Smiths Repro guages

[PANAVIA]

Is it just me -or are these not so great.

Brand new SPF 2734 , oil pressure failed, water temp Failed and oil temp failed. (on *edit* FIRST TIME startup)

---i have checked the lines to each and no kinks damage etc....

and what is with the tachometer "boot up" process >?

what gives >?

or am i missing something <>?

Tempted on replacing the whole set with autometers.


--Steve

[RodKnock]

Don't forget the Kirkhams make gauges too. They look sorta original, but they definitely work well.

[PANAVIA]

thanks for the Tip Rod. -- will check those out as well.

[Jim Vander Wal]

Steve,

I have #1855 (2004 vintage) and no problems with gauges other than one that I broke.

I haven't heard about a rash of gauges going out such as you have.

You may want to contact the dealer to disuss the problem. Otherwise the Kirkham gauges look great and AutoMeter has a "Cobra" series.

Jim 1855

[ssssss]

Smiths gauges, In two years I have replaced, water temp, oil temp, and had to return a voltage gauge for calibration, came back the same way.....

Smith gauges are like the stock market, a bad investment.

Charlie,K

[PANAVIA]

I have part of the the auto meter cobra series in the 64 mustang and I used another partial set to help a friend with an FE ERA 427. (repl speedo , water, and Tach) -- so i would be leaning towards them.

The Kirkhams look sexy, and I like the A/F meter-- but i did not see a fuel level gauge...

Dynamic (kyalami)--my dealer is useless. i have had to hunt for things that should have come with the car that "disappeared" along the way, prior to its shipment.

Lance and barry at hilbank both are superstars at helping when called, but dynamic (kyalami) after the sale has been too busy to help, or provide a packing list, inventory , locate docs, etc.

---signed; frustrated with carebont (smiths) gauges,

Steve

[wtm442]

Originally Posted by PANAVIA

The Kirkhams look sexy, and I like the A/F meter-- but i did not see a fuel level gauge...
Steve

I just looked at the A/F meter. I DID see a fuel level gauge in the Racing/Tuner and Legacy style gauges.

My SPF was built in 2001 and never had any problems with the Smith gauges in 14K miles so far.

[1985 CCX]

Why not buy actual Smiths mechanical gauges to start with?
Nisonger................

[Spoooky]

Check out my gauges in my gallery from Speed Hut. If your not after that vintage look and want reliability these are great. They will do custom work also. My speedo even winds counter clockwise. All electronic and the sensors are easy and accurate. Here is the link. The pic is at night and during the day they have silver faces. The tach has a plug for their shift light. Nice stuff. EASY! My opinion is that if you have the money in the motor you better know what it's telling you.

www.speedhut.com

[RodKnock]

The Kirkham's fuel level gauge is digital and in the speedo, right below the odo.

[maxum_101]

Originally Posted by Spoooky

Check out my gauges in my gallery from Speed Hut. If your not after that vintage look and want reliability these are great. They will do custom work also. My speedo even winds counter clockwise. All electronic and the sensors are easy and accurate. Here is the link. The pic is at night and during the day they have silver faces. The tach has a plug for their shift light. Nice stuff. EASY! My opinion is that if you have the money in the motor you better know what it's telling you.

www.speedhut.com

wow great looking set up... did you have to the make the holes in the dash any bigger or did they just fit right in? how hard was the install?

[Velox]

I replaced my Smiths (mechanical) speedo for the electronic Smiths speedo, it works great, zero problems. I also removed the ammeter and installed a Smiths voltmeter, zero problems, and replaced the oil pressure (mechanical) gauge with a Smiths electronic oil pressure gauge. So far my other Smiths gauges are working fine, if they go out, I'll change over to Smiths electronic versions as I like the Smiths look. Just another option, pics at www.gaugeguys.com

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by Velox

I replaced my Smiths (mechanical) speedo for the electronic Smiths speedo, it works great, zero problems. I also removed the ammeter and installed a Smiths voltmeter, zero problems, and replaced the oil pressure (mechanical) gauge with a Smiths electronic oil pressure gauge. So far my other Smiths gauges are working fine, if they go out, I'll change over to Smiths electronic versions as I like the Smiths look. Just another option, pics at www.gaugeguys.com

So far so good with my gauges. Like Don, I think I may replace my Speedo a Smiths electronic version. I've tweaked around with the cable, but still get a nice 5 mile an hour bounce when I'm on the freeway.

[Spoooky]

Maxum 101,

They fit right into the existing holes. Pop them in from the back side. Taking the glove box out makes it a lot easier, but you can do it with your hands under the dash. They have polished rings that screw onto the gauge that hold them in place. Very light weight.

[PANAVIA]

I am fighting some initial fuel injection startup fuel mapping issues for a day or two, then I can concentrate on gauge shakedown.

Rod thanks for the help !
Doug, I might have a speedo cable solution for you.

Steve

[McDoo]

Steve,

These guys are just to kind but the fact of the matter is your sales guy must have had his head up someplace dark. Smith's gauges are made for Big Blocks and if you don't have one they just won't move. Sorry I thought you would have known that by now. My SPF worked okay with 408 Cubes but it had allot of trouble moving the speedo past 165 so these are things you will find out soon enough, so your best bet is to keep the thing as stock and as original as possible so you have an out when folks ask why it's so slow.....It's fifty years old you dip what do you expect !!! Stuff like that and you'll fit in really good

McDoo

[PANAVIA]

Well the only thing that truly failed was the oil pressure gauge. the water temp sprung to life after dipping the sender end in boiling h20 for a few secs, same thing with the oil temp.

the oil pressure gauge just plain doesnt move, i put it on a test line and hit it with 75lbs of compressed air and nothing. put a test gauge on my engine -- all groovy there...

the amp meter wont keep up with the rest of my system so I am replacing it with an volt meter.

figured out how to get the tach to work with my fuel injection setup.-yay!

now got to figure out the fuel trim on the EFI, --as exxon cheers when i start it up right now.

[Rick162]

In addition to an integrated linear Fuel Level Gauge we have had customers that want a matching fuel level gauge as well. Remember that these are Microprocessor controlled with the full 270 degree sweep, with a lifetime warranty

I have attached the photo.

Rick Lee
Tom Kirkhams Cubic Performance
www.thomaskirkham.com

[RodKnock]

Hi Rick, the link doesn't seem to work of me, so I clicked on the CC link off to the right.

I didn't see a price listed for the fuel level gauge. How much are they?

[cdog]

Smiths have been great for 20K miles....

Maybe you got some bad ones?