Replacing stock Autometer gauges

[Marauder85]

Hey everybody, I'm looking to replace the stock Autometer gauges with Autometer gauges from Summit Racing, I was told that because the car came with the gauges that all required wiring/tubing is there so it's a easy swap out, the question I have is do I need full sweep, short sweep, electrical or mechanical? I would think the oil pressure would be mechanical and the voltmeter electrical but I want to make sure I order what I need, Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks guys!
:beer:

[RF Overlord]

If you're asking what's in the car from the factory, they're both electric. The voltmeter is stupid simple to replace, but the oil pressure gauge is a fake, so you'll need a real gauge and matching sender.

[Marauder85]

Ok cool thanks for the info, I figured the voltmeter would be a simple swap and I've heard the oil pressure gauge is not accurate and basically crap, I can tell it's not accurate because the pressure stays at one number regardless of the rpm, so the voltmeter gauge needs to be electrical and oil pressure mechanical? If you get a mechanical they send the tubing, sender etc, do you know where on the motor the sender screws into? I'm sure there's a couple places just wanna make sure it's right, thx again :beer:

[EMAS]

You do not need to use a mechanical oil pressure gauge and I'd strongly recommend against it. What you want is an electrical gauge and the matching sender. How to instal it has been covered here before. Basically you replace the OE switch with the aftermarket sender and use all the factory wiring with a new terminal to connect to the new sender.

[Guittard22]

If you're asking what's in the car from the factory, they're both electric. The voltmeter is stupid simple to replace, but the oil pressure gauge is a fake, so you'll need a real gauge and matching sender.

What makes the oil one fake ?

[EMAS]

What makes the oil one fake ?

Instead of a sender which has a variable resistance in proportion to the pressure it has a switch that turns on when there is some pressure. The gauge just gives a fixed reading if the switch is on.

[fastblackmerc]

Get

Autometer 4327 - oil pressure gauge with sender
Autometer 4391 - voltmeter

[sflrainmaker01]

Get

Autometer 4327 - oil pressure gauge with sender
Autometer 4391 - voltmeter

Do these light up like the factory ones at night?

[RubberCtyRauder]

Do these light up like the factory ones at night?


Yes.......You can even change bulbs to color or regular led or use bulb covers to change colors

[sflrainmaker01]

Yes.......You can even change bulbs to color or regular led or use bulb covers to change colors

Cool! :up: Sounds like a mod I will do soon!

[MMcactusflower]

I changed mine out last year...no problems whatever...be careful pulling the console and surrounding parts out...definately do not want to force anything...or crack something.
Not a hard job at all...lol.

[RF Overlord]

Back around 1990, or maybe even earlier, Ford decided that too many people (read: morons) were coming into the dealerships complaining that their oil pressure was all over the place and that it was way high when cold, but went down when the motor got hot, not realising that what they were seeing was perfectly normal. To correct this, Ford decided to make all oil pressure gauges give a predetermined "ideal" reading all the time. Problem solved. The switch closes at approx. 6 PSI and the gauge says "All is well"... :rolleyes:

[sflrainmaker01]

Back around 1990, or maybe even earlier, Ford decided that too many people (read: morons) were coming into the dealerships complaining that their oil pressure was all over the place and that it was way high when cold, but went down when the motor got hot, not realising that what they were seeing was perfectly normal. To correct this, Ford decided to make all oil pressure gauges give a predetermined "ideal" reading all the time. Problem solved. The switch closes at approx. 6 PSI and the gauge says "All is well"... :rolleyes:

So, are you saying that the gauge reads like 70psi all the time except for when the actual oil pressure is <6psi? Is there an oil pressure warning light on the dash? Never noticed...:dunno:

[Marauder85]

So, are you saying that the gauge reads like 70psi all the time except for when the actual oil pressure is <6psi? Is there an oil pressure warning light on the dash? Never noticed...:dunno:

Yes there is a warning light that will come on if your having oil issues on the dash.

Thanks for the info guys! :beer:

[jwibbity]

Yes there is a warning light that will come on if your having oil issues on the dash.

Thanks for the info guys! :beer:
where is this light?!?!?:confused:

[Marauder85]

So, are you saying that the gauge reads like 70psi all the time except for when the actual oil pressure is <6psi? Is there an oil pressure warning light on the dash? Never noticed...:dunno:

I just looked and I stand corrected, no there is not a warning light on the dash, you would think that there would be one or a chime but nope.
:beer:

[RF Overlord]

So, are you saying that the gauge reads like 70psi all the time except for when the actual oil pressure is <6psi? That's correct.

> 6 PSI gauge reads ~70

< 6 PSI gauge reads 0

[ctrlraven]

Do these light up like the factory ones at night?
The factory ones have the gauge face that lights up the numbers. The REAL autometer ones are back-lit and illuminate from behind the gauge. Some have swapped the gauge faces.

Real Oil Psi on Left and Stock Volt on the right.
https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/228255_1520201863535_1407688_n .jpg

Also here are the oil senders Stock on the Left and Real on the Right
https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/260413_1511769132722_5946863_n .jpg

[sflrainmaker01]

That's correct.

> 6 PSI gauge reads ~70

< 6 PSI gauge reads 0

Seems like they could have bumped the pressure up a little (like 15 or 20) so you have some time before a catastrophe hits.:rolleyes:

Good stuff ctrlraven. Thanks for the pics. Where does the sender mount to?

[RF Overlord]

Where does the sender mount to?In place of the factory one.

[sflrainmaker01]

In place of the factory one.

Right. But, where would that location be, exactly? Is it hard to get to?

[ctrlraven]

Right. But, where would that location be, exactly? Is it hard to get to?
It's right below the oil filter on the adapter I believe. You will have to cut the factory plug connection then attach the wires to the new sender. Also have to cut the wires from the factory plug on the gauge to attach to the real autometer gauge.

[fastblackmerc]

I just looked and I stand corrected, no there is not a warning light on the dash, you would think that there would be one or a chime but nope.
:beer:

I wired in a 6psi oil pressure switch that will operate an annoying buzzer if oil pressure drops.

Autometer sender on top, 6psi sender on the bottom
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/fastblackmerc/MM%20Mods/Low%20Oil%20Switch/IM000832.jpg (http://s167.photobucket.com/user/fastblackmerc/media/MM%20Mods/Low%20Oil%20Switch/IM000832.jpg.html)