This is probably a stupid question, but I have been out of the loop for a long time on this kind of stuff. I have been considering getting some guages so that I don't have to rely on my "idiot lights". I just want to know what this car is doing at all times....and to help protect my investment a little...do any of you guys use aftermarket guages to keep an eye on stuff, and if so, what is a good brand to buy? Thanks for any input.

 

My car had a ancient set of SW gauges when I bought it and I'm not taking them out.

 

I like Autometer gauges. I have a triple gauge: water, oil, and volts. If you want to spend a little more, VDO makes real nice gauges.

 

Thanks a bunch...what do you guys think of Sunnpro? Are they weak, or no good?

 

Sunpro is a low-rent brand. Spend the money for quality gauges (Autometer, Stewart Warner, etc). Also, once the novelty wears off, you will not be watching your gauges all the time. Retain the idiot lights as well as the gauges so that you are alerted to a problem in the event you are watching traffic instead of the gauges. You can run a tee for the oil pressure senders but the coolant sender needs to be in the flow, so separate threaded bungs are a problem. Of course, chances are you'll see the temp climbing on the gauge before the idiot light goes off, so that one isn't as critical as the oil. I like to retain the GEN light as well, for two reasons. First, the load of the bulb is required to get the voltage regulator to turn on and charge at idle speeds. Second, the light will tell you immediately if you toss the alternator belt.

 

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Here's where mine went "Tango Unifrom"

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...amp-gauge.html

 

OK, thanks for the help guys....maybe I'll skip 'em. - kph