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Re: More than you need to know about gauges



Wow!  Thanks for the generous info, Igor.

My interest in the Japanese gauges you mentioned was based more on the
44mm size than color because I had conviced myself that I might
conceivably fit two or three of these gauges in the rectangular area
below the vents to the extreme left side of the dash, by the drivers
left knee.  This area is about 46mm tall.  The relay access hatch
immediately below this area would simplify the installation.  I don't
think the 52mm VDO gauges would fit in this area.

Another location that occurred to me was to put two gauges, aligned
vertically, into one of the aforementioned vents.  Two vents seems
excessive and the location is good.  The swivel effect would be an
interesting bonus :-)  

It would be interesting to learn of other inconspicuous locations 
where other 5k owners have successfully placed gauges.

Two question, for clarification, if I may:  

1) You cite the following specs:

    VDO  150 921 -30" Hg to +25psi and -1 bar to +1.5 bar

   I presume that the +1.5 bar is relative to atmospheric pressure,
   i.e., that it corresponds to a 2.5 bar reading of the in-dash
   gauge.  The reason I ask is that I had conviced myself that a 20psi
   gauge would be inadequate but if this corresponds to 1 Atm + 20 psi
   then this is plenty (for my application).

2) In your experience, when a gauge is advertised having a 52mm dia,
   is this the diameter of the outer edges of the frame or is this the
   size of the mounting hole?

Thanks 

  Gisli


>>>>> On Sun, 01 Aug 1999 22:44:52 -0400, you said:
 
  IK> Gisli Ottarsson wrote:
  >> 
  >> Igor:
  >> 
  >> I noted with interest the following message and have been awaiting
  >> some kind of follow-up, either from you or some other interested
  >> party.
  >> 
  >> Did you, or anyone you know of, purchase one of these gauges?  If so,
  >> can you report about quality and ease of installment?
  >> 
  >> I am interested in getting more reliable boost numbers than what is
  >> provided by the in-dash boost gauge in my '87 5kcstq without adding a
  >> big and ugly gauge.  Oil pressure info would also be useful.

  IK> your car has black instruments and the cluster itself is too
  IK> small to build in any aux gauge so why do you want to pay ~$150
  IK> for a fancy white faced gauge when you can have an excellent one
  IK> for $13 to $20? I've had them in my '85 5000s, '89 200TQ and now
  IK> in my wife's '98 A4TQ.  The only reason why I am excersizing
  IK> alternatives for my '97 S6 is because its OEM instruments are
  IK> white faced and I am obsessed with an idea of building in the
  IK> boost gauge in place of one of the blanks in the huge S6
  IK> teardrop cluster.

  IK> VDO 52mm DIA:

  IK> Boost gauges:
  IK> VDO  150 121 -30" Hg to +25psi
  IK> VDO  150 921 -30" Hg to +25psi and -1 bar to +1.5 bar
  IK> 1VDO  150 061 -30" Hg to +15psi

  IK> Electrical Oil pressure:
  IK> VDO  350 040 [0 to +80psi] "Oil"
  IK> VDO  350 066 [0 to +80psi] "Oil" w/symb
  IK> VDO  350 080 [0 to +5 bar] "Bar"

  IK> M10x1mm Sender for the above:
  IK> VDO  360 001 [0 to +80psi]


  IK> M10x1mm "T" adapter for the above to retain the OEM idiot light:
  IK> VDO  240 850

  IK> Stand alone housing for the gauges:
  IK> VDO  240 100 [75mm in depth]
  IK> VDO  240 100 [97mm in depth]

  IK> Autometer makes similar ones but I would go with VDO coz 
  IK> a) they are German
  IK> b) they are OEM vendor for Audi 

  IK> Either installation is very easy.
  IK> 1. Boost gauges.
  IK> Definitely get the one with the negative range (see above) coz it will
  IK> give you an excellent troubleshooting ability of the general engine
  IK> health.

  IK> Tap a "T" to the vacuum hose to the brain, located behind the cover of
  IK> the pass side kick panel. This will give you a damped, vibration-free
  IK> reading. Not so if you tap it directly to the IM.

  IK> 2. Oil pressure gauge.
  IK> Remove one of the OEM idiot light senders. Put in the "T" (see above).
  IK> Screw in the gauge sender and the OEM sender into the "T". Wire up.

  IK> In my long gone '85 5000s I installed the small 1.5" Autometer oil
  IK> pressure and voltmeter gauges. For those I used the 4 blanks in the
  IK> centre console. I removed the blanks and milled two tiny plastic face
  IK> plates with round holes for the gauges. The final look was
  IK> _outstandinly_ OEM. You can't do this on your car coz these positions
  IK> are occupied by the trip computer. Pity.

  IK> BTW, go for the voltmeter too. Indispensable.
  IK> VDO 332 041 [8-16v, w/colour band]
  IK> VDO 332 042 [8-16v, w/colour band and symbol]

  IK> Some linx:
  IK> VDO: http://www.vdona.com
  IK> Autometer: http://www.autometer.com


  IK> For the best prices known to me talk to Ron at Gilmore Distributing
  IK> (thanks to James Marriott for the tip): http://www.gilmoredist.com/

  IK> Here's the link to my old rudimentary page (excuse the crappy look),
  IK> where you can see the gauges mounted in the LF corner:

  IK> http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Garage/8949/homepage.html

  IK> I have hundreds of pix but no scanner which cripples the deployment of
  IK> the real site.

  IK> -- 
  IK> Igor Kessel
  IK> Two turbo quattros.