Thread: Mechanical or Electrical Gauges?

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I don,t known which way to start. I am trying decide what type of gauges i should use. Or maybe i will have to use both for different reasons. I like what i have heard about cobalt, and Auto Meter,. Also what about liquid fill? Thanks for all help!


Teds 67 cougar




Thanks all,

I beleave I can make the right choice!
Your replys readly do help and thats what is so great about being allow to be apart of a club like this one. I also see that both mecha and elect, gauges have there place.

Teds 67 cougar

Originally posted by TedIII
I don,t known which way to start. I am trying decide what type of gauges i should use. Or maybe i will have to use both for different reasons. I like what i have heard about cobalt, and Auto Meter,. Also what about liquid fill? Thanks for all help!


Teds 67 cougar

ive used all of them over the yrs, more auto meter than anything else because of availability i guess and never had a problem with any of them. the only one i had a problem with was one of the most expensive one i ever bought. it was a auto meter liquid filled boost gauge, so you can have a problem with any of them. the liquid just keeps the hand more steady when at high rpms or off road racing. wheather you need them would depend on where youre going to use them. the mechanical seem to be more accurate than the elec, i use mech when i can and elec when thats all you can get.

me myself prefer Mechanical as for the elect there more like idiot lights bye the time they register it to late and as the other two I guess I am just like an old dog ya cant teach new tricks don,t know much about them they look cool and Ive thought about them But the kinda money Im putting into my motor I want to know what going on with It and with mechanical they been proven by NASCAR and NHRA but It all come down to what your going to build

I have to respectfully disagree on the lack of accuracy and utility of electrical gauges stated in previous posts. No lack of respect, guys, but I just don't think that's the issue any more. It may have been true 20 years ago, but modern electrical gauges are just as accurate and responsive as mechanical gauges, and much easier to install. They are certainly not anything like idiot lights.

Most of the gauges have to be electrionic anyhow. You can have mechanical speedometers - but the electricals are much easier to calibrate. You can have a mechanical tach - but those are dinosaurs. Most modern drag racers all run computer controled tachs with multiple readouts. You can have a mechanical oil pressure gauge - but the transmitters on modern electrical oil pressure gauges are much less likely to go out of adjustment than the old Bourdon tube mechanical gauges. The rest pretty much have to be electrionic. Water temp - electrical is pretty much all there is, same with oil temp, same with volt or amps. Heck, even the gauges in an FA-18 Hornet are all electronic

As to liquid-filled gauges, unless you're running the Baja 1000, or all of your tires are out of round, why bother? They're more expensive, the bubbles look goofy, and they're totally unnecessary on 95% of the vehicles out there. The only exception I make is a mechanical fuel pressure gauge in the fuel line next to the carb inlet.

Auto Meter and VDO both make fine gauges.

Not trying to start an argument, but I have used all types of gauges for 45 years, and that's my experience.

hey henry, i belive you came down on my answer a little hard there. i was trying to tell him to buy whatever he wonted to, and that any of them are ok i must have missed the boat somewhere.

lt1s10 . . .

I think you're reading something into my post that wasn't there. I was careful to say "no lack of respect intended" and I "respectfully disagree," and really meant that. Your post and John's post took the position that mechanical gauges were more accurate. I don't believe that, and I wanted to give Ted the other side of the story. After all, he did ask for information.

I also ended my post with another statement about not intending to start an argument - just expressing my opinion. If I disagree with information in a thread, I'm likely to say so, and I try to be as diplomatic about it as I can.

I'm sorry you took offense. That wasn't my intent.

Those be the Fred Flintstone autograph series, Streets?

- Viva Rock Vegas

Just installed a sit of the VDO "Vintage" gauges, I've ran Autometer in all my stuff for years but after seeing the quality of the VDO peices, may have to reconsider. Very nice stuff, all electric gauges with senders. Work great. The guy had a big bucks interior in the car, didn't want to take a chance on any fluid lines to the gauges leaking.

You only have to blow a line on a mechanical oil pressure gauge once to make you a firm believer in electricals. What a mess!

I guess elect gauges have there place. Just not in my cars I,ve tried elect gauges in my dirt works car they don,t hold up to the punishment but that just My opinion and you know what opinion like ? every body got one

Originally posted by john gemmer
I guess elect gauges have there place. Just not in my cars I,ve tried elect gauges in my dirt works car they don,t hold up to the punishment but that just My opinion and you know what opinion like ? every body got one

john on my first post i tried to stay in the middle on this gauge deal and i kind of left you hanging there, but im changing my story. elect. gauges is fine on a sunday driver, show car, and for a cruise in, but if your going to get off of the hard surface with your car you need to go with the mechanical gauges. i used them for awhile on my dirt modified car and you couldnt read them while you was racing at all and they would fall apart in no time and far as been accurate at 7000 rpm on a dirt track is a joke. it all come down to what you are going to do with them. if you wont pretty then go with the elec. if youer going to run them hard at all you need the mechanical.

no big deal I myself perfer Mechanical over elec enought said about that But where did you run modified s at

I prefer....Whatever i can afford. Guages are one of those things you decide at the time. Mechanical has its place, Especially on Speedos, but electrical is good on the more volitale parts

Originally posted by john gemmer
no big deal I myself perfer Mechanical over elec enought said about that But where did you run modified s at

i ran the dirt car back in the 1970s down in n.c. then in 1992 i joined a touring group of modifed cars out of rich va. it was called ARA -AMERICAN RACING ASSOCIATION. we raced all over va. and n.c. had a heart attack in 94 and had to give it up. had a lot of fun though. where do you race?

Originally posted by lt1s10
i ran the dirt car back in the 1970s down in n.c. then in 1992 i joined a touring group of modifed cars out of rich va. it was called ARA -AMERICAN RACING ASSOCIATION. we raced all over va. and n.c. had a heart attack in 94 and had to give it up. had a lot of fun though. where do you race?

down here in az were raceing IMCA but rules and reg well let just say their not what there cracked up to be. Were going Barnett series this year the pay out are better the purse is alot higher and the motor clam work a little diffrent and alot better