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Hot Rods Firewall Gauges

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Ryan, Mar 13, 2023.

  1. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 22,068

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

    Ryan submitted a new blog post:

    Firewall Gauges

    [​IMG]

    Continue reading the Original Blog Post
     
    orbitup, AHotRod, dana barlow and 9 others like this.
  2. GearheadsQCE
    Joined: Mar 23, 2011
    Posts: 3,551

    GearheadsQCE
    Alliance Vendor

  3. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 33,841

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
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  4. deuceman32
    Joined: Oct 23, 2007
    Posts: 518

    deuceman32
    Member

    The last photo is pretty interesting. Aside from the killer set of crescent needles apparently set into white naugahyde, there's a lot of chrome, some unique headers, a magneto and then that induction system.
     
  5. Just temp and oil pressure...but I liked having them while tuning/running the engine. 20220620_155643.jpg
     
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  6. Ryan
    Joined: Jan 2, 1995
    Posts: 22,068

    Ryan
    ADMINISTRATOR
    Staff Member

    This is the application I like. Simple and functional for one-man tuning purposes.
     
  7. Taken at last year’s LSRU at the Top Notch B3937656-D39B-4441-BFE8-2C4625F11594.jpeg
     
    Cosmo49, EVL401, AHotRod and 10 others like this.
  8. Two that come to mind. The first car I remember seeing with firewall mounted gauges was Bob Bleed's family roadster @bobbleed
    7088388947_6d251dfd24_z.jpg
    Darth Walter Coupe @Dreddybear
    IMG_2146.JPG
     
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  9. Automotive Stud
    Joined: Sep 26, 2004
    Posts: 4,362

    Automotive Stud
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  10. TexasHardcore
    Joined: May 30, 2003
    Posts: 5,291

    TexasHardcore
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    from Austin-ish

    I've never had them on the firewall, but Oil Pressure, Water Temperature, and Vacuum gauges are always in my engine bays, usually direct mount liquid filled.
     
    Kevin Ardinger and XXL__ like this.
  11. Hot Rods Ta Hell
    Joined: Apr 20, 2008
    Posts: 4,709

    Hot Rods Ta Hell
    Member

    I love the look and functionality of them. It captures both the show car vibe as well as the performance look. It indicates the driver is a wrench and cares about his mill.
    Ryan, the lighted set you posted are rad.
    To complete the "one man tuning" show, I've got the ignition switch mounted on the far left side of the dash. Open the suicide door, hit the key with my right hand while I dick around with my left with the throttle linkage or distributor.
    I always wondered if there's any accuracy loss running two mechanical gauges (oil pressure, vacuum) off the same line?
     
  12. catdad49
    Joined: Sep 25, 2005
    Posts: 6,647

    catdad49
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    It makes perfect sense, so why aren't more doing it?! Tach, oil pressure, and maybe a vacuum gauge.
     
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  13. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 13,803

    Bandit Billy
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    My flathead has mechanical oil pressure, water temp and fuel pressure. Direct mount not firewall but I do like the firewall mounted gauges on a open hood car.
     
  14. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 18,265

    Tim
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    from KCMO

    mad mikey, chryslerfan55 and El Hueso like this.
  15. The Trendero. https://kustomrama.com/wiki/The_Trendero

    800px-Trendero.jpg
     
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  16. Lostnot
    Joined: Mar 1, 2021
    Posts: 2

    Lostnot

    Bob & Carl Austin's '48 Merc powered '27 T roadster from Rochester NY - 1959
     

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  17. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 33,841

    Moriarity
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  18. pwschuh
    Joined: Oct 27, 2008
    Posts: 2,903

    pwschuh
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    C'mon guys... a REAL hot rodder has a speedometer on the firewall... because why not !?! :eek:
     
  19. I'd like to see a dash-mounted gauge cluster that you can pop the whole pumpkin out, turn around and set down on the cowl........ then shove it back into the dash when you're done messing with the engine.
    I'm not sure if I want one but I would like to see one. :rolleyes:
     
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  20. catdad49 and chryslerfan55 like this.
  21. Besty34
    Joined: Sep 9, 2010
    Posts: 429

    Besty34
    Member

    always fit them, just think they are as cool as you like IMG_2073.jpeg IMG_0565.jpeg IMG_0887.jpeg
     
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  22. Stoner
    Joined: Nov 3, 2001
    Posts: 542

    Stoner
    Member

    This one at LSR last year...
     

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  23. lostone
    Joined: Oct 13, 2013
    Posts: 3,217

    lostone
    Member
    from kansas

    I could see a tach and a vacuum gauge for doing the tune-ups, really don't see the need for oil and temp unless your having some kind of mechanical problems.

    A small oil pressure gauge on the motor, a small fuel pressure gauge on the fuel block would be fine.

    Not saying I wouldn't do it but the oil and temp gauges to me are more for show than go.

    .
     
  24. 327-365hp
    Joined: Feb 5, 2006
    Posts: 5,434

    327-365hp
    Member
    from Mass

  25. jaw22w
    Joined: Mar 2, 2013
    Posts: 1,679

    jaw22w
    Member
    from Indiana

    I have thought about installing firewall gauges several times in my T coupe, but never followed through. I love gauges. My T has 6 in the dash, 2 on the column, and a fuel pressure gauge at the carb. I love to tweak and tune on engines. Probably the main reason I have been a racer/ hotrodder my entire life. So, I would want the firewall gauges I need when starting a new engine or tuning on an old one. Tach, oil pressure, and temp gauges would be my first choices. I also use a vacuum gauge quite a bit, but 4 gauges seems a little too much. And a vac gauge is easy to plug in when you need it.
    Someone mentioned earlier about a starter button on the firewall. That would be really handy.
    A kill switch would be easy.
    My question is, are the electrical oil pressure and temperature sending units capable of supporting 2 gauges? I have never tried running 2 gauges off one electrical sender. Does it work?
    I'm pretty sure the extra tach will work just wired off the coil, because my dwell/rpm meter does. My vacuum gauge is manual, so the extra vac gauge can be T'd in if I decide to use it.
    Maybe it's time for firewall gauges.
    Thanks for posting that Ryan!
     
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  26. partsdawg
    Joined: Feb 12, 2006
    Posts: 3,633

    partsdawg
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Minnesota

    If you like the look...Do it.
    If you don't...it ain't your car so respect the owners choice.
    There are a number of traditional hot rod or kustom traditions I don't care for and I wouldn't do to my car but if it floats the owner boat I'm happy for them.
     
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  27. The drag coupe has some, been there since the 60's. WIN_20170423_12_34_39_Pro.jpg
     
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  28. A godsend when working alone under the hood. Warning lights on the dash, ala the old style VW bug speedo.

    08004980-68A7-4DA2-8590-6179A9635AD1.jpeg



    A5ABE915-93DE-4BF4-AD69-FCE2A0E4A6D1.jpeg
     
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  29. Hollywood-East
    Joined: Mar 13, 2008
    Posts: 2,025

    Hollywood-East
    Member

    KIMG4522.JPG
    Yep....$ KIMG4519.JPG
     
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2023
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  30. Chris Flynn’s model A pick up runs them well. This is an incredible build with all kinds of cool details.

    200E084B-F5E9-4129-9FD0-2E60EFADB089.jpeg D0F8CBA0-6737-4E02-9D3C-3C2C22FF1084.jpeg 306431FA-9E0E-4F5B-847F-FA41215C32DE.jpeg 5B15B069-3274-4305-9C31-65DF8B354A70.jpeg 3730F54C-8A9F-49F5-BBCF-8844097E7BCB.jpeg
     

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