console gauges

RJBaileyrn said:

Hi all,
I have a 69 coupe with console and gauges. While I like the look of original gauges, I want to swap out for the 2 1/16" round auto meter gauges. I have a pretty good amount of money in my motor, and would like more accurate info as to water temp and oil press.
I plan to replace the four original gauges with electrical gauges fuel, oil press, water temp, and VOLTMETER instead of amps. With the electrical console gauges, is it possible to still wire things so I have the oil and temp idiot lights working too?
I bought the aftermarket plastic piece that accepts gauges that angle toward the driver. Anyone who is using this, feel free to comment on the setup
Thanks in advance.
RJ

Click to expand...

All mine are mechanical guages. The water temp idiot light sensor is in the side of the head. I put the mechanical guage sensor in the intake behind the alt bracket so that the engine looked stock.

The oil pressure idiot light wire is disconnected. I put the oil presure cap tube in fitting in place of the electrical sensor.

There are two gauges that wouldn't work with the factory wiring; the voltmeter and oil pressure gauge. It would be extremely easy to wire them though.

For the voltmeter, just ignore the old ammeter connector and connect the positive terminal of the voltmeter to one of the pink wires that power the other gauges and connect the negative to a convenient ground. The terminal stud of the gas gauge where the low fuel module red wire connects would be a good choice for power, no splicing involved.

The oil pressure gauge needs to be powered like the voltmeter. You will also need to run a wire from the gauge to the oil pressure sender. Are the old gauges a conversion from the idiot light system? If it was converted, depending on how it was done, sometimes the blue wire to the oil pressure switch is left intact in the harness. You could use that wire for the sender. Just extend that wire from dash oil light down to the console.

Install the senders that came with the gauges to insure proper gauge operation. Also, the fuel sender might need replaced if the new gauge doesn't use a 90 ohm sender.

I think that covers it all...

Larry

Larry

I did exactly what you want to do, on a 68 that did not come with factory guages. As posted above, you need to run extra wires for the oil and temp (note if your car was converted to guages not delivered with them, that oiul idiot light wire is probably there.

I used some brass fittings and a TEE to plumb both the idiot light sender and the autometer oil pressure sender into the hole behind the distributor.

For temp, I left the stock idiot light sender (actually had to use one from a mid 80's buick because my heads have smaller holes than the old ones) in the stock location between cylinders 1 & 3, and put the autometer sender in the hole between cylinders 6 & 8.

Then just ran 2 new wires for the senders.

Here's a pic of my console: