Making a cheap fuel pressure gauge presentable.

[Kevin Lee]

Couldn't drop $40 on a liquid filled Holley gauge....too new anyway and I couldn't find any cool old ones on ebay either. Did SW make a curved glass fuel pressure gauge?

This is a $10 parts store gauge and a water/gas line cap from a hardware store. Drill a hole in the back of the cap and the cheap plastic is covered in copper. I could have trimmed down the cap but I was making every effort to hide the ugly white face. This will screw into the vacant spot on my fuel block until I find something better. I think Ryan has sent me on my way to being a gauge whore...man my light table is filthy.

[yorgatron]

oh man,thank you! i have that same gauge,and i was cringing at the look of it http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[av8]

Damn! There're some fussy folks on this board! To my eyes it's a rather neat and not unattractive solution. But you can see by my use of one of those really homely, badly plated regulators that I'm a bit of a bottom-feeder, so just about anything looks good to my eyes. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[hankcash]

Throw some lines down on the copper.....

HC

[SamIyam]

I kinda like the look of those guages too... but not on a traditional hot rod, I guess.

So, why run one at all? Get a pressure regulator that is adjustable, set it, and then leave it alone... you can hide it down on the frame somewhere, and life is good.

Then just plug the hole on your fuel block.

Sam.

[Unkl Ian]

If you heat the Copper with a torch,it will develop a nice patina.

But,if you get it too hot,you will lose the beautiful colors.
When that happens,lets it cool,polish with steel wool,and try again.

[dusty]

Also, if you can get the lens off, take some medium to dark wood stain on a rag, wipe it on and then off, repeat to get the amount of aging desired. It also works great on new house clocks that could look an antique if it werent for that blasted bright white face.

[Kevin Lee]

I almost got one of those regs av8, I just wasn't sure how well they worked so I opted to get a higher dollar reg and hide it somewhere...but I would have hidden that cheapie one too. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Hey, at least you don't use the plastic fittings that come with them. Haha

BTW Sam, the reg I bought doesn't have a built in gauge or any markings so I needed something...point is I want a gauge, just not an ugly plastic one. And the copper makes sense, you'll see.

Can't get the lens off or I would have done something about the face already. I'm kind of a wierdo when it comes to certain small things I guess. Good idea though dusty.

[hankcash]

[ QUOTE ]
I almost got one of those regs av8, I just wasn't sure how well they worked so I opted to get a higher dollar reg and hide it somewhere...but I would have hidden that cheapie one too. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Hey, at least you don't use the plastic fittings that come with them. Haha

BTW Sam, the reg I bought doesn't have a built in gauge or any markings so I needed something...point is I want a gauge, just not an ugly plastic one. And the copper makes sense, you'll see.

Can't get the lens off or I would have done something about the face already. I'm kind of a wierdo when it comes to certain small things I guess. Good idea though dusty.

[/ QUOTE ]

why don't you just paint over the face? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

problem solved!
HC

[tommy]

[ QUOTE ]
Couldn't drop $40 on a liquid filled Holley gauge....too new anyway and I couldn't find any cool old ones on ebay either. Did SW make a curved glass fuel pressure gauge?

This is a $10 parts store gauge and a water/gas line cap from a hardware store. Drill a hole in the back of the cap and the cheap plastic is covered in copper. I could have trimmed down the cap but I was making every effort to hide the ugly white face. This will screw into the vacant spot on my fuel block until I find something better. I think Ryan has sent me on my way to being a gauge whore...man my light table is filthy.

[/ QUOTE ]

http://fototime.com/{19DA2721-A16A-470F-93DB-236BBF5AC146}/picture.JPG
.
Here is one style early FP gauge.

[Cadillacin Marcus]

Moon used to make one???

[av8]

As chintzy as those regulators look, they work surprisingly well. I don't have a gauge on mine, but I've seen them in use with a gauge and the selected pressure is always close enough to gauge pressure for my tastes.

[Cadillacin Marcus]

dude here you go bro... http://69.20.111.53/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=509 SW make a black face one also...

[av8]

Sorry, Marcus, but that 0-100 psi gauge is too coarse for a carburetted fuel system where you're attempting to regulate fuel pressure in the 0-10 psi range.

Check the pic Tommy posted; that old SW fuel-pressure gauge indicates a realistic and useable range.

[tommy]

I use the rattle can detail paints to change the look of plastic parts. Cast blast is a favorite. Stainless steel and cast aluminum work too. They get rid of the plastic shine. My favorite PCV valve is ugly plastic until I paint it. Try it....It's cheap too. I like cheap.

[Cadillacin Marcus]

I know that...But they used to make one that was similar made specifically for carb Fuel pressure..I think they still have it there someplace I seen a white faced one..??

[Cadillacin Marcus]

heres the one... http://69.20.111.53/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=507

[dabond]

Look around at yard sales. That's where I found this one. It's off of an old oil heater.

[Cadillacin Marcus]

why would anyone use an old beat up gauge for something as important as fuel pressure?? Gauges are used because you are concerned about pressure or temps and accuracy is of the utmost importance right?...Yeah the old used guages are cool to look at,but I'll stick with my new old looking SW gauges thank you very much...