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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Valparaiso, Indiana
Posts: 38
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What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
I'm going to re-do the factory gauge panel with Auto Meters--after the oil psi, water temp, and volts, what do you think would be the wisest choice for a 4th gauge?
Vacuum gauge to better monitor the engine? I had a transmission cook on me once, but only once, so a temp gauge for that would be useful. I can't make up my mind on this one... |
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#2 |
Senior Member
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Location: Corona, CA
Posts: 1,840
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
I vote Vacuum!
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MusicMan70 1961 GMC Suburban |
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#3 |
Registered User
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Location: Virginia's Eastern Shore
Posts: 91
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
If you're running an automatic trans the temp gauge would be a real eye opener, especially towing on warm days, running high stall converter, etc. The vacuum gauge is useful for troubleshooting sometimes, but most useful under the hood. Also for improving economy, but an even better gauge for that (and another eye-opener) would be a wide band air/fuel ratio meter. Are you putting in a tach? What about a fuel gauge?
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#4 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Valparaiso, Indiana
Posts: 38
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
Quote:
I'm not familiar with air/fuel ratio meter--how do they hook up? What's the difference between narrow and wide band? I just did a quick look through a Classic Industries catalog and the narrow is under $100, the wide is in the $300 range for various gauge models...big difference! |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Valparaiso, Indiana
Posts: 38
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
A lot of good ideas here--thanks, people!
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#6 | |
Registered User
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Location: Virginia's Eastern Shore
Posts: 91
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
RG--
The narrow band just senses/indicates whether or not you are at stoichiometric mixture. Wide band gives you the actual ratio value through a fairly wide range from lean to rich. You haven't really tuned until you've done so with wide band. Very common to hook up to a wide band a/f ratio setup and learn that what was thought to be very well tuned is actually pretty rich, and/or finding that different throttle conditions vary greatly from rich to lean. There should be some difference, the trick is to get the right amount of difference for the right condition. In other words, partial throttle cruise should be leaner than WOT, and the best values for each of those conditions should be within a very narrow range. Here is a really good article on tuning by a/f ratio, a little dated but still informative: http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...age/index.html Wide band is more expensive, and especially so if you have several vehicles you want to monitor. Narrow band is better than nothing. Quote:
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#7 |
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Parkville, MD
Posts: 1,024
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
I saw one with nothing where the factory tach goes, a tach where the fuel gauge normally is, then a small fuel gauge at the bottom. Looked much nicer and it seemed more useful using that 5" gauge slot for a tach than a fuel gauge
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1970 C20 Custom Camper - 350, TH350 1997 GMC Suburban 1994 Acura Integra GSR 1987 Dodge Daytona Shelby Z |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: St. Paul MN.
Posts: 1,996
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
X 2 on trans temp gauge [if it is a auto trans]
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Fuzzy |
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#9 |
Sisyphus was my mentor!
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Location: Carleton Place, Ontario CANADA
Posts: 984
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
I vote for the trans temp gauge.
Drove the Beartooth Pass one year & looked down at my trans temp gauge & almost crapped my pants. Pulled off at a rest area & let it cool down for a bit - had a cooler on there too. Saved my 700r4 that day I figure.
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passthebuck ![]() #5642 -TWO 1967 GMC 910's. One with L6/3-on-the tree and the other with 355 w/435hp & a 700r4. -a 2013 Honda Civic as my "sensible" car |
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#10 |
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Location: Northport, Alabama
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
. . . .
Here's another variation: . . . . |
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#11 |
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Location: Tucson, AZ USA
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
Vacuum.
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Every 25 years I like to rebuild that 292, whether it needs it or not. |
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#12 |
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Pueblo West, CO
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
Man. I am digging that cluster. What did it run you and how can I get one?
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67 C10 Stepside 66 Mustang Coupe 99 Burb 2500 |
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#13 | |
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Location: Northport, Alabama
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
Quote:
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#14 |
Registered User
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Location: Prague, Ok
Posts: 29
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
I went with the vacumn gauge, it's not that much use when your engine is running right but I think it looks cool.
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#15 |
Special Order
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Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,859
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
I have a transmission temperature gauge in my K2500. I also have a larger free-standing vacuum gauge mounted to the bottom edge of the dash that you can actually read while driving. It is color keyed with idle,economy,cruising,and power zones as well as numbers.
My '67 C1500 will have an tach/air gauge because it'll be a manual with air bags in the rear so I can haul with a 6" drop w/o a c-notch. I have a large dial vacuum gauge in a chrome pod from a 60-66 Pontiac. I really like having a vacuum gauge to monitor fuel mileage,as well as tuning. It's amazing how with a slight lift of the foot you can maintain the same speed yet increase the air to fuel ratio for better mileage. Car makers should have been doing this for all these years they've pretended to care about fuel efficiency. It does the same thing as what these digital electronic economy monitors do in vehicles in recent years. I like that cluster Steve showed. I always thought I'd add a clock,but these days stereos always have one or the cell phone is always handy. And,another gauge is more important. A large vacuum gauge would be great top center.
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
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#16 |
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 192
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
A boost gauge to monitor the twin turbo setup u could install. JK. I vote small fuel gauge, then do a big tach were the fuel one was
Posted via Mobile Device
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If you can't impress them with your inteligence, dazzle'm with your stupidity 1969 GMC lwb 2wheel drive can you say big stroker motor to come hehe |
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#17 |
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Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Center City, MN, USA
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
I vote transmission temp.
I put a quartz clock in the extra hole. Then I got a stereo that fits the uncut dash that has a clock so that quartz clock is of no use to me. I have a transmission temp gauge mounted knee-knocker style. Some day when I have a bunch of time I'm going to put the trans temp in the 4th hole and get rid of that clock. I use tans temp all the time and never need the clock. I will say however that those 80s clocks out of subs and pick-ups keep very good time.
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'70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN |
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#18 | |
Just a car guy
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: New Washington, IN
Posts: 991
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
Quote:
Fuel level ![]()
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#19 |
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
Vacuum here to
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I don't think we get smarter as we get older. We just run out of Stupid things to do. |
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Covington, Wa
Posts: 5,240
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
If you are running an airbag setup you can put an air gauge in to monitor tank pressure.
Posted via Mobile Device Last edited by bmfm64; 10-05-2011 at 10:14 AM. |
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#21 |
Just a car guy
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: New Washington, IN
Posts: 991
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
Vacum.
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1955 belair Blown Pro Street cruiser 1971 Camaro Pro Touring 1973 Vega Drag Car 1970 C20 tow rig |
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#22 |
Registered User
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Location: Rathdrum Idaho
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
I would say fuel gauge... Just my 2 cents
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#23 |
Registered User
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Location: Sabinal, Texas
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
Afr
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#24 |
Moderator
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
vacuum gauge
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1972 C/10 Cheyenne Super SWB. Restored, loaded, slammed. 1968 C/10 50th Anniversary LWB. Unrestored, stock, daily driver/work truck. RIP ElJay RIP 67ChevyRedneck RIP Grumpy Old Man |
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#25 |
needs more $$$
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 1,936
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Re: What would be the most useful "4th" gauge to install?
My vote would be for vacuum so you can try to monitor your fuel consumption.
Steve Hafner...what gauges are those? That's the cleanest stock look-a-like cluster I have seen!
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