Steven6095

Okay with all the guage talk today and Speed of Sound's new pillar, which guages are you all getting for your Mustangs?

I am wanting a voltmeter due to my sound system etc but what else would be good?

28HopUp

Oil Pressure and Water Temperature. I'm not sure which is better - mechanical or electric (as it applies)?

281GT

The stock volt meter actually works ok but it's not graduated so you may want to use an aftermarket volt meter so can know the actual voltage as opposed to somewhere in the "normal" range. As for the other gauges, the factory oil gauge is a catastrophe warning device ONLY and will only warn you of a complete loss (below 5 psi) of oil pressure, so I would get an actual oil pressure gauge. As for the factory coolant temperature, it's almost as bad. It will warn you of an oveheat condition but unfortunately it is non linear and will read "normal" until it's oveheated at which point it suddenly reads over heated. It gives you no prior warning that engine is beggining to get too hot.
In regards to mechanical vs. electical. You want good quality electrical gauges. Mechanical gauges, while very accurate mean running mechanical connections to them. In other words, for the oil pressure gauge to work you need to run an oil pessure line inside your car. Guess how happy you're gonna be when that screws up and pees oil all over the inside of your car. About as much fun as an open chest wound!
The mechanical temperature gauge works by using a pressurized tube, filled with an inert gas that expands and pushes the needle on the gauge acccording to temperature. So the gauge and the sender and the line / tube are all once peice. I HUGE pain in the *ss to install. Plus you have that mechanical tube trasmitting noise and vibration to the inside of the car.
Good quality electrical gauges respond to engine functions just as quickly and are just as accurate as mechanical ones, and they are a LOT easier to install and don't have the other problems associated with mechanical gauges.

28HopUp

Thanks for posting 281GT. I appreciate your input on the benefits of using electric gauges over the mechanical ones.

torch red

Mechanical all the way for me,, Liquid Filled Autometer looks awsome, had them in my 91' loved them.