I have a 31 Ford Model A Street Rod with a basic 350 Small Block and a TH400 transmission. I have 5 spots that can accommodate gauges, (2.3125 size) which would you chose? Not what brand, what type, example: Oil pressure, Water temperature, Volts ...ect
Oil pressure, water temperature, volts, fuel level, and a small tach if you don't have one somewhere else.
In my A I put one of these in the fifth gauge opening: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/old-vdo-clock.1308111/
Depending on your tastes, you could put one of those "combo" guages in the center and then add individual guages for other things on each side if you actually wanted to monitor some other things. As for brands, I'd say you need to look at several brands PRICES. I was shocked at what one well known company wanted for their guages. I'm not talking Stewart Warner, but a popular brand. Basically that brand was about double to triple what I paid for SW's. Some brands don't have all guages available in all styles......so be sure you can get what you want in that style before ordering anything. Also consider if you may want to add or change a guage later ......does that manufacturer make the guage for that need....in that style. To try to make this clearer.....If you are building an engine with the idea of possibly adding a supercharger at some future date..........is there a vacuum/pressure guage available in that style or would you have to use a non-matching style? Same with things like trans temp or even an O2 sensor. I did a lot of comparing because many styles didn't offer all the guages I wanted. If you are just going with the 5 common basic guages, then its not an issue.
Water Temp, Oil Pressure, Fuel level, Volts, Vacuum That's ***uming you already have a place for the speedo and tach
If you have a speedo and tach already. Fuel level, water temp, oil pressure, hide a charge light and fill the rest..........it's a Hot Rod .
Only basics speedometer tachometer oil pressure Water temperature Fuel level these are the only gauges you need to check on regularly.
I will just submit this. I have Tach, Oil psi, Water temp, Volts, Vacuum, Boost, Fuel level, Fuel Psi, AFR, and Trans temp. And a horn.
What's necessary? Fuel level, oil pressure, water temperature, voltage. Wanna speedometer? It's on your cell phone. Wanna tachometer? Clean the wax out of your ears. If its putting a lot of heat into the transmission, a transmission temperature gauge, too. If you want the vacuum gauge, put it in the engine bay where you'll use it the most.
Speedo, water temp, fuel. The rest, idiot lights. I like to look where I'm going. Too many gauges induces stress. I guess some people like the busy/cluttered look like Victorian interior decorating...which is fine, each to their own. And I know you're asking about a street rod, but please, nothing with a fish on them. (Although technically, dolphins aren't fish)
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