Any place besides the clock and dash alteration that I could put voltmeter?

[H.G.P.]

Installing a voltmeter planned, and I do not want to alter the orginal dash at all. And I want to keep the clock in as is. Any practical location that, and here's the problem, ......that looks OEM...or perhaps 007 ? Pictures welcome...

Thanks

[david c.]

would you consider giving up your glovebox? You could build yourself quite a little cluster in there with or without the door.

[Eric Coffey]

One option might be to install an SC/Carrera center console (minus the guts) and fabricate a custom gauge pod (ABS?) for it. It would look OEM, but not "period-correct". Otherwise you could install the VDO 3-gauge pod under the dash, but use velcro, or maybe even find a "donor" knee bar to attach it to, so you could return it to stock if needed. Just thinking out loud.

[RoninLB]

[rst73]

I had North Hollywood Speedometer Service make me a volt and amp meter to fit in the clock hole and it looks factory installed. You might want to contact them about having them making a custom three function oil temp, oil pressure, and volt guage. I know they make a four function guage for the 914-6 it's like the one used on the 904. They do excellent work! Hope this helps.

Roger Grago
R Gruppe #27
73 RS-T
70 2.4 MFI VW Bus

[masraum]

Do you need your ashtray. I removed the ashtray and then used an existing holes to mount my gauge. That way it is also angled a bit to be easier to see.

[H.G.P.]

Well, taking the ideas thus far, I went out and took a look inside (vs. removal) the glove box. As I want to keep the glove box as is, I am now thinking of perhaps designing a separate compartment inside the glove box itself.

I would like to avoid drilling a separate hole through the box, but I see no access into the box.

(Incidentally, I spot what looks like a relay socket under the dash to the left. I have no relay in this socket! Anyone know what the socket is for?)

[Mike Kast]

I have a volt meter and cylinder head temp gauge mounted on a separate plate beneath the ashtray. It looks pretty clean and there are no real alterations that I can see. I'll take a picture in tomorrow.

[targa80]

(Incidentally, I spot what looks like a relay socket under the dash to the left. I have no relay in this socket! Anyone know what the socket is for?)

If the socket is in the upper left corner under dash near the fender well it could be one of 5 or six cable feed-thru connectors.

[Rob McKibbon]

I have a radar detector that has a built in voltage meter too.
Works great!

[BernieP]

Another option is the digital volt gauge that plugs into th cigarette lighter socket. use it only when you want to and move it from car to car. About $40.

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by BernieP
Another option is the digital volt gauge that plugs into th cigarette lighter socket. use it only when you want to and move it from car to car. About $40.

That's the route I went...tho I paid more than $40..for a digital unit that has a memory button, one that will recall the highest voltage rached during any one run.

[Mike Kast]

Here's the pic.



and this is my house mate Bradshaw. He watches the 911 when I'm working.

[emcon5]

Originally posted by RoninLB

Ron, that is a dual CHT guage, right? Do you remember what brand it is, and where you got it?

Wayne sells a single VDO unit, but I was thinking a dual version would be better.

What is a safe head temp anyway?

Tom

[H.G.P.]

Thanks Mike. I do like your look with the black trim. I've decided not to use the glove box, so I think your tray location may fit the bill. Looks like two gauges might look better than one, however I only want the voltmeter for now. Thanks for the pic. (what did you use to fasten them with beneath the tray?)

[Mike Kast]

looks like 3 screws through the bottom of the ashtray. I never looked at it before you asked


Dr. Leland Pate installed it so I can't tell you much about the what or how, I bet we could get him to though if your interested.
My cylinder head temp is very consistently 250. I've been meaning to ask about that myself. My oil temp gauge fluctuates a whole lot more than the CHT. I have the no number oil temp gauge so I don't know how hot its getting. When I'm hard on her and its hot as is was yesterday, around 90, It got about half way. It was pretty much horizontal. Tonight it was much cooler out and it seemed to have gotten about the same at times. I don't know???

[H.G.P.]

All my gauges fortunately are working, (except the clock, which will stay where it is), but I want the voltmeter. I'm going out tomorrow to see what's availble about the size of my ashtray, and might match. Thanks.

[RoninLB]

Hi Tom...

"Ron, that is a dual CHT guage, right?"
--- yes.. I figured it would help with a carb set-up. but you need only one, and can use the dual as a mix for EGT, volt meter, anything. or you can do a tripple or quad.

"Do you remember what brand it is, and where you got it?"
--- Aircraft Spruce, www.aircraft-spruce.com the mfg is Westach

"Wayne sells a single VDO unit, but I was thinking a dual version would be better."
--- this is better, LOL.. but it's being installed right now



"What is a safe head temp anyway?"
--- a simple answer is "it depends".. but on my street engine, with plenty of oil cooling, it's around 200deg.. but hit the Rocky Mts. and watch the head temp rise instantly.. or comming into lala land from the north thru the hills and I'll use a lower gear to keep the revs up.. the oil temps are a lagging indicator.. by the time 12 qts heat up, it's been hot to long.. then you have to worry about bringing oil temps down.. so again, the CHT rise immediately allowing you to adjust your gears and speed to PREVENT hot oil.. when doing a 110deg. desert I know that the slightly higher oil temp. is OK because my CHT is only slightly higher. so I'm making sure that everything is OK.. it's on the console because I don't have to constantly monitor it, only when I need it... I only do DE once in a great while, but it's a definate for DE, IMO

[Mike Kast]

If yours is 200 sounds like 250 is too hot...hmmmmmmmm???

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by Mike Kast
If yours is 200 sounds like 250 is too hot...hmmmmmmmm???

I don't know enough to say your is to hot.. maybe your oil temp is hotter than mine. maybe you keep your revs lower than me.. I also have the higher ratio 5 fan blade pully on an 11 blade fan..crusing at 55mph in 5th will raise the CHT relative to using 4th.. I always gear and throttle according to CHT............Ron