What, where & how would be the best way to add some supplemental Gauges to my early-73 2L's restoration??
I'd like to add the small 2-1/16" VDO Head Cylinder Temperature & Oil Pressure Gauges for the 914s, & have looked at VDO's 2-hole gauge bracket.
However, I don't know if that will look decent, if I really want to drill to do an under dash mount of it to the L or R of the Wheel?
I also don't want to cut-up the center console with some hincky 5 gauge face!
I also want something that will pass CW muster!
Given the age of my 914 now & the fact that I'm resurrecting it from a 24+ year slumber - I think she's deserving of more monitoring than the factory provided, since I'll be driving it around some too.
Any suggestions, examples, pix, etc. which could help me????
a-pillar mount?
http://www.914ap.com/products.php
Sorry, can't help there. My car(s) will never be show worthy !
Easy on the cyl head temp - not so much on the oil pressure.
The head temp sender is easily hidden by the FI components. Run your wiring inside the factory sleaving and the into the center tunnel loom. Run it all the way up front to the pedal cluster/foot board. Install a plug so it can be disconnected at that point and tucked under the carpet at the top of the foot board.
The actual gauge/holder is the easy part. You can use the two holed generic mount with one additional bracket. The additional bracket needs to be bent so that it creates a mounting point that is parallel with the bottom inner dash structure (or the inner vertical dash face) and also creates the appropriate lower mounting surface for the gauge holder. Get yourself a decent sized magnet and epoxy it to this new bracket. Hopefully the diagram below will make this a bit easier to understand.
Run your wiring from the gauge to the plug and call it good. If and when you show the car, unplug the thing, hide the one end of the wiring under the foot board carpet (there is a pile of room - something to note so you dont have to change the length of the thermocouple wire) and pull off the gauges. Your gauges are out, and there is no wiring that any judge will ever find.
We have gas gauges in two cars done this way - it has worked like a charm and sure beats carrying a gas soaked stick with you.
The pressure gauge will be tough, as the sender is large and will most likely have a hose going to the block - very noticable.
If there are open holes on the bottom edge of the dash it is even easier to attach the 2 guage panel - just a good old fashoined wing nut.
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Thanx Scotty - innovative set-up!
I'd guess that the cockpit part of that set-up could be duplicated for the OP Gauge's wiring from the VDO/OEM Dual Pole sender unit - to the idiot light & to the bracket & OP gauge.
I'd just have to check knee space & visibility at to where to attach that under the dash, & have some means of keeping the wires out of hanging into "tangle-space" while in use.
Tom, If your really a concourse enthusiast, it is not about being judged but the car itself and the experience of concourse environment. I have a different yet tastefully done set up, not concourse not track but all vdo porsche ect.. but read this about 914 vdo gauges before you concern yourself with their actual value, basically all but maybe the pressure sensor are exact and basically only tell you value changes re"dummy gauges" good for notice big swings only. Here is the link....
http://www.ratwell.com/technical/VDOGauges.html
In my opinion it is concourse all the way or forget it.
Well read it again, also did you notice that with the vdo pressure sensor sender the psi threshold is lower than the factory dummy light threshold 7psi vs 11 psi so at idle sometimes your dummy light will flicker, any ways I understand what you want but also youe engine comp. with the pressure will be obvious and to get it not obvious you would have to cut your engine tin, most people use and extension tied down to the fan housing. but anyways ...
Tom how about swapping them out for the clock and volt gauge? Or do a staggered 5 gauge set up in the console. If you use velcro on the back of the gauge holder, you'll be able to easily swap it out with an original set up for events.
Here's how I did it:
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Tom, I have all the gauges your talking about but only 3 in the center console,
top center is a 911 euro combo oil pressure (druck press)/oil temp (using the 914 oil temp insert. staggered below is an 914 oil temp(wide red bar) with the guts taken out and the vdo cylinder head temp guts inside (red starts at 400deg.) no. hollywood vdo did that one w/ my idea... then the volt gauge below that of course.. the 914 clock is moved down spaced just off and below the shifter facing up in a short matching cover holder counter sunk and slightly facing the driver, oh and it has a second hand.. no. hollwood vdo again. I like you thought too many seperate gauges all in one spot make the car look like a nasa control panel,..
the panel switching would require no extra gauges just leave the 2 behind the panel, with their panel.. when your being judged. Truth is once all the wire is run. you could pull and put back in all gauges and sensors in 15 minutes. except the oil temp sensor but that one is not an issue right?
that is it for me on having cake and eating it too. by the time you put the center console together the process of doing that will enable you ideas that you will not come up with until you see the flexability.. I will show you what i did and what the sensors look like installed next mo. or so.. after paint
I Warned you guys last time.
This topic have NOTHING to do with originality or history!
It is hereby closed.
No more mister nice guy. Keep it on topic or take it to the garage.
Pat
Sorry.
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