questions about: vdo or autometer or... sender units

[wolfswest]

Hi Guys,

Some questions for the gauge freaks. 

I sold my autometer setup because I'm going to install a more vintage looking vdo set.  Some questions.  I will also need two new senders: one for the oil temp and one for the oil pressure.  Does the autometer senders also work together with vdo gauges?    Or do I realy need a vdo sender unit? 
These vdo sender units are far more expensive then the autometer ones...      OMG!

Second, If I need the vdo ones, does the vdo sender units work with all the gauges?

thirth and last question, I found mine here in Belgium but are there webshops or so that sell these things for a fair price?

oh, just to be clear: I have the same vdo cockpit gauges as monkiboy, thx buddy 

Dem

[Jim Ratto]

I think VDO goes with VDO only

VDO makes several pressure senders, to match different scales on gauges. They are rated in bar or psi on hex of sender, or at least they used to be. It's been years...
They also offer several oil temp senders. Probably the most popular we used to sell was sender that was designed to thread into 3-way elbow at stock oil pressure switch port on case, tot he left of distributor on Type 1. They also offer a sender that replaces the stock oil bypass cap, or the drain plug..... they even had a dipstick sender, not sure if it is still in production. I've tried all of these, except the drain plug one, and I like the one that goes into elbow best. The dipstick one was fragile and clumsy to me. The Bypass one was cumbersome to install against spring pressure of bypass.
I have had 80psi VDO pressure gauge in my car since '89, with matching sender that alos houses warning switch for idiot light, the elbow, and the temp sender that threads into it. Wish I still could remember all the part numbers for you. 
Good luck,
Jim Ratto

[Diederick/DVK]

dem, you might wanna try : www.fett-electronic.de

[wolfswest]

Jim,

thx for info already.  I googled a bit and yes, there are many senders that you can buy...    Looks like I need to do my homework.
and, maybe a stupid question but what is an "idiot light"    is it the light if the oilpressure is too low?

if I want to install a vdo fuel gauge then I also need another sender for the gastank?  Anybody had experience with this?

Dem

[Jim Ratto]

Jim,

thx for info already.  I googled a bit and yes, there are many senders that you can buy...    Looks like I need to do my homework.
and, maybe a stupid question but what is an "idiot light"    is it the light if the oilpressure is too low?

if I want to install a vdo fuel gauge then I also need another sender for the gastank?  Anybody had experience with this?

Dem

If you install an electric VDO fuel gauge, in a 12V standard Bug, you need a VW part # 113 919 049D sender, also made by VDO. Most VW shops stock the sender as it is stock for 1968 and later Std Bug.
Idiot light is the little green light in your stock speedometer, to the right of the turn signal arrows. If it comes on, turn off engine NOW
check out John Muir book..... about idiot lights. he gives a good explanation.

[Diederick/DVK]

mine is red

[wolfswest]

mine is red

mine is also a red one but Jim his explination makes it all clear.  thx!

How can you determine if it's a mechanical or a electric gauge? 

[Jim Ratto]

mine is red

mine is also a red one but Jim his explination makes it all clear.  thx!

How can you determine if it's a mechanical or a electric gauge? 

mech gauge was/is cable operated. Only electrical connection is for illumination.

[wolfswest]

mine is red

mine is also a red one but Jim his explination makes it all clear.  thx!

How can you determine if it's a mechanical or a electric gauge? 

mech gauge was/is cable operated. Only electrical connection is for illumination.

Allright, that says enough.  Christal clear!  As soon as my "new" set arrives I will get busy with it...