Rally Pack Gauges
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Joined: Jan 2020
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Rally Pack Gauges
I have the Rally Pack option in my W and they were recently restored by someone with an excellent reputation. They were bench tested but obviously they were not tested under real world conditions such as Summer driving - especially in traffic. How reliable and accurate are the gauges as far as correct temperature and oil pressure readings ? Are they trustworthy in giving true readings ? If you have the option in your car did you also install a set of aftermarket gauges ?
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 12,798
From: Evansville, IN
Bear in mind that the ralley pacs had no numbers so they can't give a real number even if they were totally accurate.
My 72 H/O does the following: hot, idle, in gear, oil is at 25%. Cruising is 40-45% of the arc. It's 50 or 55% when cold. Highway speed is 45% of the range on temperature. Local roads is 40%. My tachometer needs adjusted, but they usually are within a couple hundred.
The idea is for the gauges to tell you something is different. Get used to what they have to say in different conditions and react appropriately when something is off. Zero oil pressure is very bad. Pegged hot is very bad. Up on the top end of the temp gauge means slow down and see what happens. Very low oil pressure means come to a stop and check things.
I ran an aftermarket temp gauge on a Chevy for a few years to match my gauge package temp gauge. Good news was, factory gauge was dead nuts on. Bad news, the car had a funked radiator and was actually that hot.
My 72 H/O does the following: hot, idle, in gear, oil is at 25%. Cruising is 40-45% of the arc. It's 50 or 55% when cold. Highway speed is 45% of the range on temperature. Local roads is 40%. My tachometer needs adjusted, but they usually are within a couple hundred.
The idea is for the gauges to tell you something is different. Get used to what they have to say in different conditions and react appropriately when something is off. Zero oil pressure is very bad. Pegged hot is very bad. Up on the top end of the temp gauge means slow down and see what happens. Very low oil pressure means come to a stop and check things.
I ran an aftermarket temp gauge on a Chevy for a few years to match my gauge package temp gauge. Good news was, factory gauge was dead nuts on. Bad news, the car had a funked radiator and was actually that hot.
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 2,629
From: Gillespie County, Republic of Texas
Mike,
Koda gave a great summary of how the gauges were meant to be used.
If you feel better knowing the numbers, use a test gauge (mechanical for oil pressure), IR gun (for cooling water), etc. to understand the number at a particular needle position.
You can also send the gauges with a set of sensors you want to use to an instrument shop and they will calibrate the gauges and even mark numbers on them. But know that sensors are not interchangeable unless you buy a part number that you have experience with. You can't go to AutoZone, get a replacement oil pressure sender, and expect it to give the results you expect. More reasons to stick with Koda's advice.
Gary
Koda gave a great summary of how the gauges were meant to be used.
If you feel better knowing the numbers, use a test gauge (mechanical for oil pressure), IR gun (for cooling water), etc. to understand the number at a particular needle position.
You can also send the gauges with a set of sensors you want to use to an instrument shop and they will calibrate the gauges and even mark numbers on them. But know that sensors are not interchangeable unless you buy a part number that you have experience with. You can't go to AutoZone, get a replacement oil pressure sender, and expect it to give the results you expect. More reasons to stick with Koda's advice.
Gary
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