Adding autometer gauges to the dash

[mini73]

Happy Labor day guys and gals! Got a few questions concerning the addition on some gauges. I found a hell of a deal for some 2 5/8" autometer gauges on my local craigslist. I got a volt meter, water temp and oil pressure for $65. Damm good deal to me considering that just buying these gauges separately are $65 a piece at least. Anyways, I got them in a panel that is cut and sized to cover the old radio and ashtray hole. Was trying to wire them up yesterday and having a hard time. I think I understand how to daisy chain the new gauges but do I totally get away with not using the stock cluster? Im still using the fuel and speedometer portion of the cluster. Do I run all new wires for the gauges including the sending wire to the oil pressure switch and the temp sender? I thought I had it figured out but now I don't. I got my 12v for the gauges, off of power side of the IVR and put all the grounds together and made a new ground underneath the dash. The volt meter seems to be reading normally but the oil and water temp gauge peg to 100 once I turn the ignition on and start. I bought a new oil sender switch due to me throwing away my old one since I used to use a mechanical oil pressure switch. If I disconnect the the new gauges and re connect the wire on the cluster for the oil and temp, they work. So I am thinking the senders are working. I am wondering if I have a grounding problem. I have searched the forums but I have not found any thread how anyone added new gauges and still using the fuel gauge on the stock cluster. Can anyone help me out with this? Thanks in advance and look forward to any advice.

 

[mini73]

Anyone have ideas on this? For now I have the all the gauges in the stock cluster wired back up as well as the 3 new autometer gauges. The factory gauges are working but the autometer oil and water temp are are going back and forth when the bronco is on. The volt meter is acting right.

 

[broncosbybart]

From what I'm reading it sounds like you are using the stock Ford sending units. Pretty sure (99.9% sure) you need AutoMeter sending units for those gauges to work correctly. I use mechanical gauges but that is my guess.

Also, just to be sure, the voltage regulator on the back of the speedo is for the stock gauges only. The new gauges should have 12 volts feeding them.

 

[broncosbybart]

Oh, and you could tee the oil pressure port for 2 senders and use a vacant hole in the intake for a 2nd water temp sender if you want to run all the gauges.

 

[mini73]

From what I'm reading it sounds like you are using the stock Ford sending units. Pretty sure (99.9% sure) you need AutoMeter sending units for those gauges to work correctly. I use mechanical gauges but that is my guess.

Also, just to be sure, the voltage regulator on the back of the speedo is for the stock gauges only. The new gauges should have 12 volts feeding them.

Thanks for the reply. I have 12v feeding all the gauges. Didn't think about needing Autometer sending units with the oil and water temp gauges. Like I said, I bought the gauges from a guy and he didn't give me any sending units. I went on autometer website and seen that they have a few different sending units. Which one should I look for about getting for the 2 gauges?

 

[broncosbybart]

No prob. Can't help you with the sending units. I'd give them a call tomorrow. They'll get you straightened out.

 

[mini73]

No prob. Can't help you with the sending units. I'd give them a call tomorrow. They'll get you straightened out.

Ok thanks anyways. I think I found out which ones I need. My local pep boys might have it. They have a lot of autometer stuff

 

[mini73]

Got the oil pressure and the water temp gauge to work now. I went down to pep boys and got the correct senders for both. The oil pressure is little low but I know I need to add some oil to the bronco. I have a small leak or 2. Now to get the 5" tach, 5" speedometer, trans, and the fuel gauge. Anyone know of any other gauges I should or need to get? I like to be informed plus once I get the 351 in they will be already in so I can see all the info.

 

[bronconut73]

I have been running a similar set up for a long time.
Autometer Sport Comp fuel level, water temp, oil pressure, voltmeter.
The "in-dash" 5 inch Autometer Speedo and Tach are still sitting on the shelf. I just need to take the plunge and install them.

Never did the tranny gauge but I want to.

 

[mini73]

I have been running a similar set up for a long time.
Autometer Sport Comp fuel level, water temp, oil pressure, voltmeter.
The "in-dash" 5 inch Autometer Speedo and Tach are still sitting on the shelf. I just need to take the plunge and install them.

Never did the tranny gauge but I want to.

Cool. I know eventually I want to get a new blank dash so it will look better but for now I just want to move all the switch and knobs down towards the console that I made, put the 5" speedometer where the cluster is and then the 5" tach in the dash on the other side of the steering wheel. Still more work to do but I like the look of all the gauges. This is where I am now with the gauges in the dash. I'm only using the fuel gauge and speedometer on the original cluster.

 

[bronconut73]

I am using the pro-street gauge cups with the hinge mount.
Been using them since the 80's. Can't help myself. Lol.

 

[mini73]

I am using the pro-street gauge cups with the hinge mount.

Been using them since the 80's. Can't help myself. Lol.

Lol. None of us can when comes to our own Broncos. You got a lot more stuff on your dash than I do. Mine is mainly going to be a street cruiser. No mountains here in La. Thinking of putting a switch panel on the tunnel cover I built to house the wipers, lights, heater fan and other things that I add. Also thinking of making another panel to drop down from the dash to move the heater control knobs to.

 

[bronconut73]

A new dash custom modded would be really cool.

 

[mini73]

I agree. Just takes time. Trying to do things the bronco and still finish building the 351 is hard. Not to mention bills for the house and family

 

[bronconut73]

I agree. Just takes time. Trying to do things the bronco and still finish building the 351 is hard. Not to mention bills for the house and family

I understand Bud.

My old lady is always bitchin' about the new boat payment ($290 a month). But I got rid of my '08 F-150 payment ($521 a month). I am $231 bucks ahead by my math, hahaha....
Every time I want to get some new eb part I have to hear about that Damn boat payment.
Oh well....it is all worth it.
Her and the Bronco and the boat, hahahaha....

 

[mini73]

Yeah. I got a jet ski bought and payed for already. Of course it cost a lot of money to go riding cause it takes supreme gas. No worries though as along as the I get the bills payed I got the rest of the money to work with. I pay all the bills for the house anyways. . She just got finished with medical school and looking for a job now. I'm retired from the navy after 20 years and still work full time. Ha ha