Great! Now I'm addicted to vintage gauges!

Hey SMITTY!!!! The build is going a little slow, but it's still moving. I put a picture up on my blog yesterday from the weekend. (link is in my signature line). It probably doesn't look much different, but let's just say the quarter windows are a different shape now.

I'm just glad to be to the point where I have to look for gauges to fill a dash! Too bad it resulted in a NEW addiction. Hopefully I can keep it to a dull roar...

There is some funny stuff here!

Wico and U.S... anyone want to expand on these makes? Maybe post some pictures?

 

Just something to consider: With a quick-change rear end, you're gonna have to reset any speedometer, mechanical or electric. Some electrics really **** with adjustments and a drive gear swap would've been easier.

 

YES! I'm trying to figure that all out. My speedo drive gears are going to be really hard to switch, so speedo calibration is probably my only option.

Anyone else running a quick change on the street want to elaborate on what they do?? Just guess at the speed, I presume??

 

OH GOD! I just saw this one...



Holy F*&K that's cool!!! WAAAY out of my price range though...

 

Cool thread. I love the gauges in the old cars. Up thru the 50's and some 60's
I like when someone retains the old ones. They had such style and cl***. Some of the 50's cars blow me away. All the chrome and "bling(sorry)
My 40 Merc came with the stock openings in the dash but Dakota digital.
It's an ok compromise but I'd still like to have at least stock looking guages. If the digital light was a sepia or bone color it would help a little.

 

If the speedo has an odometer, then drive say 10 miles and see what distance the odometer gives you - thats your conversion ratio. And the only speeds you really need to know is the open road limit and the in town limit - work them out according to the above ratio and thats the legal limits on your speedo. Change QC gears - just do it again.

 

+ see Rodders Jnl #10 for a great article on early SW gauges.

 

I heard about this article! I'm not sure if I have that issue... I'll check!

Good tip on the QC strategy.

 

I think a fair machinest could work out an adaptor...there are 90 degree tach adaptors out there meant to drive from cank or cam end (50 and 100%) (Source?? Lost the damn source...roadracing place). One of those could be hung onto upper shaft of a QC on the endplate, driving the speedo drive gear...with right choice og gears, seems to me upper shaft would be correct no matter what lower shaft is doing. You'd need to fabricate and machine a box capable of holding drive and driven gears from a transmission. Some Zephyrs drove their speedos off of a rear axle, presumably to simplify the Columbia system.

 

I've been staring at so many different gauges over the past few days that I sware my gl***es have numbers and and pointers embeded on them! HA!

With that being said... how uncool would it be to mismatch gauges?? I found a couple really cool tachs and speedos that match eachother (which would solve my input issues) and then run something else for fuel, temp, oil, amps, etc... All black face. I even found a fuel gauge that has no matching gauges in it's series. Just a stand alone, probably an add-on accesorie of some kind, I suppose.

My eyes and brain hurt!!

 

I think it really depends on what they are and how you have them set up. I'm running a stock 35/36 Ford speedo (in a 35/36 Ford dash) with a vintage tach. (No tach yet as previously mentioned.) I think that'll be cool and look "right" but mixing different aftermarket might not look as appealing.

 

Thanks for the compliment. Those are the New Vintage USA Woodward series. We just applied to be an alliance vendor, so look for some discounts soon.

Sorry to hijack, back to the main event...

Mark

 

I've got the same set of gauges for my coupe, except mine have a white face. Love these gauges...

Hot Rod stuff is so easy to get addicted to, it's actually scary at times.

 

I'm a ****er for 64 and older Jones tachs and the first series of the black and white style Eelco's. Anyone have an Eelco water temp to trade/sell?

 

No wonder why i can't find anything for sale; YOU have it all stored up.

 

wasn't there a "Gas Ronda" Tachometer.....like to see a picture.

 

Nice setup but isn't a 150 psi fuel pressure gauge kinda overkill? Don't you only need about 4 or 5 psi? I know SW made 1-10 psi fuel gauges but i think only in the front mount style. Johnny

 

I'm trying to find a couple of old aircraft gauges. I have a buddy that works in the military industrial complex that say he can make most work. I keep looking around for the right air speed, air temp and al***ude type gauges. I confess its the first thing I look at if I can stick my head into a car...yup I'm an addict too. I think I have 3 or 4 sets of 42-48 of chevy Speedo's & clocks.

 

Took me about ten years to ***emble a set ( Speedo/oil/water/amp/fuel/volt/fuel pressure 1-10# for moon tank) Large logo flat gl*** NOS gauges but well worth it, Gauges along with my steering wheel are my direct connection with my ride.
If you want to check out pricing for your conversion try

www.williamsons.com

Terry

 

Nice setup but isn't a 150 psi fuel pressure gauge kinda overkill? Don't you only need about 4 or 5 psi? I know SW made 1-10 psi fuel gauges but i think only in the front mount style. Johnny

Yes Johnny you are partly right, but S/W never made 2 3/8 inch Air Gauge with a 1 to 10 or even a 20 lb that I am aware of, unless you know something that I don’t? I would like to have this one recalibrated with a matching Dial _ Curved Lens & Crescent Pointer if I ever have the coin. Thanks for the input; Ric[/COLOR]

 

For those of you who are ALSO gauge freaks, a social group has been started. Join up and keep the madness going! Hopefully it will become a good resource spot!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=442

 

The 150# SW gauge was made, I believe, to monitor pressure in truck air brakes and can't be used to accurately measure the less than 10# pressure in a fuel tank

The old SW made 2 5/8" pressure gauges (10#) specifically to monitor pressure in hand pressurized fuel tanks (Moon, Eelco etc.)

New Sw gauges are 15# and (IMHO) not worth the pressure to blow them apart.

Terry

 

ill post a picture later of the gauge pod i made

 

I grew up in North Tonawanda, NY where Radatron gauges were made. They also made radar detectors and other items. There is one decal out that says "Jim Hurtubise Uses Radatron"--Jim was also from North Tonawanda. The gauges were made in the 60's and I think into the 70's but not really sure of exact dates or what happened to them. I'm gonna email folks at the Tonawanda's Historical Society and see if I can get more info. I just got a nice Radatron tach and radar sentry for my '62 Falcon.

 

SW Guages in my A -

 

Whoa is that an original one? Pretty rare stuff. I wish they made a quality reproduction, the repops they have now are kinda chinzy. Johnny

 

God i hate this thread! why, oh why must it torture me! perhaps the fact that gauges are the direct interface between the driver and motor. You MUST have accurate gauges to determine if your car is performing up-to-snuff. i see lots of cars where awful gauge selection has just stuck me in the eye, no matter how nice the car. if you stick your head in the window and someone has "el-cheapo" or non-period correct gauges, it just blows the whole car for me. with some careful shopping. you can get a good looking set of gauges. On the flip-side, i've purchased TONS of gauges of various patinas. to come up with a single set that matches. i guess i'm a gauge NAZI but if it don't match, you're not trying hard enough.

 

Yes sir, it is -