Guages

argatoga · November 4th, 2009, 10:18 PM

I'm thinking of replacing the gauges on my MG. I know I will be replacing the tach (the original is dead and the current one is too tacky (ha)).

Anyone know of any good looking gauges that I can fit into my Midget.

For reference here is an older style but similar dash. (I am hot linking this so hopefully it won't appear as someone stretched ass.)

Spectre · November 4th, 2009, 10:22 PM

What size holes do you have in the dash? That will tell you what size aftermarket gauges you can most easily fit.

matt2000 · November 4th, 2009, 10:51 PM

The fuel gauge seems to be the standard 'small' size for afermarket gauges so most will fit there. Speedo and tacho are a different story, but the speedo does look strangely familiar to me.

Here's a UK site that lists loads of gauges, which you can use to find gauges and then find them in the US if you want. I expect there are lots of similar US sites though.

argatoga · November 4th, 2009, 11:00 PM

I haven't measured the small gauges, but I remember the speedo and tach being non standard. I don't have the sizes off the top of my head. I'll ask around on-line. If I don't hear anything tonight I'll go ahead and measure them tomorrow.

Spectre · November 4th, 2009, 11:40 PM

Also, how do the gauges attach?

You'll probably need to gut the big gauges and reuse their housings, like I did with mine.

argatoga · November 4th, 2009, 11:59 PM

I have no problem gutting them. If I remember correctly there are two clips which attach to the side of the housing. They hold it in by pushing out. Not sure if that makes sense.

Pug · November 5th, 2009, 1:02 AM

I took this video at MPH'06 of some really sweet gauges...

+ YouTube Video

+ YouTube Video

+ YouTube Video

argatoga · November 5th, 2009, 4:58 PM

Thanks to the guys at the MG experience forums I found the measurements.

http://www.gaugeguys.com/Smiths/classic.htm

So 100mm for the tach and speedo and 52mm for the rest.

Further research shows that 100mm was pretty common for Smith gauges. Autometer makes some Cobra knock offs for half the price of the Smiths replicas. Are these worthwhile?

http://www.autometer.com/cat_gaugede...id=3369&sid=52

prizrak · November 5th, 2009, 6:36 PM

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-31066_7...eed&subj=Crave

argatoga · November 5th, 2009, 6:39 PM

I'd prefer traditional gauges. Also from the article:

Quote:

The ESP module is a hideaway box that connects to (and is powered by) your vehicle's OBD-II diagnostics port.

The Mazda ECU isn't ODB-II.

Spectre · November 6th, 2009, 3:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by argatoga

Thanks to the guys at the MG experience forums I found the measurements.

http://www.gaugeguys.com/Smiths/classic.htm

So 100mm for the tach and speedo and 52mm for the rest.

Further research shows that 100mm was pretty common for Smith gauges. Autometer makes some Cobra knock offs for half the price of the Smiths replicas. Are these worthwhile?

http://www.autometer.com/cat_gaugede...id=3369&sid=52

Those are okay, but those are about the only ones that will directly fit. You will find that if you gut the originals and remove the glass (you may need to get two tachs to do it properly), you can fit standard 4" gauges - at which point you have a lot more options.

I recommend going with all electric gauges - having fluid lines coming into the cabin blows goats.

argatoga · November 6th, 2009, 3:53 AM

Who else makes 4" gauges? All I saw was Smiths and these autometers.

prizrak · November 6th, 2009, 4:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by argatoga

I'd prefer traditional gauges. Also from the article:

The Mazda ECU isn't ODB-II.

Oh yeah forgot your car has a bit more "character" than most of the ones I deal with

Spectre · November 6th, 2009, 4:20 AM

Er, sorry, not 4". If you gut your 4" gauges, you can fit most 3 3/8" gauges into the cups, which is the most common "big" gauge size out there. That's how I was able to fit Dakota Digital gauges to the Series III.

Edit: Thought I'd post some pics of how I did it to give you an idea.

An original 4" tach that I gutted to make a new mounting cup for the new Dakota Digital gauge.

The tachs will often (on Jags, sometimes on others) have this adapter ring internally, behind the face.

Interestingly, those rings are 3 3/8" internal diameter....

... and make the perfect adapter rings for your typical 3 3/8" gauge.

Put the ring back on the cup and then stick the gauge in to determine where you will need to cut the cup.

Like so.

Holes drilled, access port for wiring harness cut.

All wired up.

Once you reassemble the outer "ring" onto the cup, it looks like it belongs there.

So, not really that hard at all.

argatoga · November 6th, 2009, 4:43 PM

I'll try that out. Are there any brands you would recommend for gauges?

Spectre · November 6th, 2009, 4:47 PM

Autometer's got some good stuff, VDO is excellent, Dakota Digital is good.

InfernalVortex · November 6th, 2009, 8:58 PM

Another +1 for Autometer and Dakota Digital as they are both well-regarded. I'm not a fan of digital gauges, though. So for me I'd stick with autometer. I'm not too familiar with VDO.

argatoga · November 8th, 2009, 6:20 PM

Is there a place where I can get a gauge holder like the one below without any gauges in it? I'd like to add more without butchering my dash. I'd be fitting it under the dash.

Edit: Looks like Summit delivers. http://www.summitracing.com/search/D...?Ns=Rank%7cAsc

argatoga · November 8th, 2009, 7:25 PM

Well I gather I'll start with the tach being that the in dash one doesn't work. I like the look of the Autometer ES. Is it worth being nearly $200?

argatoga · November 10th, 2009, 1:27 AM

I got ahold of my tach. Looks like it is 80mm after all. Unfortunately I can't find any LED analog tachs that size from either autometer or VDO.

November 4th, 2009, 10:18 PM	#1
argatoga Can't Start His Wank Joined: Oct 4th, 2005 Last Online: 6:43 AM Location: Washington State, USA Age: 26 Posts: 4,793 Car: '78 MG Midget, '78 Honda CB400t Rep Power: 164	Guages I'm thinking of replacing the gauges on my MG. I know I will be replacing the tach (the original is dead and the current one is too tacky (ha)). Anyone know of any good looking gauges that I can fit into my Midget. For reference here is an older style but similar dash. (I am hot linking this so hopefully it won't appear as someone stretched ass.) __________________ "If you think about it breast implants aren't much different than braces. Their main purpose is to improve one's appearance, at least that's how it was in my case." - KaJun "Anyway, I'm off to eat my dick" - Austere

November 4th, 2009, 10:22 PM	#2
Spectre Joined: Feb 1st, 2007 Last Online: 10:26 AM Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 32 Posts: 8,359 Car: 87 XJ6, 95 XJR, 90 WD21, 86 CB700SC, 98 PC800 Rep Power: 191	What size holes do you have in the dash? That will tell you what size aftermarket gauges you can most easily fit. __________________ Enough is enough. We are not here to subsidize your clueless business plans or reward your failures. 1986 Honda Nighthawk 700S (project, light restoration in progress) 1987 Jaguar XJ6 Series III Vanden Plas (modified) 1990 Nissan (WD21) Pathfinder SE 4x4 (little red offroad commuter box) 1995 Jaguar (X300) XJR 1998 Honda Pacific Coast PC800 (two-wheeled pickup truck/utility bike)

November 4th, 2009, 10:51 PM	#3
matt2000 Hedgehog Sandwich Joined: Feb 17th, 2006 Last Online: 10:20 AM Location: Meerkat Harborough, UK Age: 19 Posts: 5,616 Car: 1977 lol sprung Land Rover shed LFS Status: Rep Power: 101	The fuel gauge seems to be the standard 'small' size for afermarket gauges so most will fit there. Speedo and tacho are a different story, but the speedo does look strangely familiar to me. Here's a UK site that lists loads of gauges, which you can use to find gauges and then find them in the US if you want. I expect there are lots of similar US sites though. __________________ Forza 3 Owners Club

November 4th, 2009, 11:00 PM	#4
argatoga Can't Start His Wank Joined: Oct 4th, 2005 Last Online: 6:43 AM Location: Washington State, USA Age: 26 Posts: 4,793 Car: '78 MG Midget, '78 Honda CB400t Rep Power: 164	I haven't measured the small gauges, but I remember the speedo and tach being non standard. I don't have the sizes off the top of my head. I'll ask around on-line. If I don't hear anything tonight I'll go ahead and measure them tomorrow. __________________ "If you think about it breast implants aren't much different than braces. Their main purpose is to improve one's appearance, at least that's how it was in my case." - KaJun "Anyway, I'm off to eat my dick" - Austere

November 4th, 2009, 11:40 PM	#5
Spectre Joined: Feb 1st, 2007 Last Online: 10:26 AM Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 32 Posts: 8,359 Car: 87 XJ6, 95 XJR, 90 WD21, 86 CB700SC, 98 PC800 Rep Power: 191	Also, how do the gauges attach? You'll probably need to gut the big gauges and reuse their housings, like I did with mine. __________________ Enough is enough. We are not here to subsidize your clueless business plans or reward your failures. 1986 Honda Nighthawk 700S (project, light restoration in progress) 1987 Jaguar XJ6 Series III Vanden Plas (modified) 1990 Nissan (WD21) Pathfinder SE 4x4 (little red offroad commuter box) 1995 Jaguar (X300) XJR 1998 Honda Pacific Coast PC800 (two-wheeled pickup truck/utility bike)

November 4th, 2009, 11:59 PM	#6
argatoga Can't Start His Wank Joined: Oct 4th, 2005 Last Online: 6:43 AM Location: Washington State, USA Age: 26 Posts: 4,793 Car: '78 MG Midget, '78 Honda CB400t Rep Power: 164	I have no problem gutting them. If I remember correctly there are two clips which attach to the side of the housing. They hold it in by pushing out. Not sure if that makes sense. __________________ "If you think about it breast implants aren't much different than braces. Their main purpose is to improve one's appearance, at least that's how it was in my case." - KaJun "Anyway, I'm off to eat my dick" - Austere

November 5th, 2009, 4:58 PM	#8
argatoga Can't Start His Wank Joined: Oct 4th, 2005 Last Online: 6:43 AM Location: Washington State, USA Age: 26 Posts: 4,793 Car: '78 MG Midget, '78 Honda CB400t Rep Power: 164	Thanks to the guys at the MG experience forums I found the measurements. http://www.gaugeguys.com/Smiths/classic.htm So 100mm for the tach and speedo and 52mm for the rest. Further research shows that 100mm was pretty common for Smith gauges. Autometer makes some Cobra knock offs for half the price of the Smiths replicas. Are these worthwhile? http://www.autometer.com/cat_gaugede...id=3369&sid=52 __________________ "If you think about it breast implants aren't much different than braces. Their main purpose is to improve one's appearance, at least that's how it was in my case." - KaJun "Anyway, I'm off to eat my dick" - Austere Last edited by argatoga; November 5th, 2009 at 6:08 PM.

November 5th, 2009, 6:36 PM	#9
prizrak Joined: Apr 2nd, 2007 Last Online: 5:50 AM Location: Brooklyn, NY Age: 26 Posts: 3,025 Car: Audi A4 1.8T Rep Power: 39	http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-31066_7...eed&subj=Crave

November 6th, 2009, 3:53 AM	#12
argatoga Can't Start His Wank Joined: Oct 4th, 2005 Last Online: 6:43 AM Location: Washington State, USA Age: 26 Posts: 4,793 Car: '78 MG Midget, '78 Honda CB400t Rep Power: 164	Who else makes 4" gauges? All I saw was Smiths and these autometers. __________________ "If you think about it breast implants aren't much different than braces. Their main purpose is to improve one's appearance, at least that's how it was in my case." - KaJun "Anyway, I'm off to eat my dick" - Austere

November 6th, 2009, 4:20 AM	#14
Spectre Joined: Feb 1st, 2007 Last Online: 10:26 AM Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 32 Posts: 8,359 Car: 87 XJ6, 95 XJR, 90 WD21, 86 CB700SC, 98 PC800 Rep Power: 191	Er, sorry, not 4". If you gut your 4" gauges, you can fit most 3 3/8" gauges into the cups, which is the most common "big" gauge size out there. That's how I was able to fit Dakota Digital gauges to the Series III. Edit: Thought I'd post some pics of how I did it to give you an idea. An original 4" tach that I gutted to make a new mounting cup for the new Dakota Digital gauge. The tachs will often (on Jags, sometimes on others) have this adapter ring internally, behind the face. Interestingly, those rings are 3 3/8" internal diameter.... ... and make the perfect adapter rings for your typical 3 3/8" gauge. Put the ring back on the cup and then stick the gauge in to determine where you will need to cut the cup. Like so. Holes drilled, access port for wiring harness cut. All wired up. Once you reassemble the outer "ring" onto the cup, it looks like it belongs there. So, not really that hard at all. __________________ Enough is enough. We are not here to subsidize your clueless business plans or reward your failures. 1986 Honda Nighthawk 700S (project, light restoration in progress) 1987 Jaguar XJ6 Series III Vanden Plas (modified) 1990 Nissan (WD21) Pathfinder SE 4x4 (little red offroad commuter box) 1995 Jaguar (X300) XJR 1998 Honda Pacific Coast PC800 (two-wheeled pickup truck/utility bike) Last edited by Spectre; November 6th, 2009 at 4:41 AM.

November 6th, 2009, 4:43 PM	#15
argatoga Can't Start His Wank Joined: Oct 4th, 2005 Last Online: 6:43 AM Location: Washington State, USA Age: 26 Posts: 4,793 Car: '78 MG Midget, '78 Honda CB400t Rep Power: 164	I'll try that out. Are there any brands you would recommend for gauges? __________________ "If you think about it breast implants aren't much different than braces. Their main purpose is to improve one's appearance, at least that's how it was in my case." - KaJun "Anyway, I'm off to eat my dick" - Austere

November 6th, 2009, 4:47 PM	#16
Spectre Joined: Feb 1st, 2007 Last Online: 10:26 AM Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 32 Posts: 8,359 Car: 87 XJ6, 95 XJR, 90 WD21, 86 CB700SC, 98 PC800 Rep Power: 191	Autometer's got some good stuff, VDO is excellent, Dakota Digital is good. __________________ Enough is enough. We are not here to subsidize your clueless business plans or reward your failures. 1986 Honda Nighthawk 700S (project, light restoration in progress) 1987 Jaguar XJ6 Series III Vanden Plas (modified) 1990 Nissan (WD21) Pathfinder SE 4x4 (little red offroad commuter box) 1995 Jaguar (X300) XJR 1998 Honda Pacific Coast PC800 (two-wheeled pickup truck/utility bike)

November 6th, 2009, 8:58 PM	#17
InfernalVortex Joined: Oct 28th, 2007 Last Online: 10:22 AM Location: Macon, Georgia, USA Age: 24 Posts: 588 Car: 92 Camaro Rep Power: 28	Another +1 for Autometer and Dakota Digital as they are both well-regarded. I'm not a fan of digital gauges, though. So for me I'd stick with autometer. I'm not too familiar with VDO. __________________

November 8th, 2009, 6:20 PM	#18
argatoga Can't Start His Wank Joined: Oct 4th, 2005 Last Online: 6:43 AM Location: Washington State, USA Age: 26 Posts: 4,793 Car: '78 MG Midget, '78 Honda CB400t Rep Power: 164	Is there a place where I can get a gauge holder like the one below without any gauges in it? I'd like to add more without butchering my dash. I'd be fitting it under the dash. Edit: Looks like Summit delivers. http://www.summitracing.com/search/D...?Ns=Rank%7cAsc __________________ "If you think about it breast implants aren't much different than braces. Their main purpose is to improve one's appearance, at least that's how it was in my case." - KaJun "Anyway, I'm off to eat my dick" - Austere Last edited by argatoga; November 8th, 2009 at 6:54 PM.

November 8th, 2009, 7:25 PM	#19
argatoga Can't Start His Wank Joined: Oct 4th, 2005 Last Online: 6:43 AM Location: Washington State, USA Age: 26 Posts: 4,793 Car: '78 MG Midget, '78 Honda CB400t Rep Power: 164	Well I gather I'll start with the tach being that the in dash one doesn't work. I like the look of the Autometer ES. Is it worth being nearly $200? __________________ "If you think about it breast implants aren't much different than braces. Their main purpose is to improve one's appearance, at least that's how it was in my case." - KaJun "Anyway, I'm off to eat my dick" - Austere

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November 10th, 2009, 1:27 AM	#20
argatoga Can't Start His Wank Joined: Oct 4th, 2005 Last Online: 6:43 AM Location: Washington State, USA Age: 26 Posts: 4,793 Car: '78 MG Midget, '78 Honda CB400t Rep Power: 164	I got ahold of my tach. Looks like it is 80mm after all. Unfortunately I can't find any LED analog tachs that size from either autometer or VDO. __________________ "If you think about it breast implants aren't much different than braces. Their main purpose is to improve one's appearance, at least that's how it was in my case." - KaJun "Anyway, I'm off to eat my dick" - Austere

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