How to install aftermarket gauges...

[MrSony]

Hello all. When I get around (and gets money together ) I will have a Buick 350 in my '85 Regal. Nothing fancy, for now. Anyway, part of what was my V6's downfall, was the lack of gauges and those stupid idiot lights. Now, would any of you have some instructions, advice, or tips for installing something like this: http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/d...281&categoryRedirect=N0532&pt=N0532&ppt=C0134

into an '85 3 speed auto SBB Regal? Thanks.

 

[CWPottenger]

Since that is a mechanical gauge setup it is fairly straight forward. find a mounting location and route the oil line, temp probe, and volts wire through the firewall. Find a water jacket port in the block, intake, or head and install the temp probe. With the oil line first thing I would do is throw the nylon tubing away and get some 1/8 copper tubing instead. You will be pumping hot oil into the interior to back of gauge. Nylon lines can and DO fail over time. Finally route the volt wire to the charge wire from Alt to Battery. Then find power and ground for the light bulbs in the gauges.

 

[565bbchevy]

X2 and I agree, go with the copper tubing for the oil gauge even though the nylon is more flexible it can easily kink and melt if it gets near the exhaust plus it is so tightly wound it actually makes it harder to work with.

 

[MrSony]

Thanks. Is there any way I'd be able to do this with electronic gauges? Or do the have to be Mechanical with the SBB?

 

[565bbchevy]

I personally feel the mechanical gauges will be most reliable for your set up, I think the higher quality and much more expensive electric gauges are reliable but I wouldn't trust the cheap versions and with a mechanical oil pressure if there is an issue you know it's not the sender.
I have all Autometer Ultralites in my car and even though they are more hassle to install I keep the oil pressure and water temp as mechanical I feel these are the 2 most important gauges so failure is not an option.

 

[MrSony]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00062YW06/?tag=gbody-20 Something like this is what I'd prefer over to eventually having oil everywhere with the mechanical gauge. I assume it should be possible with a mid 70s SBB.

 

[565bbchevy]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00062YW06/?tag=gbody-20 Something like this is what I'd prefer over to eventually having oil everywhere with the mechanical gauge. I assume it should be possible with a mid 70s SBB.

Yes, you can pretty much install electrical any place where a mechanical is or vise versa, the electric gauges are easier to install since you are running a wire to a sender instead of tubing etc.
If it is within your budget I would step up to an actual Autometer gauge, the Autogage is just the budget version but I guess they are still better than those idiot lights.
There are adapters to fit the senders in pretty much any engine but I don't think there will be any issues with your SBB.

 

[MrSony]

Yes, you can pretty much install electrical any place where a mechanical is or vise versa, the electric gauges are easier to install since you are running a wire to a sender instead of tubing etc.
If it is within your budget I would step up to an actual Autometer gauge, the Autogage is just the budget version but I guess they are still better than those idiot lights.
There are adapters to fit the senders in pretty much any engine but I don't think there will be any issues with your SBB.

Ok cool man. And from what I remember, you can run a tach from the NEG. signal from the distributor right? (Mine will be HEI).

 

[565bbchevy]

If I remember right the tach output on the HEI is right next to the power wire.

 

[MrSony]

If I remember right the tach output on the HEI is right next to the power wire.

Awesome.