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Instrument suggestions

John Bonnett - 6/3/21 at 09:00 AM

Now here's my dilemma.

I'm not a great fan of digital instruments in a classic style car and ideally I would use Smiths instruments but a set will set me back to the tune of more than Ł600. I've had a look at VDO and Racetech and they are much the same.

I do have the instruments from the Fiesta donor which have the advantage of all being housed together and include a rev counter. I'm just not sure whether they would fit in nicely into the dashboard looking as if they were meant to be or if they would look just like Fiesta instruments transplanted.

I'd be interested in any suggestions. Thank you.

Schrodinger - 6/3/21 at 10:14 AM

How about ETB https://www.etbinstruments.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=101
they do a set for about Ł477

John Bonnett - 6/3/21 at 10:36 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Schrodinger
How about ETB https://www.etbinstruments.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=101
they do a set for about Ł477

Thank you Keith. A good find and much more sensible money.

gremlin1234 - 6/3/21 at 10:53 AM

you should be able to pull the needles off their spindles and replace them with something more retro.
likewise change the background. - though I suspect that may be difficult to print if you need to keep transparent bits for some of the dash lights.

edit: like this, but with a graphic of your own.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Transit-Van-mk6-Interior-Speedo-Temp-Fuel-Gauge-Panel-Dash-Bulb-Dial-Kit-/293314912942

[Edited on 6/3/21 by gremlin1234]

JC - 6/3/21 at 11:23 AM

Just keep trawling eBay!

I picked up a set of new old stock VDO gauges for Ł100. It took a while but if you have patience it’s surprising what bargains still appear there!

[img]
Description [/img]

ADH75 - 6/3/21 at 03:27 PM

These guys be any use, selling refurb dials?

https://www.classicsparesengineering.co.uk/index.php

[Edited on 6/3/21 by ADH75]

watsonpj - 6/3/21 at 03:30 PM

think your missing a P

https://www.classicsparesengineering.co.uk/index.php

ADH75 - 6/3/21 at 03:32 PM

quote:
Originally posted by watsonpj
think your missing a P

https://www.classicsparesengineering.co.uk/index.php

Cheers! Bloody cut and past on a phone, address edited.

John Bonnett - 6/3/21 at 05:06 PM

Thank you all for your suggestions and for the links none of which I had come across before. I'm favouring ETB instruments either for their own or VDO which they offer at a lower price than the usual contenders.

ian locostzx9rc2 - 6/3/21 at 05:47 PM

Used ETB gauges for years great quality and great customer service

02GF74 - 6/3/21 at 08:28 PM

quote:
Originally posted by ADH75

quote:
Originally posted by watsonpj
think your missing a P

https://www.classicsparesengineering.co.uk/index.php

Cheers! Bloody cut and past on a phone, address edited.

You're missing an 'e'

How about s/h Smiths gauges, e. g. From mgb, triumph

John Bonnett - 6/3/21 at 08:45 PM

quote:
Originally posted by ian locostzx9rc2
Used ETB gauges for years great quality and great customer service

Ah, that is good to know, thank you.

John Bonnett - 6/3/21 at 08:49 PM

quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74

quote:
Originally posted by ADH75

quote:
Originally posted by watsonpj
think your missing a P

https://www.classicsparesengineering.co.uk/index.php

Cheers! Bloody cut and past on a phone, address edited.

You're missing an 'e'

How about s/h Smiths gauges, e. g. From mgb, triumph

I had thought of that and certainly for the minor gauges they would be fine. But I would prefer a programmable speedometer which wouldn't match so that is why I decided against them. New they are the same price as all the others and the reconditioned ones don't offer much of a saving.

Schrodinger - 6/3/21 at 10:02 PM

I have the ETB guages in my stylus and the speedo runs from a type 9 gearbox with a Fiesta(iirc) sender with an adapter. so there is no need for magnets on the prop.

ADH75 - 6/3/21 at 11:49 PM

quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74

quote:
Originally posted by ADH75

quote:
Originally posted by watsonpj
think your missing a P

https://www.classicsparesengineering.co.uk/index.php

Cheers! Bloody cut and past on a phone, address edited.

You're missing an 'e'

How about s/h Smiths gauges, e. g. From mgb, triumph

Jeez, I'm having a 'mare today. Between this and a couple of text messages sent today I should give up!!

John Bonnett - 7/3/21 at 09:15 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Schrodinger
I have the ETB guages in my stylus and the speedo runs from a type 9 gearbox with a Fiesta(iirc) sender with an adapter. so there is no need for magnets on the prop.

It does appear that the ETB (and VDO) speedometers use a Hall effect sensor which can be mounted to detect the bolt heads of the disc fixings and that is my preferred option rather than magnets which I have never liked the idea of but have never used.

ianhurley20 - 7/3/21 at 09:44 AM

On the Tiger we used a pick up on the front offside wheel bolt heads behind the disc, a lot of kit cars are done this way. The ETB instruments were all picked up second hand from ebay and if you do get a dud then ETB do a full refurb for Ł62 which is worth factoring into the equation

mcerd1 - 7/3/21 at 10:45 AM

another vote for the guys at ETB(/VDO) - they were really helpful wen I was trying to decide on my gauges
(also they normally do discounts on sets and not just the sets they list on the website - I still got the discount picking my own set with 2x100mm and 5x52mm gauges)

quote:
Originally posted by John Bonnett

quote:
Originally posted by Schrodinger
I have the ETB guages in my stylus and the speedo runs from a type 9 gearbox with a Fiesta(iirc) sender with an adapter. so there is no need for magnets on the prop.

It does appear that the ETB (and VDO) speedometers use a Hall effect sensor which can be mounted to detect the bolt heads of the disc fixings and that is my preferred option rather than magnets which I have never liked the idea of but have never used.

ETB ones will work with most senders as far as I can tell - the hall effect ones being a universal fit option
https://www.etbinstruments.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=17_88
they used to offer them with the magnets (and still sell spare ones) but changed to the other types as the magnets aren't always that reliable (I know some people have them working fine, but too many people have had them fall off at speed...)

[Edited on 7/3/2021 by mcerd1]

John Bonnett - 7/3/21 at 11:01 AM

Fantastic thank you all. It's got to be ETB from all your good experiences and feedback. And without this forum and the amazing knowledge I wouldn't have known of ETB. I'll certainly speak to them.

Deckman001 - 7/3/21 at 12:23 PM

Hi John,

I still have these as I didn't manage to get to meeting up the buyer of them previously.

Description

Description

They are from my original dash idea from about 2004, I just never fitted them to the car and they sat in my cellar for about 16 years

Am open to offers around the Ł40 mark

Jason

John Bonnett - 7/3/21 at 01:35 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Deckman001
Hi John,

I still have these as I didn't manage to get to meeting up the buyer of them previously.

Description

Description

They are from my original dash idea from about 2004, I just never fitted them to the car and they sat in my cellar for about 16 years

Am open to offers around the Ł40 mark

Jason

Thank you Jason. I would prefer an electronic speedometer rather than a mechanical one with all the other instruments matching so I'll have to pass on your kind offer.

Kind regards

John

Deckman001 - 7/3/21 at 02:49 PM

No worries John, Good luck with the build, although it looks like you haven't used any luck so far, your build looks perfectly done along with expertise.

Jason

John Bonnett - 7/3/21 at 04:08 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Deckman001
No worries John, Good luck with the build, although it looks like you haven't used any luck so far, your build looks perfectly done along with expertise.

Jason

Ha Ha it's the fuzzy photos that give that impression but thank you Jason. It really is a massive project and there are many times when I wonder if I've bitten off more than I can chew or even if I'll live long enough to see it finished. This is why it is so good to have the input and encouragement from everyone here that lifts the jolly old spirits. I have to view it with tunnel vision like eating an elephant, one bite size mouthful at a time.

nick205 - 8/3/21 at 10:25 AM

ETB get my vote as well.

I used them on my MK Indy as I similarly have preference for analogue type needle rather than digital instruments. I also didn't want (or have) ŁŁŁ to spend.

ETB were good value and their support was great.

[Edited on 8/3/21 by nick205]

Irony - 8/3/21 at 01:34 PM

ETB gauges here as well. I bought a secondhand set at first from a good bloke on here. I got them quite cheap. By the time I figured out and bought the correct senders, sent the Odometer to them for turning back to 0 (for IVA), bought a temp gauge because I don't understand Farentheights I should have just bought a brand new set.

Irony - 8/3/21 at 01:34 PM

John Bonnett - 8/3/21 at 03:39 PM

I have just spoken to ETB and pretty much made my mind up to use their gauges rather than VDO.

Nick the ones you have put in the panel look very nice and good with the black bezel.

nick205 - 8/3/21 at 04:44 PM

quote:
Originally posted by John Bonnett
I have just spoken to ETB and pretty much made my mind up to use their gauges rather than VDO.

Nick the ones you have put in the panel look very nice and good with the black bezel.

Thanks John - I recall thinking about colour choices for sometime before comitting.

nick205 - 8/3/21 at 04:49 PM

I used one of these multi-size hole saw kits to cut the holes in the plywood for the dials.

https://www.bosch-diy.com/ae/en/p/holesaw-set-7-piece-2763247