What is the best brand for gauges?

What is the best brand for gauges? W sound that the sunproou: that I have is either too old or something because its 40 degrees above the new cheapy gauge a friend gave me. BTW the sunpro is sitting on top of the intake and the cheapy in screwed in the intake and the sunpro still reads 40 degrees higher. Cheapy reads 160. Sunpro reads 200.:error:
The sunpro still reads the same as it did before, so it not being installed is out of the question.

 

Mechanical Auto Meter are a good choice.

 

Can anyone tell me the quality difference between electrical and mechanical temp gaugeso No:

 

For me the best Guage is Autometer hands down. I have used then for years with out any problems.
The differance between electical and mechanical are they way it reads. On electrical guages is has a sender unit the reads the pressure/ temp etc then transmits it to the guage. the mechanical has a borban tube that reads the trmps and transmits the signal through a tube to the guage.

Tim

 

I'm pretty sure most factory temp gauges are electrical on modern high performance cars. Not sure about vettes or vipers though. I use an autometer electric temp gauge in a pillar pod and it seems to be pretty accurate to me.

 

So then witch is better electrical or mechanical

 

i beliwve they're both equally just as accurate as the other...some people will say one or the other....just hear say and no proof.

some cons...plumbing tubes for the mechanics can be tricky for say A pillar gauges...some can leak **** inside

one for the electrical is it can short out in some scenerios

mechanical is usualy cheaper!
no plumbing tubes for electric....just wires

 

I had an electric oil pressure gauge that read low. I tried two different mechanical gauges and got a higher reading. I bought a new Auto Meter mechanical oil pressure guage and hooked it up and got the higher reading. Three mechanical versus one electrical. The Mech's were all the same, electric was off.

 

Also the mechanical gauges typically have full sweep (270 degree) read outs, while electricals only have 90 degree read outs. I've used Autometer Sport Comp 2-1/16" and Summit 2-5/8" gauges and have been happy with both.

Personally I prefer mechanical gauges mainly because the 270 degree scale makes them easier to read.

 

I've been running AutoMeter's electrical gages and won't buy another mechanical gage. And yes, I compared accuracy and response time between my temp and pressure gages when replacing my AutoMeter mechanical gages. No difference.

AutoMeter's full sweep electric gages have been available for years, now.

Devon

 

Most classic corvettes were equipped with mechanical gauges.
I compared electrical Autometer with the mechanical stock gauges on my dads 67 435-Vette.
No real difference.
I also bought electrical Autometers for my 57 Bel Air and I have them in my Centurion.
I wouldnt buy anything else than Autometer. I think you can go with the electrical. In my oppinion they are easier to install. You can run the wires with the orig. harness. So you keep a original look.

 

X's 2 Best on the market..No more capillary tube BS for me I use an electric water,trans temp but have to admit I use a mechanical oil pressure gauge.

 

Cool! thanks:gp:

 

Talking about gauges should we be running a voltmeter or a ammeter and why?

 

This will save me some typing.

http://www.egauges.com/ATM_Tips.asp?TipPage=voltmeterammeter.htm

Devon

 

Got it. Thanks

 

I like Autometer, either mechanical or electric. I dont run a volt meter in my GS, theres not a whole lot of electrical load. In my GN I do run a volt meter, much more electrical load in that car with the ecm, fans, fuel pump, powermaster for brakes, etc, etc. Voltage, or lack of, in that car, is much more critical. If your running an electric fuel pump, or fan, yeah, I would run a voltmeter. In my opinion, an ammeter is pretty much useless, it will show that the alternator is charging, but if your alt belt breaks, or the alt. takes a crap, the guage will still show "0" neither charge or discharge. A voltmeter will show the battery voltage, either 14.2 or so on start-up (charging) 13.8 or so cruising (maintaining) or dropping the more you drive (discharging) Mark

 

Exactly also the mechanical has cheap plastic tubing for oil pressure, that can burn and compression fittings that are finicky. I have mechanicals in my wagon as I got them used and didn't want to mix the looks. I burned through my plastic oil tube in two places, luckily it wasn't hooked up at the time. I am getting braided steel for hook up now.
Autometer does have full sweep electric gauges but they are $$$

Tim