Hey guys

i plan to scrape the current dash setup in my baja and make it more manageable. i need it simple and clean. the 1968 dash was previously been cut out and looks like a airplane cockpit.

what gauges should i include(apart from oil temp and speedo) and what brand?? VDO?

if anyone has pictures please post them.
any input will help

cheers
Kosa

All you really need in my opinion is a stock speedo with a fuel gauge in it, a nice tacho and an oil temp gauge. That's all the gauges that I would ever want in a bug dash. What else is there to measure? Maybe manifold vacuum or boost if that's what you're into.

As above, plus an oil pressure gauge, I like to watch that one.

Geez, you forgot the one most important gauge there is with an air cooled engine.

Oil pressure.

Thats more important than oil temp,
driving with hot oil wont kill an engine as quick as low oil pressure will.
If you're driving along at 50km/h or more by the time just idiot light comes on that engine's toast.

Saved one of my engines when my oil filter hose split, I noticed the oil pressure starting to drop so shut it down before any damage was done.

Both would be ideal but if I had the choice it would be pressure.

When brand new the sender flicks the light on at 4.3psi or 0.3bar.
Get one that's 30 years old or more and abit lazy it may only come on at 2 or less

If your driving down the highway at even 80km/h, in 4th the engine is turning 2500rpm.
If the pressure gets down to even 4.3psi at those revs the engines rooted.

The two are related, the hotter oil gets the less pressure it makes so with an oil press gauge if you know where it sits nomrally and it drops below its a sign the oils getting toasty

i believe a sum up is in order, i should have the following gauges:
- Speedo
- Tacho
- Fuel
- Oil Temp
- Oil Pressure
- Volts??

ok i have the necessaries now thank you guys.

now what brands should i get?? what are the best?? what brands should i stay clear of??

I would recommend keeping a stock VW speedo, which also incorporates the fuel gauge and a not-charging light, hence removing the need for a separate fuel gauge or voltmeter. For oil pressure it's best to get an electrical/electronic gauge, so that you don't have to run a pressure line all the way from the engine bay, which rules out some gauges as not all of them are available in electronic oil pressure. Other than that, the choice is purely personal preference.

I bought these for mine.
Not cheap but very good quality.

http://www.autometer.com/cat_gaugedetail.aspx?gid=2791&sid=15 

http://www.autometer.com/cat_gaugedetail.aspx?gid=2787&sid=15 

http://www.autometer.com/cat_gaugedetail.aspx?ref=search&gid=3239 

Still have to get around to installing them

If you go on that website there is an advanced gauge search option at the top left of the site. Allows you to type in what you want and has all the info you need.



Smiley

Personally am not a big fan of Autometer as i prefer VDO as was original equipment in a VW with your speedo etc and if there still working fine after 30 odd years you can't go wrong hey.
Not to mention VDO has good back up service and spare parts

Autometer, no dramas with them. Bit more expensive but they had everything i needed, lots more options and no problems in all the years I've been using them- rocket have all a spares and repairs department.

It's VDO for me. Well priced and reliable. And you can get some that match the stock speedo quite closely. Cockpit series I think they are called.

I've always had a good run with speco gauges

well its definately time for a new dash! my fuel gauge fried the other day. filled up the fuel and poof... red pointer disappeared and bounced around and then stopped wayyy past the reserve sign... then a little puff of smoke filled the speedo case.. woops...

so im looking for a new speedo or a fuel gauge aswell now lol

There were a few VW ones listed on ebay the other day when I was looking around. I suspect one or two may be from Dylan.