I've been lookin to get some VDO gauges and the shop offers some that use your stock sending unit. Can I use a U.S. designed VDO gauge with a Mazda electrical sender? Is the stock sender goin to be completely shot after the last 17 years (coolant temp, oil pressure, etd?

Also, anyone feel it is absolutely necessary to have a oil temperature gauge? This is goin to be a street car.

 

I have an oil temp gauge in my 82 along with an aftermarket oil pressure. Since the factory gauges are not a 100% accrued it does not hurt to have additional ones. The oil temp will let you know if anything is going bad in your engine temperature wise, besides the water temp. I feel more confortable having an oil temp. Peace of mind should you say.....does not hurt...it coud save your engine...

I have mines installed in a A-Pillar Pod from http://www.egauges.com

By the way I have aftermarket sending units installed also on a RB oil adpater plate....Makes it a lot easier to installed any aftermarket oil temp or oil pressure gauges...

 

Thanks for the link JoseReyes, cool site.

This is off the http://www.egauges.com page in the sender section:

"NOTE: Failure to match gauge and sender pressure range will result in incorrect gauge readings."

Like the ideal of the adapter plate, would that allow you to run both gauges with their own sending units?

 

Yeah, I was lookin at Egauges too. Lucky for me that I live just a few miles from 'em. So are you sayin that I can't use the stock senders? The reason why I liked the idea of using the stock senders was how cheap it would be for me to buy just the gauge. I guess I could go with mechanical but how hard is it goin to be to adapt VDO fittings onto the metric threading?

 

Nope "E", I'm not saying a thing, just quoting what they had on their page. But personally I’d hate to trust the readings of a 17 tear old sender on my new gauge. I'd also go electric; they are easier to hook up. But that's just me...... As far as the metric thread, wouldn't worry too much about that most cars these days are metric. I'm sure the Egauges guys could answer these questions for ya.

Sure would appreciate it if you would share you newfound knowledge on gages with us, buddy!

 

The adapter plate will only work if you have the under radiator oil cooler, and yes you can mount two separate sending units. One for the oil temp and one for the oil pressure, and they will work in conjuction withthe stock ones. Althought I don't quite trust th stock gauges..that's why I installed the aftermarket. For example my stock oil pressure will read some times 110ps while my aftermarket will read just above 65psi. So you see is best to have a backup just in case....

Thanks for your coments on my site...

 

http://www.mazdatrix.com/b7.htm

Here's the adapter for sale at Mazdatrix.
$48

Oil Pressure & Oil Temperature Adapter
This adapter mounts under the oil filter and permits easy hook-up for after-market oil pressure (1/8 female pipe) and oil temperature (3/8 female pipe) gauges. Necessary studs and "O"-Rings are supplied. Note: Does Not Fit 83-85 12A with oil-to-water cooler beneath oil filter.

 

Yeah I know about it and I've got the POS water oil cooler that prevents the installation of it. I wanted to go the cheap route and use my stock senders but no one has told me for sure that they would be completely inaccurate for the application. How hard would it be to use some kind of rigged adaptor instead of RB's?

 

Oh, and why would you buy a Racing Beat part from Mazdatrix? Alll mazdatrix does is resell their stuff at higher prices!

 

I was just looking for a pic to cut and paste. It was the first to come to mind.

Can't you just figure out what fittings you need to connect the aftermarket senders to the stock locations? Maybe if someone knows what the thread pitch and sizes are, they could post them here. Should be even cheaper than buying the RB's adapter plate. The Mazda senders are pricey compared to the aftermarket ones.

 

I always buy my racing beat stuff from mazdatrix. It is the same exact price for everything that i have bought (wich is a lot). Racing Beat Has the worst customer service of any company that I have ever delt with. I would not buy any of their products if someone else made what I needed.

Mazdatrix, on the other hand, has always been more than helpfull and always freindly. I have delt with them for the last 4 years on a regular basis and have only had 2 problems. One was their fault and one was mine. Both times they fixed the problem very quickly and without hassle. And to be honest the time that it was their fault, it was really racing beats fault because I baught an RB part and the wrong one was in the box with the right part #.

Just my $.02

Mike

 

I have used a lot of autometer guages in several RX-7's. All you have to do is call them and give them the part # of the guage you baught and tell them what kind of car you have and where you want to install it. They will give you a part # of an adapter that will fit your needs.
I would think you could do the same thing with VDO
I always use mechanical guages. Your stock sending units wont work.

Mike

 

The thread on your rear housing is a 1/8" pipe thread, most pressure senders come in this exact size.

Cody