The Cal-look Lounge

Does anyone on here have experiences with Meachnical type Oil Pressure Gauges?

  I'd be interested to hear any feedback and if possible know a little more about fittings and such?

     Any information would be of help thanks..  :)
   

    ???

     Does that mean nobody runs an Old Style mechanical gauge at all ..  :(

       

What exactly do you need to know ?

Basically it would be great to know how accurate/reliable this type o gauge is?

 Is it really worth running 6/8 feet of tubing to have a correct period gauge or are these just Dinosaurs these days?

I am in the same spot. I am leary of running a oil line to the interior of the car.

I have heard they react instantly and may be more accurate than a electrical one. It was recently recommended to me to run a 2lb residual valve inline so the oil would not run  back to the engine, not sure where to source that.

We have one of those autometer ones in Bugster and it sucks - it's very slow and has a lot of lag. But maybe there is something wrong with it, it's one of the last parts that we did not check after the car's ~10 years hibernation

It's all fun and games until the line breaks inside your car  ;D

If by instantly you mean 1-2 minutes, then yeah, they're fast. Electricity moves at at approximatly 110,000' per minute,(if I remeber my apprenticeship lessons) fluid not quite as fast.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but we're not talking about fluid, we're talking about pressure. And as long as there isn't any air in the lines, you should get a reading pretty quickly...

Man really? Do your brakes take 1 to 2 minutes to react after you push on the pedal?

Always ran an Autometer mechanical gauge in my race car – very accurate, very quick to react. If it's slow to react it means the line needs bleeding... Run braided hose to the gauge, no problems.

   :)  Good information. Thanks for the input.

          I'm going to give it a go.........   8)

Also, since electric fenders work in ohms(resistance), they are MUCH more accurate and reliable than a mechanical gauge. Use whatever you want, I don't care

i would like to connect my mechanical empi pressure gauges too

Hi Fabs

Do you have all the items you need to fit the Mech Gauges?  8)

no

I've had a mechanical Stewart Warner oil pressure gauge since 1977. I ran 1/4" copper hard line up under the rear seat with a bulkhead connector. Then i run high pressure flexible hose that was made up at the local hydraulic shop for a few bucks. Never a problem.

You can see the copper line.
(http://www.glenn-ring.com/temp/interior2.jpg)

Here's the flex line under the car.
(http://www.glenn-ring.com/temp/fuel%20filter.jpg)

Here's the black covered flexible line to the port on the case.
(http://www.glenn-ring.com/pics/engine.jpg)

I have a braided hose there. Actually the bleeding may help, will try that tomorrow.

Hi Fabs

Do you have all the items you need to fit the Mech Gauges?  8)
[/quote]
no
[/quote]

What do you have & what do you need?  :)

I've run Autometer mechanical for 15 years. Horribly slow with small  oil lines but 5/16 diameter works fast even with 'heavy' 20/50 oil.

Mine has instant response.

is there a procedure for bleeding it?

Get a bunch of rags and then just barely crack the fitting at the gauge until a couple of drops of oil come out

I ran a mechanical with the real small plastic line from the engine to the gauge -- was OK for a year or so until it "squirted out of the back of the gauge and then all over the inside -- good thing about the small line is when they do fail, it is not like someone turning on a garden hose -- went to 1/4" copper line the complete distance was solid mounted so never had a problem

I have a couple of brand new VDO mechanical temp gauges if anyone is interested -- 1 oil -1 water(gasp)

Great thread!

I'm trying to work out wether i'm going to use a mechanical motometer guage in the ragtop i'm building, and the info in this has pretty much convinced me to do so. :)

Just a quick question though for those already running mechanical oil pressure guages. I'm gonna run the line through the car down the side of the tunnel, under the carpet. Is it ok to do this, or does the tube get really hot? Bit concerned about running it under the carpet if it does!!

Also which are the best lines to use? I think for the trial build of the car i will use a nylon line (much cheaper). However, for the actuall build, and once i know the correct length needed, i think i'll use a braided teflon line. Thoughts?

Dude  8)

Mine runs along the tunnel and it does not get hot.