Tell me about Gauges??

[skeeters65]

I am looking to buy a Covans dash for my 69 Camaro..

I will be running an LS1 with T-56.

What Gauges should I get Electronic, Mechanical or what?

Also what do I need special to hook them up as far as parts??

Thanks

[chicane67]

Humm... I might know something about this.

First the real difference... between mech and elec. Mech requires a physical connection to the gauge either thru a braided line or a capilary tube. Elec requires you to screw a transducer (sender) to the device you are instrumenting and then running wire to the gauge.

Secondly... with the transducers and gauge mechanisms that we have now-a-days (Delphi senders and stepper motor operation in the "Full Sweep" line)... the accuracy is the same, if not better than the old school mechanical offerings. But... at a cost.

Third... most all gauges now-a-days come with enough stuff in each box to get your gauge working. The mech stuff will have, most of the time, the fittings required... but sometimes might still need and adapter to what ever your hooking it too. The elec stuff has the sender, an adapter or two (common sizes) and the wiring. So... at the most, you might need to purchase an adapter if you are hooking it up to a not so common port to the engine.

Sizes... this is a personal choice just as much as the gauge's series/type/face is. I like the 5" speedo and tach's... and run everything else 2 5/8" Full Sweep Electrical. But it depends on what and where you want to put the gauges. In the Covans dash piece for my '67... I put the speedo, tach, warning lights, turn signals and high beam indicator and have room for two 2 1/16" gauges if I choose to do so. But in the '69 dash... you will run the smaller speedo and tach and still fit warning lights, turn signals, high beam indicator and other 2 1/16" gauges... its all up to you. I run 18 gauges... total... so I have had to put them other than in the dash insert.

I say pick the gauge's for what you want to instrument and then choose the series you like... and then go from there.

What did you have in mind ??

[skeeters65]

I was thinking about the Auto-meter Ultra Light set up with the Covan Dash..

Thanks

[trapin]

That's what I'm running. I can get you my part numbers for the temperature and oil guages. I am not running full sweep however. I still need to get fuel and volts but am not sure what will be required with the LS1 engine that I'm using.

[chicane67]

One of the cool things about the Full Sweep products... is that they use the same Delphi senders as the engine does... so there isnt any unecessary wiring or multiple/redundant senders being required.

The Full Sweep products also have a data output on the gauge that can be used for data acquisition. So now... you can use a single sender for three seperate functions... all at the same time.

I think if I had to make a choice for a '69 dash... I would opt for the Ultra Lite II's. Silver face day... back lit, black face night.

In the dash I would have a speedo, tech, water temp, oil psi, fuel level and volt... as a default.

[Shawn MacAnanny]

FYI the coolant temp sensor for the LSx engine in the driver side head is M12x1.5. The senders with the gauges they send are all standard. You will need Autometer PN 2277 which is a 1/8"NPT to M12x1.5 adapter to run the coolant temp gauge.