Mechanical vs Electrical Gauges

[Chris]

I'd like to replace my idiot gauges with something a bit more reliable. What do you folks think is best? Any tips?

[Brody]

Even though you have to deal with senders (and in the case of Toyotas, metric adapters, especially for the water temp gauge), electrical gauges are, to me, the way to go. The main reason is that I simply do not want oil or water lines running into the cab, no matter how small.

Electrical gauges are usually a bit more 'idiot proof', one of the reason they also appeal to me. There usually just a positive, negative, light, and sender wire and you can tie all the grounds, positives and lights together when you run the gauges so that you are only dealing with these three wires, leaving just the sender wires running through the firewall.

Summit Racing :http://www.summitracing.com/search/Department/Gauges-Accessories/

probably has the biggest assortment of gauges in one spot for the best prices.

Like I said, make sure that no matter where you get the gauges from, if they are going to be electrical, to get the metric to standard adapter for the temp unit which may be sold as a separate item. The after market electrical gauges that I have experience with simply will not read from the Yota sending unit.

Also watch where you hook up the wires for the lights, no matter what gauges you use.The Yota dash light dimmer is pretty finicky...

[cfr]

When I was an AWD turbo guy (Eagle Talon, aka Mitsubishi Eclipse) a while ago, Westach was the brand to buy.

http://www.westach.com/

Don't know if that's still the case.