Gauge suggestions for SPF's?

[madmaxx]

I am tired of the Smith gauge poor accuracy, how they must be cuddled etc. the only thing I like is the look. Anything else out there with the vintage look with modern technology?

[Bill D]

Speedhut

[Sideways]

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...c+cobra+gauges

These are a great and a solid substitute for lucas and smiths gauges...

[madmaxx]

Speedhut has some super nice gauges!!!!!!!!!!!! with lifetime warranty. $900 for set I forgot about autometer they were in my backdraft. Have to check their prices.

[750hp]

I had 7 Autometer gauges in a Cobra and EVERY SINGLE ONE was inaccurate.
I'll never buy one again.

[James Stern]

Speedhut.

[jhv48]

Why not replace the mechanical gauges with the electric versions of Smith's gauges to maintain the authentic look?

[madmaxx]

fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me!! the response i received from nissonger when i found my new oil temp gauge off by 6C at 100C was pathetic. In the end it their explanation was "i never heard of that before" "everybody fuks up" no we wont cover shipping back and wont ship one until we receive that one back" by the way it was 158 dollars. Do your talking with you walking. oh forgot whole 90 day warranty. i spend enough of my time straigthening out installer fuk ups, i am not going to be quality control for manufadtureres also.

the only reason smith doesnt know how pathetic their gauges are is because very few people check calibration including them

Originally Posted by jhv48

Why not replace the mechanical gauges with the electric versions of Smith's gauges to maintain the authentic look?

[jcam]

Did you guys get electronic gauges from SpeedHut or did I miss the mechanical gauges on their site? I was told an electronic oil pressure gauge is nothing more than a fancy idiot light. Mechanical or electronic is the question?

Thanks,
Jamie

[fordracing65]

Originally Posted by jhv48

Why not replace the mechanical gauges with the electric versions of Smith's gauges to maintain the authentic look?

2nd that idea, a Cobra without Smith's just doesn't look right, even the Kirkham gauges look nice , but still not original looking...

[fordracing65]

Kirkham gauges, they look great, and are backed by the Kirkham name, which is the GOLD standard...

[fordracing65]

Shelby series Autometer electronic gauges, I believe they come standard in the CSX kit car...

[Cashburn]

Originally Posted by fordracing65

Kirkham gauges, they look great, and are backed by the Kirkham name, which is the GOLD standard...

Who do you think makes them?

[SP02338]

Try Stewart Warner. They were also original for Cobra's. I switched out 6 years ago with all mechanical gauges and have not had a problem. The reverse speedo and tach are a little smaller but if you are interested in an easy way to make them fit send me an email. Bruce

[fordracing65]

Originally Posted by Cashburn

Who do you think makes them?

Click their link and tell me what gauge it pulls up, shows nothing about the Kirkham gauge, it shows a gauge pod, that's why I listed them by name...

[jwd]

Originally Posted by 750hp

I had 7 Autometer gauges in a Cobra and EVERY SINGLE ONE was inaccurate.
I'll never buy one again.

My mechanical AutoMeter gauges were about as accurate as a blind man throwing darts. They SUK!!!!!!!!

[Tom Kirkham]

Originally Posted by jcam

Did you guys get electronic gauges from SpeedHut or did I miss the mechanical gauges on their site? I was told an electronic oil pressure gauge is nothing more than a fancy idiot light. Mechanical or electronic is the question? Jamie

Jamie you are partially correct. In a lot of modern cars the oil pressure gauge is really an idiot light. The auto manufactures fake the pressure reading by having the needle go to the normal range if there is oil pressure. This is done to save the OEMs money.

In modern race cars the old style mechanical gauges have been almost completely replaced by electronic gauges. Due to the need to have data acquisition for both post run analysis as well as engine control, most modern race cars are using electronic sensors. Modern electronic sensors have surpassed the old mechanical gauges in accuracy, response, and reliability.
The problem with electronic gauges has been in reading them as well as interpreting them. The first electronic gauges just gave out a numeric number. In a bright light the electronic number could be very difficult to read. The second problem is that the human mind takes time to think and process a number to whether the number is beyond parameters or not. One of the first ways to solve this problem was using electronic bar graphs of varying colors. If the parameter was green then the parameter is OK. If a parameter was approaching a critical point it could be yellow, and if beyond critical it would turn red. I believe the Sikorsky UH-61 helicopter was one of the first aircraft to do this. With this set up a pilot with a quick glance could tell if everything was green he knew everything was OK. The problem with the bar graphs is they use up a lot of dash space.
The other problem with the bar graphs is almost everyone loves the look of the old classic mechanical 270 degree sweep gauges. Typically the old electric gauges were limited to just 90 degrees of sweep. These old gauges were also fairly slow in responding, inaccurate and hard to read. That is why the old race cars ran mechanical gauges. Tachometers really showed the difference in response rates between the electronic and mechanical gauges. Jones Matrola, Smith Chronometric, became the standard for tachometers.
By having the stepper-motor gauge-movement controlled by a microprocessor, Speed Huts gauges can have the easy to read 270 degree sweep, with the response (actually much better) than the old mechanical gauges as well as the classic looks of the old style gauges.

One other consideration is fuel pressure. With a mechanical system, to get an accurate fuel pressure reading, a fuel line needs to be brought into the cockpit.

So for me the answer to your questions is electronic.

[jwd]

Originally Posted by Tom Kirkham

One other consideration is fuel pressure. With a mechanical system, to get an accurate fuel pressure reading, a fuel line needs to be brought into the cockpit.

DO NOT put a mechanical fuel pressure gauge in the cockpit unless you use an isolator. Running a fuel line under pressure into the passenger compartment is really stupid.

[jcam]

Originally Posted by Tom Kirkham

Jamie you are partially correct. In a lot of modern cars the oil pressure gauge is really an idiot light. The auto manufactures fake the pressure reading by having the needle go to the normal range if there is oil pressure. This is done to save the OEMs money.

In modern race cars the old style mechanical gauges have been almost completely replaced by electronic gauges. Due to the need to have data acquisition for both post run analysis as well as engine control, most modern race cars are using electronic sensors. Modern electronic sensors have surpassed the old mechanical gauges in accuracy, response, and reliability.
The problem with electronic gauges has been in reading them as well as interpreting them. The first electronic gauges just gave out a numeric number. In a bright light the electronic number could be very difficult to read. The second problem is that the human mind takes time to think and process a number to whether the number is beyond parameters or not. One of the first ways to solve this problem was using electronic bar graphs of varying colors. If the parameter was green then the parameter is OK. If a parameter was approaching a critical point it could be yellow, and if beyond critical it would turn red. I believe the Sikorsky UH-61 helicopter was one of the first aircraft to do this. With this set up a pilot with a quick glance could tell if everything was green he knew everything was OK. The problem with the bar graphs is they use up a lot of dash space.
The other problem with the bar graphs is almost everyone loves the look of the old classic mechanical 270 degree sweep gauges. Typically the old electric gauges were limited to just 90 degrees of sweep. These old gauges were also fairly slow in responding, inaccurate and hard to read. That is why the old race cars ran mechanical gauges. Tachometers really showed the difference in response rates between the electronic and mechanical gauges. Jones Matrola, Smith Chronometric, became the standard for tachometers.
By having the stepper-motor gauge-movement controlled by a microprocessor, Speed Huts gauges can have the easy to read 270 degree sweep, with the response (actually much better) than the old mechanical gauges as well as the classic looks of the old style gauges.

One other consideration is fuel pressure. With a mechanical system, to get an accurate fuel pressure reading, a fuel line needs to be brought into the cockpit.

So for me the answer to your questions is electronic.

Tom,

Thank you for your response. I now have more confidence in the electronic gauges and I will look to replace my current Smith's mechanical gauges. SpeedHut gauges will be a the top of my list.

Side Note: I do not have a fuel pressure gauge inside of my car and I will not be purchasing one with the new gauges.

Jamie

[Cashburn]

Originally Posted by fordracing65

Click their link and tell me what gauge it pulls up, shows nothing about the Kirkham gauge, it shows a gauge pod, that's why I listed them by name...

No, that's the link the advertiser bot is inserting The gauges are made by Gauges, Custom Gauges, Tachometers, Speedometers, Shift Light, Pod and if you want them to say Kirkham on them I guess you buy them from Kirkham.