyways, on account they’d be upside down

 

Not to mention KPH, kPa/Bar and degrees Celcius...........

 

No idea of these are "traditional" or not but they work for me. Left head temp on the left and right head temp on the right.

 

GAUGES, GAUGES, "We don't need no stink'in gauges" Sorry couldn't resist,

 

And to throw a monkey wrench into it you can mount them all with the needle pointing straight up while at the proper settings so all you have to do is glance to see if there is a problem. Ala racecar style. You don't actually NEED TO READ them!

 

Order of concern I guess. But again.

"Once you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

 

I like I-Did-It lights…….

 

I am going to do the Outlaw order of gauges. Couldn't be anything more traditional than that.

 

My oil pressure gauge is right above the steering column, primest real estate there is, then going right are: water temp, voltage, then gas. Tach and Speedo are below those 3 gauges

 

Danny...What make and diameter are these gauges? (I also have a '54 Ford, a Coupe)

 

Some nice clusters on here. Any order you like . Probably not vertical though.

 

Left to right—-volts, water temp, oil pressure, fuel. Tach sits on dash ledge. Stock speedometer with integrated turn signal lights and high beam indicator.

 

We did Tha on our sprint cars. Only two gauges, but not enough time to study where the pointer was. So, we tilted the gauges so that the needles point ted straight up when everything was working well.

 

The correct traditional order would only apply if you are using traditional numbers matching gauges.

 

DFM>>> dont f****** matter

 

In order of danger to the car, Water, Oil, Fuel, Volts/Amp.
Another idea is to put them in the drivers side kick pannel. That will keep the dash cleaner.

 

I like your approach, I believe the windshield is a good indicator of what's going on with the engine. Water and oil will show up on it and tell you the story.

 

For me Tach, then oil pressure keeping an eye on the two things that will kill our engine. too many R.P.M. and lack of oil pressure are the most important.

 

For some odd reason this thread reminded me of an old friend whose often used the term "Clusterf**k" when referring to things..........

There really isn't a specific order for the guages other than making them easily viewable and cosmetically arranged with the other components on the dash. Every dash has its own needs. Something to consider is also a type of steering wheel that will allow easy line of sight to the guages.