HDX or Mechanical gauges

[Jakedog]

Hi,
First off, don't flame me if this has been discussed before. For some unknown reason my tablet won't let me search the forums. Anyway, I bought mechanical gauges (still not installed) last summer at the advice of my engine builder. He's an old school guy who only uses mechanical gauges in his own vehicles.
I really like the look of the HDX and VHX series gauges.
So my question to you is, do you think the digital gauges are accurate enough compared to mechanical gauges? By mechanical I mean the oil psi and the water temp.
I like the idea of the mechanical gauges because of accuracy, but I love the look of the new digital set ups.
Any thoughts on the mechanical vs digital debate?

 

[ransil]

I agree mechanical gauges are probably more reliable and accurate.

nothing wrong with the digital gauges, motor does not care if you have 70 psi of oil or 52 psi of oil, it does care if you have zero psi, both will do that.

Hopefully someone that installed the gauge you want will chime in on if there gauge is still working. I installed the Digital gauge from BC Broncos it was a piece of crap, company that manufactured it pretty sure went out of business.

 

[Broncobowsher]

There is a thing called information overload. You have more then is useful. Most new cars that still have gauges have them dumbed down just so the operator doesn't have as much to worry about. This is even beyond just printing a normal band on a gauge with no numbers on it. Oh the water temp climbed from 186 to 190 climbing that hill is completely normal. On a low resolution gauge you will never notice. Get too much info and you watch the numbers click off one by one. Now instead of enjoying the drive you just stare at the numbers and miss the fun of driving.

 

[charlie6976]

Take a look at Autometer and their gauges with the stepper motor. I've went with the Ford Racing line. Not installed yet.

 

[fordguy]

I like the refurbished gauges by the vendor on this site with the right adapters. digital gauges from what I have seen other install were not a straight forward install. I also like the tablet someone on here installed off of obdII? it provided a lot of info.

 

[DirtDonk]

Many of the manufacturers say that the modern electrical gauges are every bit as accurate as the mechanical counterparts. I would tend to agree with that from my experience and reading on the subject, but the biggest pet peeve I have is that even the same gauges from the same manufacturer don't always read consistent with each other!
Even two mechanical gauges can give different readings on the same vehicle. So I guess nothing is perfect. But I prefer electric...

Digital? Love 'em! I like the fact that you don't have to have a separate tachometer. I like the info they provide, and like the look even in a vintage vehicle. Guess I'm not consistent on that score though, as I don't like how most of the LED headlights look on our old rigs. Inside personal stuff vs outside public stuff I guess.

But as much as I'd still like to have a custom dash with round analog electrical gauges to tell me what's what, I'll probably never get around to it so will probably go all digital electronic Dakota Digital on mine.

Paul