Question about console gauges & housing?

[Professor]

I keep reading people referring to the factory console gauges as fake. First, what does that mean?? Were the factory gauges dummy gauges Mine both appear to work ... which brings up my next question ... where can we buy a replacement for the housing that holds the gauges (and how much is it)?? It looks like the previous owner replaced one or both of the gauges at some time (both are still Autometer gauges) and got some glue on the plastic housing around the gauges (looks like a poorly done model car glue job).

[cyclopsram]

Is all in the archives.. use key words...

[KillJoy]

The Oil Pressure Gause does not show real pressure. It shows about 65PSI as long a 6psi is seen by the sender.

KillJoy

[sweetair]

The oil guage does NOT show real, or actual pressure. It is an idiot gauge, always registering approx. 65-70. Thru Summit Racing or other performance shop, an identical gauge from Autometer is available. The sending unit must also be replaced. This comes with the gauge. The sending unit is next to the oil filter. I did mine. Very easy swap. There are many old threads about it. Use the search tool. I know there are pics as well of the install in these threads. Good luck..............:beer:

[RF Overlord]

Professor, as stated above, only the oil pressure gauge is a fake; the voltmeter does actually work.

The reason it's called a "fake", is that Ford oil pressure gauges, since at least 1989, do not actually read oil pressure. They're a glorified idiot light. As long as the motor has at least ~6 lbs of pressure, a switch closes and causes the meter to read about half scale, or a touch higher. Have you noticed that the oil pressure gauge always reads exactly the same, no matter whether the engine is hot or cold, and no matter what the RPM? A REAL gauge will read about 100 lbs at a cold start, about 25 lbs at hot idle, and when cruising will vary between 40-70 lbs depending on speed.

AutoMeter kit #4327 is a direct replacement for the stock gauge and is about $55 from Dennis Reinhart or from Wes at Innovative Interceptors. As stated above, the sender (included in the kit) also needs to be replaced. The only difference is that the OEM gauge is back-lit, and the replacement uses perimeter lighting. During the day they look identical. Many people also replace the voltmeter to keep both gauges looking the same at night.

The "goo" you see on the pod is normal, it doesn't mean that anyone messed with it. It's from the adhesive that holds the rubber edging that goes around the top of the pod where it interfaces with the dashboard. A little Goo-Gone on a Q-Tip cleans it up nicely.

[Raudermaster]

I like the green glow of the numbers/lettering. Could I just simply replace my sender and keep the stock gauge?

[fastblackmerc]

I like the green glow of the numbers/lettering. Could I just simply replace my sender and keep the stock gauge?

No. There is a thread about replacing the face of a real OP gauge with the stock face. That's too much work........

[MENINBLK]

Professor, as stated above, only the oil pressure gauge is a fake; the voltmeter does actually work.

The OEM Voltmeter is rigged also.

At 14.5 volts the OEM gauge reads 12.5 volts.
It is and always has been 2 volts off the actual voltage.

A real Voltmeter shows the actual voltage that is residing in your harnesses.

[Advancedautosec]

well that sucks, they could have at least put actual working gauges in...

[RCSignals]

The OEM Voltmeter is rigged also.

At 14.5 volts the OEM gauge reads 12.5 volts.
It is and always has been 2 volts off the actual voltage.

A real Voltmeter shows the actual voltage that is residing in your harnesses.

then why does mine show over 12.5 volts?

[RCSignals]

The reason it's called a "fake", is that Ford oil pressure gauges, since at least 1989, do not actually read oil pressure. .................

Before that. The oil pressure gauge in the '67 Cougar XR7s was the same, not real.

I'm not sure when Ford actually started this, but it apparently was after getting too many people complaining about oil pressure gauge readings fluctuating. Probably was late '50s early '60s

[RF Overlord]

Could I just simply replace my sender and keep the stock gauge?As fastblackmerc said, no.

The OEM gauge is specially ballasted so that when the OP switch (it's not a sender) closes and sends 12V to the gauge, it reads a little more than half-scale. You need to replace the switch with a real sender, and you also need to replace the gauge unit.

Here's (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2993&highlight=gauge+face) the write-up on swapping the aftermarket gauge face for the one from the OEM gauge to keep the same look.

[TKde0]

then why does mine show over 12.5 volts?

mine shows 14 sometimes too.

[Raudermaster]

Thanks Bob I might look into that.

[Professor]

Thanks for all the info. Where can I buy the pod/housing itself? Part no.? How much??

It looks like someone tried to change the gauges on mine and sc***** some of the dark charcoal paint off the black molding.

[RF Overlord]

Professor, I don't have the P/N for the pod, but the one time I looked into getting a spare it was $137 from the dealer. :eek:

You can buy a can of the correct-colour spray paint from the dealer for quite a bit less than that...I'll get the P/N for the paint when I get home this evening.

[RCSignals]

Part number for the paint is PM 19M547 4149H

I just bought some. I brought them a part number i had from someone else. This number apparently is new.

[Professor]

Thanks RC ... you rock!!

[SID210SA]

you can get the guages from various vendors here....Wes with Innovative Interceptors has them.....good prices too....

[RCSignals]

Here is a part number which should be the gauge pod complete

3W3Z-5404810-AAA

[fastblackmerc]

Thanks for all the info. Where can I buy the pod/housing itself? Part no.? How much??

It looks like someone tried to change the gauges on mine and sc***** some of the dark charcoal paint off the black molding.

The pods show up on eBay sometimes.

Easiest fix is to repaint it.

[brake.turn.gas]

for searching reference it looks like the pod# is updated to 3W3Z5404810AAB - $139.23

[jonroe]

The OEM Voltmeter is rigged also.

At 14.5 volts the OEM gauge reads 12.5 volts.
It is and always has been 2 volts off the actual voltage.

A real Voltmeter shows the actual voltage that is residing in your harnesses.

No, the voltmeter is not "rigged". The one you have may have an error in calibration but it is a real working voltmeter. My stock voltmeter read nearly exactly right and was more accurate than the aftermarket Autometer gauge.