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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - New Guage help

I am begining to think about new guages for my V8. Autometer has a wide range of guages but I am unsure about the sizing for the tach and speedo. Most MFG make a 3 3/4" unit, but I am unsure since the MG guages twist lock into the dash. I have a 78B with stock dash.

Anyone that has done a guage conversion, I would greatly appreciate your input.
Larry Embrey

Larry,
Glad to be able to give you some good advice. I replaced all my gauges in the dashboard on my 77 RB.
I used VDO bought at Summit. They are relative inexpensive but are far superior to the other gauges. Very good readability at night, ease of installation. The diameter is the same as the original Smiths and as far as calibration , this is the easiest to do. The speedo is electronic and can be adjusted by yourself regardless of the type of gearbox or rear diff you have. If you change tire profiles or sizes you simply recalibrate your instrument.Sounds strange but believe me it worked! All you need is a road that has a measured mile ! Speed is not a factor in this.
I think I ordered the vision series. Check out the Summit catalog. They look super in the MG dash!
I can send you some pics to you if you want. Let me know.
Werner
Werner Van Clapdurp

Larry,
I just want to second what Werner said about the VDO vision series gauges. I have a '67 B with the steel dash that takes the same size gauges as your '78. I bought the black faced vision series tach and speedo in the 100 mm size. I did have to enlarge the holes a little with a dremil tool. The only problem I had was that I had to add a diode to the tachometer circuit. VDO technical support told me what to buy from Radio Shack. I bought two gauges from Summit and according to my notes the part number was 333-160 for the 0-8000 tach and 437-155 for the speedometer (120 MPH) I would have rather had a 0-7000 tach but none was available in the right size. VDO also includes red and green covers for the light bulbs in the gauges. I put the green covers on mine and they're really easy to read at night. I'm using my original fuel gauge and the split oil pressure and water tempature gauges because I really think the split gauge is cool. I think the tachometer cost about $88.00 and the speedo with sending unit for the T-5 was about $190.00

Al
Al Wulf

VDO worked for me. I, too, had to enlarge the tach and speedo openings slightly. I used the "cockpit" series, I think.

Mark
Mark

I like the dual guage as well, and have a line on one for cheap, but if I change a guage I want them all to match.

The VDO are nice, especially the Millenium set. I also looked at autometer www.autometer.com (NOT autogage), and they have a number of nice guage sets. The 2 new sets for 2002 are beautifull, but they are not yet complete nor in the 3 3/4" variety, only 5" Thanks for the feedback guys, keep it coming..
Larry Embrey

Larry
Check www.egauges.com I think you may find they have a better price than summit. They cary a variety of different makes. Talk to them about the duel gauge. There is one being made today.
Good luck
Garret
garret

MG gauges twist-lock? The parts list shows them as being secured with clamps and thumb-wheels.
Paul Hunt

The tack and Speedo only use the twist lock system. both my 79 parts car and 78 conversion car use that system. I am not concerned whether the new guages twist lock, as long as they fit properly with no looseness or shifting.
Larry Embrey

Larry,
Bill and I got our VDO guages at RB's in Edmonds, WA.
Lyle
Lyle Jacobson

Paul,
We are talking about VDO replacement gauges for the Smiths (outdated and poorly working ) No light at night! The Vision and cockpit series from VDO are the perfect replacement! And yes, they install with a twistlock in the dash.
I think here in the US with the peopple doing the V8 conversions, we are less concerned with originality . We want everything to work properly.
Werner
Werner Van Clapdurp

What standard size is the late B dash opening for Tach and Speedo?? I am seeing 3 3/8", among others. Which size VDO guages did you guys get??
Larry Embrey

Larry The 77 and later tach and speedo are 100 mm (4")

Justin

p.s. Has anyone used a vdo electric oil pressure gauge with the rover oil pump housing and it's electric oil pressure switch?
Justin

Justin,
Yes I used the electric oil pressure gauge from VDO and have the sending unit installed on the remote oil filter housing. Works very accurate. I compared it to a mechanical gauge hooked up in parallel.
I'll be on my way on sunday to see you!
Werner
Werner Van Clapdurp

so the 4" fit in normally, or do they need to have the holes enlarged?? Is it just the vision and cocpit series guages, or do more of them fit?
Larry Embrey

Larry, I am not aware that there are any other models at VDO besides the vision and cockpit models. Like earlier said the small as well as the bigger gauges will fit in the MGB dash.
Werner
Werner Van Clapdurp

Can anyone comment on Autometer vs. VDO in regards to product quality and ease of hookup? The speedo and temp gauges out of my '76 are sitting on my desk. The speedo is 3 1/8" and the temp is 2". I have been looking at the Autometer "Designer Black" series. It sounds as though most have used the the VDO "Vision" or "Cockpit" series.

Thanks in advance,
Joe
Joseph Lagasse

I am not familliar with the 76 dash, but are you sure that they are 2"?? my 78 is the normal 2 1/16" units.. MY tach measures 3.860" or roughly 3 13/16".

I like a couple of the autometer guages as well, they have some nice sets out now.
Larry Embrey

Is there anyone in britain selling electronic speedometer I quite like the idea of being able to calibrate them myself
mick
Michael Black

Autometer vs VDO:

I have used both on various projects, and haven't noticed any difference as to quality. There are two significant wiring differences that may or may not be of concern to you though.

1) VDO uses 1/4 spade terminals, whereas Autometer uses screw lugs and ring terminals for power, ground, and sender leads.

2) Autometer illumination lamps come with short pigtails, while VDO uses 1/4 spade terminals.

Personally, I find the VDO gauges to be a bit easier to wire because of the spade terminals.

Mechanically, there is one big difference, at least for the smaller gauges. VDO uses a screw-on cup to mount the gauges, but Autometer uses the same type mounting as the Smith gauges.

I have a complete set of gauges from Classic Instruments on order, should be here this week, so I'll let you know what I find with them.
Dan Masters

Go to Green Guages in the UK. (www.greengauges.com) Here you will be able to design and purchase Smiths instruments to almost match the old MG guages. I purchased a fuel guage that is compatible with the MG sending unit, a dual mechanical oil pressure/water temp gage, a programable electronic tach, and a progammable electronic speedo. All instruments with chrome v-bezels and in the sizes to fit into the old metal (pre 68) dash. I use a VDO sending unit on the speedo which fits onto the T5 transmission with no problems. All this came delivered to me in the US at a very reasonable price.
James Johanski

The original gauges in my '68 GT came with the round bezels, and I need to replace the one on my temperature gauge, the small round type, and the larger one on the tach. I haven't had luck yet finding them used, the v-type seems more common. But I prefer the look of the originals. Does anyone know of a source for these bezels new?

Joe
Joe Ullman

Larry,

The reason the holes in a early (Steel Dash) or later car with 100mm gauges needs to be enlarged is that the threads on the outside of the VDO Tach and speedo for the cup is just slightly larger than the dash holes. Not much of a difference, but forcing would have probably damaged the threads. VDO also has an optional mounting system to the screw on cup. I decided it would be better to enlarge the dash holes that chance damaging the new gauges grinding off the threads.

Al
Al Wulf

I don't have an earlier car, I have a 78, so what size do I need for the speedo and tach?

JAMES,
Thanks for the info. How tdo the new guages look at night?? I want to improve the less than effective MG guage liting if I am going to change all the guages..
Larry Embrey

Larry,
My parts car was a '77, which has the same dash as your '78. The openings measure 3 7/8" and 2 1/16" which agree with your earlier post stating your gauge sizes. You were also correct in that my '76 does have the standard 2 1/16" temp and fuel gauges (not 2" as I had posted). Based on the other posts the '77 and later cars would use the 4" VDO speedo and tach, enlarging the openings slightly if required.

Dan,
Thanks for the Autometer vs. VDO comparison. Keep us posted on your new gauges.

Okay, so what about that rectangular oil pressure gauge?!
Joseph Lagasse

larry, i used dolphin gauges, you can buy them on line direct from the manufacturer and i found them very easy to hook up, calibrate and use, they have a toll free tech support line you can call if you need assisitance and they look almost the same as the smiths, and lastly they are much less expensive than vdo, safety faster, jim
jim madson

Jim,
You talk about the dolphin gauges being much more cheaper than VDO. I consider $80 for a speedo form VDO versus $120 from Smiths a good saving. I don't think you can save much more on this before quality goes down and than we are just right were we want to get away from. Remember all the switches from Lucas that prematurely break, malfunction or just burst in pieces because of the bad quality of used materials.
How low can you go?
VDO has a world reputation to keep up and they are on the top of the list when it comes to quality and reliability. Great visibility at night !!!
Werner
Werner Van Clapdurp

werner, i do not find the quality of the dolphins to be comprimised at all, i paid $259 for a complete set with electronic speedo and tach and four aux gauges, all wiring and everything had the correct sneding units for my engine and transmission as i told them what to match to when i ordered. i thought this was very fair when compared to the smiths or vdo, they were a little larger than the stock smiths however i just took my moto tool and a wheel and enlarged the dash holes, very easy and they look great and are just a little closer together than stock spacing, the lights in them are much better than smiths and i was referred to dolphin by dan legrou whom i trust about any v8 conversion info. but it really is just a matter of finding what you like and what works for you, jim
jim madson

Hello All:
Which of all these manufacturers makes a programmable speedo and sender unit for the Rover/TR7/TR8. 5-speed
trans.?.
Romney.
Romney

Romney,
The speedo that would fit you the best would be the VDO vision or cockpit series. It is easily programmable by yourself.
You can get this at Summit
Werner
Werner Van Clapdurp

Jim, could you share the web page and phone number for dolphin gauges. It sounds like another option.

Many thanks, Bill
Bill Guzman

Just received my gauges from Classic Instruments today. They have the look and feel of quality instruments. They install and wire the same as the gauges from Autometer. These gauges were chosen over some of the other brands because they are the ONLY ones available for this application. They are going into a TR6, and there are very few companies that make 5" tachs and speedos, and Classic is the ONLY company that has them with a complete set of matching smaller gauges, including an ammeter.

I'm not real crazy about their instructions, though. For the Tach, they say you MUST use their instructions when connecting to an MSD unit, and NOT the MSD instructions. Then, they say if the tach doesn't work, go to plan B, and if that doesn't work, go to plan C. If plan C doesn't work, disregard their instructions, toss the filter they supplied, and connect it up per the MSD instructions. But then they say NOT to use MSD instructions until you have tried all of their instructions. HUH? What the hell does that mean. If the last resort is to use MSD instructions, why not just start there to begin with?

Their instructions for connecting the ammeter are just flat wrong! If conected the way they say, it will always read a discharge, whether or not the alternator is working. I will write them a note about this. If you want a better understanding of how to connect an ammeter, see: http://members.aol.com/danmas2/ammeters.htm Connecting an ammeter is not as simple as it may seem.

Their clock is a tad different than other makes, in that is doesn't have a setting knob protruding through the glass. It uses an electric switch to set the clock. You hit the switch one time, and the clock advances one minute. You hold the switch down, and the clock speeds forward. Stop when you get close, and then advance one minute at a time. This makes setting the clock a bit more bother, but it does keep dust out of the clock inners and makes for a cleaner dial face - a nice touch.
Dan Masters

Bill, found Dolphin web page. Very good looking stuff and seems priced reasonably for a complete set. The wiring set ups look very interesting too. I will be calling them when my V6 is ready'


http://www.dolphingauges.com/


Thomas Rynne

Tom
I looked at dolphin gauges before but never found the correct size. They don't make a 3 7/8 or 4" gauge that I am aware of. If you find they do please let me know.
Garret
garret

Garret, I am planning on an all metal dash using the base from an Abingdon pillow model. If necessary I will cut out the instrument area and mount the new ones on an engine turned plate as they show on Dolphin's web page. The car is going to be more hot rod than true to MG anyway.
Thomas Rynne

Thanks Thomas, I will check them out, how is your project coming along.
Dan, I bought Classic Gauges years ago when he first started making them and calibrating gauges. I bought a shift indicator for an auto trans for my 40 ford big block with a 400 trans. The gauge looked just like any other gauge, their instructions were so.... confusing that I spend over one hour if not longer clarifying their instructions over the phone. It never worked right. Classic gauges have great support and are willing to work with you, which is a plus. They used to make custom gauges that were first class.
I still have the shifter indicator gauge if anyone is interested.
Bill Guzman

does anyone know what output the rover 5 speed electronic speedo sender puts out I like the greenguages speedo and they say it will work on any sender but you need to know what output you have to programme the guage
Mick Black
Mick Black

This thread was discussed between 15/02/2002 and 25/02/2002

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