Sunpro guages? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

lukecp · 06-25-2003, 10:40 PM

Last year i modified the dash of my truck to accept a aftermarket tach, oil pressure guage, coolant temp. guage, and amp guage. I used a Sunpro tach, which i like so far, but i used some el-cheapo Euqus guages, and 1 of them stopped working, and the 1 other dosen't work all that great. So, i plan to get another dash from the salvage yard tomorrow, and modify it to accept new guages.

I was looking at Autozone, and they have a kit of Sunpro guages, with a volt, oil, and water guage for $32. My Sunpro tach has held up fine for more than a year, but are their other guages as good? I want something that will last for at least 5-10 years, not the 12 months of the cheap ones i have now. Also, which is better to have, and amp guage or a volt guage?

Lightspeed · 06-25-2003, 10:48 PM

i bought a temp guage by sunpro and its starting to crap out on me after a month or so. it won't give me a reading for a good ten minutes after startup.

weasel29gm · 06-25-2003, 10:58 PM

I think Longhornmail used em' in his, looked great. I got a set of black faced Stewart-Warner I'd sell, they would look good in a stock panel.

Longhorn Man · 06-26-2003, 03:46 PM

I have used them for yers with absolutly no problems what so ever.
Volts is a better guage to know whats up under the hood, they are easier to wire, and safer too. (all the vehicle's power goes through an amp guage...not so with volts)

BubbaGreen · 06-26-2003, 07:48 PM

I too have had good luck with Sunpro gauges...I installed a set
in an 86 mustang that held up for approx 15yrs...what did them
in (at least on the electrical gauge) was the sun, the heat bent
the needles into the face of the gauge, then they would stick. I
also like the VDO gauge line...But I prefer mechanical type gauges
over electrical....and here is why: Say your gauge starts to show
low oil pressure, then you start to wonder if the gauge is bad,
the sending unit is bad, or even worse, are you actually losing oil
pressure and still have to hook up a mechanical gauge anyway.
Electrical type gauges are the easiest to hook up, but once done,
mechanical (oil press / water temp) a bit more faith can be had
with them. I too agree, a volt meter is a better choice than an
amp meter...esp with todays hi-output, hi amperage alternators
can really over do an amp meter, a short circuit in this size wire
would be dangerous. This is just my 2cents worth.

Ackattack · 06-26-2003, 08:58 PM

I have autometer guages, which are obviously more than sunpro, but I think it's one of those things..ya get what ya pay for.

Dean23 · 06-26-2003, 09:09 PM

I picked myself up Autometer Phantoms fo rm y 68. I'm going to use the custom billet panel from brothers. I got a 5" tach, 5" speedo and 4 2 5/8 oil press, gas guage, temp, and volt. I will need one more, but not sure if I'm gonna use a clock or vacuum guage

1972ChevyGuy · 06-26-2003, 09:10 PM

My daily driver has all full sweep sunpros. On the bottom are amps, water temp, volts, oil psi. I put a smaller tach in the factory tach hole in the top middle. It fit quite well. The gas/mph are factory. They are black faced and i think they look pretty cool, wish wifey would buy me a digi cam :/

SWINGSAX68 · 06-26-2003, 11:02 PM

eqqus has worked for me no problem....I bought them cause they were all black. they were pretty accurate....and let me know when my engine was about to quit on me on that sad trip home a few months back

.

*racedvl* · 06-26-2003, 11:10 PM

I have no problems with my set-up.

Mike C · 06-26-2003, 11:21 PM

www.surpluscenter.com has the Sun black and chrome oil psi gauge for $6.99. I bought a couple for my tractors. They have some other cheap gauges as well, but not enough to piece together a matching set.

Longhorn Man · 06-26-2003, 11:22 PM

Since we are pimpin inst cluster pics...here is mine. I still need a white tach, and i think I'll be putting a tranny temp guage in the dead hole....some day.

lngbed71 · 06-27-2003, 02:14 AM

I have the sunpro set-up and here is where I put mine. I've had no problems with them since the install last year.

**68Custom** · 06-27-2003, 02:53 AM

I heard stewart warner were very good gauges. I also heard you pay a quite a bit more for them than you would say..... equus or sunpro. We have a catalog of from that company at Oreilly's. They have some pretty sweet gauges but i don't think i could justify putting them in my beast. Just my .02 worth

Aaron

wxman1 · 06-27-2003, 03:11 AM

I've been meaning to ask...on the billet
dash pads...how do they fit to the dash?
As you know the dash has 2 humps formed
into it for the light switch and wiper
switch. Are they pressed to fit over these
humps? The ones I've seen are just flat
panels with the holes for the guages. Seems
to me that this would leave a space on the
edge. The original dahes have enough depth
to cover these humps.

Jim M.
Mt Juliet

lukecp · 06-27-2003, 10:27 AM

Thanks for all the info!

My current dash setup is the same as racedvl's and longhornmail's. I even have my tach in the middle, lol. The problem with the euqus guages is mainly the water temp guages. On the first water temp guage i had, it somehow shorted out in the backlighting, and caused the ether filled sending unitl line to rupture

. So i got another one back in January, and now it is screwed up too. It always is reading 240-280 degrees while i drive. At first i thought my truck was about to overheat, but then i looked at my oil pressure guage, and realized i had 50 psi at 2000 rpm, so i doubt the guage is accurate. The amp guage is also kind of screwey, it always sits so it appears i am loosing about 3 amps from the battery, even if i disconnect the battery.

I think i am just going to buy a new dash bezel and put it on my current cluster, so i don't have to hack up another original cluster. I also need to replace my speedometer while i am at it. Where is the cheapest place to get a new bezel? GMC Paul and Classic Heartbeat have them for about $50...

Longhorn Man · 06-27-2003, 11:39 AM

Check all the vendors on the main page. ( www.67-72chevytrucks.net) and look for sales. I bought 2 last winter on sale at 25 bucks each.

lukecp · 06-27-2003, 12:58 PM

Cool...i just ordered one from Rick's Pickup parts for $25. Half the price of the other vendors

Longhorn Man · 06-27-2003, 03:20 PM

Same guy...maybe I'll get one for myself this time.
The fit is not 100% perfect, but you should be able to make it work, I did twice.

1972ChevyGuy · 06-27-2003, 07:43 PM

Geez Longhorn, great minds must think alike eh?

I put my tach in the same place, lol

special70gmc · 06-27-2003, 07:51 PM

auto gage made by auto meter

muleskinner · 06-27-2003, 09:35 PM

special 70.... that looks good, keeping with the original black and white. it dont look out of place. you say autometer has a model called autogauge?

Blue_71 · 06-27-2003, 11:09 PM

kinda hard to see, but thats sunpros along the bottem of mine.,.. been there about 2 years now and the only problems i get are in my wiring harness

Longhorn Man · 06-27-2003, 11:13 PM

hey bloo...I like the radio duct taped to the dash!

Blue_71 · 06-27-2003, 11:23 PM

maybe i should also mention that pic is about 2 years old and its no longer tied to the top of the dash

right now everythign is outta the dash, the bondo around the CB started cracking so i had to do some work**

(**Disclaimer: thats not the original dash, i bought that one from a friend who had bondoed the ashtray hole smooth and i cut it out big enough for my CB to fit)

06-25-2003, 10:40 PM	#1
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	Sunpro guages? Last year i modified the dash of my truck to accept a aftermarket tach, oil pressure guage, coolant temp. guage, and amp guage. I used a Sunpro tach, which i like so far, but i used some el-cheapo Euqus guages, and 1 of them stopped working, and the 1 other dosen't work all that great. So, i plan to get another dash from the salvage yard tomorrow, and modify it to accept new guages. I was looking at Autozone, and they have a kit of Sunpro guages, with a volt, oil, and water guage for $32. My Sunpro tach has held up fine for more than a year, but are their other guages as good? I want something that will last for at least 5-10 years, not the 12 months of the cheap ones i have now. Also, which is better to have, and amp guage or a volt guage? __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

06-25-2003, 10:58 PM	#3
weasel29gm SLOW BUT SURE,BUT CLOSER Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: eleanor wv usa Posts: 3,093	I think Longhornmail used em' in his, looked great. I got a set of black faced Stewart-Warner I'd sell, they would look good in a stock panel. __________________ 69 C-10, OWNED 35YRS... 350 over 30, 350 Turbo, 3:73 Posi P/S, P/B Black with red and black int. ''LOVE THESE OLD ''TRUCKS.......

06-26-2003, 07:48 PM	#5
BubbaGreen Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Cedar Park, TX Posts: 686	I too have had good luck with Sunpro gauges...I installed a set in an 86 mustang that held up for approx 15yrs...what did them in (at least on the electrical gauge) was the sun, the heat bent the needles into the face of the gauge, then they would stick. I also like the VDO gauge line...But I prefer mechanical type gauges over electrical....and here is why: Say your gauge starts to show low oil pressure, then you start to wonder if the gauge is bad, the sending unit is bad, or even worse, are you actually losing oil pressure and still have to hook up a mechanical gauge anyway. Electrical type gauges are the easiest to hook up, but once done, mechanical (oil press / water temp) a bit more faith can be had with them. I too agree, a volt meter is a better choice than an amp meter...esp with todays hi-output, hi amperage alternators can really over do an amp meter, a short circuit in this size wire would be dangerous. This is just my 2cents worth. __________________ 71 Chevy C-10 SWB Fleetside RamJet-350/4L60e & Compushift/3.73Posi See it at www.prismnet.com/~grzanich

06-26-2003, 08:58 PM	#6
Ackattack Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Valley Center KS Posts: 3,525	I have autometer guages, which are obviously more than sunpro, but I think it's one of those things..ya get what ya pay for. __________________ Project Bruiser: 68 Pro-Touring C-10 5.3L / 4L60E Project Ironhide: 97 GMC Crew Cab 4x4 Cummins SOLD: '69 GMC 1/2T SWB TBI'd: Project No Buck Assembly Manual Index Sign up Thread!!! Factory Service Manual Index

06-26-2003, 09:09 PM	#7
Dean23 68cst_ss490 Join Date: May 2001 Location: edmonton,canada Posts: 1,363	I picked myself up Autometer Phantoms fo rm y 68. I'm going to use the custom billet panel from brothers. I got a 5" tach, 5" speedo and 4 2 5/8 oil press, gas guage, temp, and volt. I will need one more, but not sure if I'm gonna use a clock or vacuum guage __________________ Dean edmonton,canada a winter wonderland 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche LT cold air intake, performance exhaust, Comp cams cam, jba shorty ceramic headers. http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3090973

06-25-2003, 10:48 PM	#2
Lightspeed Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Virginia Posts: 226	i bought a temp guage by sunpro and its starting to crap out on me after a month or so. it won't give me a reading for a good ten minutes after startup.

06-26-2003, 03:46 PM	#4
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	I have used them for yers with absolutly no problems what so ever. Volts is a better guage to know whats up under the hood, they are easier to wire, and safer too. (all the vehicle's power goes through an amp guage...not so with volts)

06-26-2003, 09:10 PM	#8
1972ChevyGuy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kannapolis, NC Posts: 552	My daily driver has all full sweep sunpros. On the bottom are amps, water temp, volts, oil psi. I put a smaller tach in the factory tach hole in the top middle. It fit quite well. The gas/mph are factory. They are black faced and i think they look pretty cool, wish wifey would buy me a digi cam :/

06-26-2003, 11:02 PM	#9
SWINGSAX68 Now the others dig........ Join Date: May 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 1,520	eqqus has worked for me no problem....I bought them cause they were all black. they were pretty accurate....and let me know when my engine was about to quit on me on that sad trip home a few months back. __________________ 68 Chevy C10 Stepside Black Primer 78 GMC Longbed White 09 Chevy Silverado Shortbed Granite Blue *LOOKING FOR A 67 4 DOOR IMPALA!!!Just like Sam and Dean Winchester!! 'Cause Mustangs are for p^#$ and you can fit a body in the trunk of a 67 Impala* MEMBER OF THE DRUM BRAKE CLUB Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies Texas State University-San Marcos, TX Certified Music Educator I hope Mom is up there watching and being my Guardian Angel "I've got a fever.....and the only prescription.....IS MORE COW BELL" -The Legendary: Bruce Dickenson "F#$@ 'em up!!!!!!" -The Legendary: Rogelio Escobar TRUCKY LINKS** http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=457750 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=461184 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=472848 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=417541 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=477788

06-26-2003, 11:10 PM	#10
racedvl Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Woodstock, IL Posts: 7,020	I have no problems with my set-up. Attached Images

06-26-2003, 11:21 PM	#11
Mike C Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Austin, TX, USA Posts: 7,721	www.surpluscenter.com has the Sun black and chrome oil psi gauge for $6.99. I bought a couple for my tractors. They have some other cheap gauges as well, but not enough to piece together a matching set. __________________ 44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax

06-26-2003, 11:22 PM	#12
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Since we are pimpin inst cluster pics...here is mine. I still need a white tach, and i think I'll be putting a tranny temp guage in the dead hole....some day. Attached Images

06-27-2003, 02:14 AM	#13
lngbed71 Nothing fits but the oil Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gaston, Indiana Posts: 424	I have the sunpro set-up and here is where I put mine. I've had no problems with them since the install last year. Attached Images __________________ Land of the free Because of the brave

06-27-2003, 02:53 AM	#14
68Custom Hammer On! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Olathe, KS Posts: 473	I heard stewart warner were very good gauges. I also heard you pay a quite a bit more for them than you would say..... equus or sunpro. We have a catalog of from that company at Oreilly's. They have some pretty sweet gauges but i don't think i could justify putting them in my beast. Just my .02 worth Aaron __________________ 1968 C20 Inline 6 250 SM465 4 speed 1968 K10 Inline 6 250 SM465 4 speed

06-27-2003, 03:11 AM	#15
wxman1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: mt juliet, tennessee, usa Posts: 237	I've been meaning to ask...on the billet dash pads...how do they fit to the dash? As you know the dash has 2 humps formed into it for the light switch and wiper switch. Are they pressed to fit over these humps? The ones I've seen are just flat panels with the holes for the guages. Seems to me that this would leave a space on the edge. The original dahes have enough depth to cover these humps. Jim M. Mt Juliet



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06-27-2003, 10:27 AM	#16
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	Thanks for all the info! My current dash setup is the same as racedvl's and longhornmail's. I even have my tach in the middle, lol. The problem with the euqus guages is mainly the water temp guages. On the first water temp guage i had, it somehow shorted out in the backlighting, and caused the ether filled sending unitl line to rupture . So i got another one back in January, and now it is screwed up too. It always is reading 240-280 degrees while i drive. At first i thought my truck was about to overheat, but then i looked at my oil pressure guage, and realized i had 50 psi at 2000 rpm, so i doubt the guage is accurate. The amp guage is also kind of screwey, it always sits so it appears i am loosing about 3 amps from the battery, even if i disconnect the battery. I think i am just going to buy a new dash bezel and put it on my current cluster, so i don't have to hack up another original cluster. I also need to replace my speedometer while i am at it. Where is the cheapest place to get a new bezel? GMC Paul and Classic Heartbeat have them for about $50... __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

06-27-2003, 11:39 AM	#17
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Check all the vendors on the main page. ( www.67-72chevytrucks.net) and look for sales. I bought 2 last winter on sale at 25 bucks each.

06-27-2003, 12:58 PM	#18
lukecp Formerly yellow72custom Join Date: May 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 7,531	Cool...i just ordered one from Rick's Pickup parts for $25. Half the price of the other vendors __________________ '72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride. '70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck. '97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg

06-27-2003, 03:20 PM	#19
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Same guy...maybe I'll get one for myself this time. The fit is not 100% perfect, but you should be able to make it work, I did twice.

06-27-2003, 07:43 PM	#20
1972ChevyGuy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kannapolis, NC Posts: 552	Geez Longhorn, great minds must think alike eh? I put my tach in the same place, lol

06-27-2003, 07:51 PM	#21
special70gmc Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: long island, new york Posts: 1,333	auto gage made by auto meter Attached Images __________________ 1986 c-10 swb 5/7 drop 20'' coys 1958 belair 2door

06-27-2003, 09:35 PM	#22
muleskinner Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Valrico, FL Posts: 65	special 70.... that looks good, keeping with the original black and white. it dont look out of place. you say autometer has a model called autogauge? __________________ I'm not a Muleskinner...... Dad gave me that CB handle when I was 8 so......... it pops in my head every now and then.

06-27-2003, 11:13 PM	#24
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	hey bloo...I like the radio duct taped to the dash!

06-27-2003, 11:23 PM	#25
Blue_71 Bloo Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Barren County Kentucky Posts: 6,285	maybe i should also mention that pic is about 2 years old and its no longer tied to the top of the dash right now everythign is outta the dash, the bondo around the CB started cracking so i had to do some work (Disclaimer: thats not the original dash, i bought that one from a friend who had bondoed the ashtray hole smooth and i cut it out big enough for my CB to fit)

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