What gauges should I add?
 

On my '92...

I'm definitely thinking that an oil pressure gauge would be a good add-on idea, as would a volt meter to monitor the status of the electrical system, but are there any other gauges that someone would recommend adding? I'd like to keep the add-on gauges to 3 or less, simply for aesthetic reasons, unless there's some crucial information that anyone thinks would justify the extra gauge. What do you think?

Matt, do you already have a tach? You can also add oil temp.

I have add new tachometer, oil pressure, oil temp, water temp, ampere & looking foor small odometer. ^^

Water temp would be a must for me

92s came with everything you need.....anything else is just bling, but where would you put them?

I have a water temp gauge already, and I read that I DO have an oil warning light, but I don't see anything on my cluster that reads oil pressure. A tach would certainly be wonderful to have, but I'm not sure I can fit one - my binnicle has a speedo and a second face with my fuel and water temp gauges and that's all...

Can a tach be fitted to the 92 Mini Sprite?

As for palcement, I figured I'd work that out when I know what gauges I'm installing. Autometer and other manufacturers have a wealth of installation options, so once I know what I'm putting in then I'll try to get a gauge that looks good in the car. Right now, I'm thinking that they'll end up in the dash pocket (I don't have a finished flat dash) or I might have them hang down UNDER the dash - my fog light switch is on the right side underneath, so that would be a good location...

there are two options for tach there two choices
1. buy a cheap 40 dollar one from your local parts supplier and find a place to mount it.
2. upgrade your dash to the 3 gauge style side or center mounted.
or
you can even go 6 gauge style and fit the extras in there.
http://www.gbcarparts.com/prodimages/ccrhdred3+3+r.jpg

I actually prefer the look of the open dash, even though I know it limits me to what I will be able to install afterwards. Certainly having a place to put a stereo, for example, would be nice (as it is now, I'm thinking of using an external housing to mount a possible stereo addition on the passenger side under the dash).

I'm thinking of a white-faced gauge set with EL backlighting, something like this:

http://www.autoaccessorystore.com/products/2292_b.jpg

Seems nice and clean - not too busy and slightly retro-ish. If I did these, I'd do a 2-gauge cluster, mounted under the dash (most likely), with oil pressure and voltage gauges. they make a tach, actually, but if I put in a tach I'd want it up top where I can easily see it, so I'd likely use a completely different style of tach, one that would look OK up high in plain sight...

i have a monster tack on my steering column with shift light.

Have you seen the new LED shift light with digital rpm, they are teh same size as teh small gauges.

I have, actually, but I'd like to avoid LEDs in the classic... Analog needles seems more fitting, given the car they'll be in.

Is "Monster" the brand, or are you just saying that it's a very large tach? :) How hard was it to hook it up? I'm thinking if I fit a tach, I'll use one that's slightly larger than the oil and volt gauges, mounted up top where I can easily see it.

You should use Smith's gages in a proper English car.:wink: What gages does your car have now?

I'd want a Tach, OP, Temp & volt.

so back lit are better.

Truthfully... I think so, yeah. :nod:

In the daytime you can't tell, and at night I'll actually be able to SEE them. The OEM gauges are so murky and dim that I can barely see them at night - hopefully I'll have better visibility when I crack open the housings and add extra illumination. I figured out a way to replicate the orange color used in the new MINI using tinted orange LED lights, and I plan to add them to the cockpit and inside of the OEM gauges at some later date. It's not "true" stock, but neither is an add-on volt/pressure gauge. At least the needle ones are a bit more "classic"-looking. :thumbsup:

As for what's in the car now, I just have the basic 2-gauge binnacle used in the Mini Traveller. This was the standard binnacle used in the SPrite from '92 onwards...

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...g?t=1183645050

how about this set up?

I loved this set http://www.egauges.com/vdo_grou.asp?Series=Phantom_II

Though the "BLACK" at night is just that the numbers are backlit. Not any fancy blackening LCD thing like I had wanted.

Cheaper but nearly as nice is http://www.egauges.com/vdo_grou.asp?Series=Phantom

I like the idea of the original Smiths gauges, but how bright/visible are they in the dark? My OEM gauges are terrible at night (they're only lit with a single dim bulb somewhere in the housing). Hopefully adding orange LEDs inside the assembly will help with that.

Xanthus, those are indeed lovely gauges, but they're so expensive! I'm OK with the quality of a gauge in the $50-$75 range (I have an Aotometer CF boost gauge in my '06 MCS that I love the look of that only set mer back about $52). I'm afraid even the "cheap" ones are beyond my budget.

You may have already had an answer to where the Oil pressure is as I just skimmed through it. But it is an idiot light below the water temp fuel guage the one on the left the right is the charge light. I think I have my sides right. It would probably be better to have a numerical temp guage but I would definately add a Tach it is very helpful when adjusting the timing and idle.

I have been looking for a dash other than wood metal or Carbon fiber. Guess what; they are out of stock. I think this would look good in the Stars and Stripes Mini what do you guys think.
Sorry for the hijack.

i did all autometer gauges in my mini! including the monster tach with a shift light!

Gots to have this one!

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co.../3913bling.jpg

Right now I'm running on empty with my classic, but my new MINI could probably use it. :)