Speedster OIl Pressure Gauge

Don't worry about it- it looks good!  What make is it?

@ALB posted:

Don't worry about it- it looks good!  What make is it?

It's a Faria Boat Oil Pressure gauge.

Thank you for the feedback.

Jason

I agree - It looks fine to me, too.

It's a lot more important to know what's going on with your engine than having perfectly matched gauges.  When people were actually racing some of the original Porsche 356 Speedsters (what they were designed and built for) many drivers went for an add-on oil pressure gauge just to know what was going on.  Some of those matched, many more didn't.  What you have looks great.

@JasonC posted:

It's a Faria Boat Oil Pressure gauge.

Thank you for the feedback.

Jason

In a year or 2 a winter project could be to send it to 1 of the gauge rebuilders and have the face screened to match your other gauges.  Such is the Madness that envelopes us who play with these silly cars.  Or, if you've learned to live with it, you leave it be...

I agree that it is much more important to have something that works than it is to have something that matches. No one else will notice nor will anyone say anything. If they do they won't ever ride in the car again so it won't matter.

Thank you all for the feedback!

Jason

@JasonC Looks good. Can you write up a quick install "story" for us? This is one of the first projects I have planned for my speedster that's shipping this Wednesday. This and replacing the combination gage with a Carrera replica gage that has degree markings for easier temp readings. Did you also move your ignition to the left or is that just the angle of the picture? In any event, killer job.

@JasonC posted:

Do you think it looks reasonably period correct?

Jason  

It looks perfectly “period correct” in that BITD, anyone who wanted a temp gauge would do exactly what you did, only with a white-face Stewart Warner gauge from the local auto parts store more often than not.

I bet if you asked them really nice, PAS or North Hollywood would put a VDO-esque face on that gauge for you.

Just for anyone looking for a VDO gauge, here's the oil pressure unit I used:

https://www.jegs.com/i/VDO/918/350-040/10002/-1

@JoelP posted:

@JasonC Looks good. Can you write up a quick install "story" for us? This is one of the first projects I have planned for my speedster that's shipping this Wednesday. This and replacing the combination gage with a Carrera replica gage that has degree markings for easier temp readings. Did you also move your ignition to the left or is that just the angle of the picture? In any event, killer job.

Hello Joel and thank you for the comments. No, I did not move the ignition switch, but I did have to move the windshield wiper switch to a position just beneath the tachometer.

The tricky part of the gauge installation is cutting the 2-inch diameter hole.  I first drew a 2-inch diameter circle using a plastic circle template and a fine point Sharpy.  I then cut just inside the Sharpy line with a fine tooth shank bit installed in a Dremel tool, leaving about 1/16-inch of material.   Note that I do not recommend using a typical 2-inch hole saw that you see at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. as the teeth are too coarse and will chip the edges of the fiberglass. I then installed a small drum sander in my Dremel and very carefully removed the remaining material until the gauge just slides in and sits flush with the dash.

I was concerned about the vulnerability of the wire that must be installed from the gauge to the sender located on the engine. So to protect it I pushed the wire through a 12-foot or so section of vacuum tubing that I purchased at my local auto parts store.  I then supported the wire/tubing under the pan/frame using self adhesive plastic clips. I also put a bead of silicone around each clip to help ensure they would not fall off.

Hope this helps, any questions please holler.

Jason

@Michael Pickett posted:

Just for anyone looking for a VDO gauge, here's the oil pressure unit I used:

https://www.jegs.com/i/VDO/918/350-040/10002/-1

This is also available with a chrome bezel.

Here's a pic of both sending units--light and gauge--installed.

Jason

I like to know what’s going on with my engine, even if they’re not authentic gauges.