Back to the infamous first gen stereo dillemma. After re-reading the posts on the Saab guage single DIN holder, I was thinking of getting a Nak head unti, guage holder, and the 1/2 DIN pocket from Mazdatrix.

So, what guages would be good to have for a first gen, N/A pretty damn stock GSL-SE? I was thinking oil pressure (the stock one seems pretty slow, and hopefully not accurate as I dont like what it says and have no visible leaks.) Maybe also oil temperature or coolant temp? Any other ideas?

On a related note, the past two mornings I have been driving to work and noticed that at some stop lights my oil pressure has been dropping almost to zero! Not what I would like to see. I've recently fixed all of the external leaks, and nothing is showing up...could this be a sign of the dowel-pin oil leak failure that I have read about. I suppose I need to check the coolant for signs of oil.

Right on-

 

My bro's GSL-SE had a bad connection to the oil pressure sensor for a while. I jiggled the wire and the gauge started working again. There was just a coating of oil filter overspill in the connector.

 

Same problem with my 85 GSL, I got the motor totally apart now, and there were no leaks in it or out of it. I betcha its firstly dirt, oil etc on the connector or a bad sending unit... A little carb. cleaner usually clears it up for a while, then it comes back, well from my experience....unless its the sending unit

 

well on my ported 12a i have had 3 senders crap out DAM THINGS!!! and there like 30$ now I would put in oil temp, oil press. and water temp. i know my stock watertemp works but with no #'s its hard to know when hot it hot. so i put in a digital water temp, a/f and volt

 

I've got Cyberdyne digital guages in mine. I have a temp guage and a voltmeter. They are in the center console under the Kenwood head unit and eq.

 

any pics of first gen with the gauges?

 

The oil pressure guage is a joke, it move sooo slowly you can't really get an accurate reading with something like that. I bought a autometer oil pressure guage and it moves just as fast is my tach!! I have it mounted on the pillar, I also have the a/f where the clock used to be.

take a look...

www.portugesethug.homestead.com/jim.html

As for the radio I bought a 2 din deck and added a 1/2 din in-dash crossover.

 

I can never find matching electronic gauges. The thought of routing an oil hose into my passenger compartment kinda irks me.

Oil pressure, Oil temp, Coolant temp, Manifold Vacuum, A/F, and Ammeter are what I'm lookin for. Digital would be nice.

A/F replaces clock, Temps and Pressure go near stereo, Amps and vacuum go on A pillar. Or something. EGT could go somewhere. I dunno, It's still in planning. I need to get the car running before I add **** to it.

 

autometer and VDO have full sets of mechanical and electrical guages, but for electrical guages the sender units are usually separate =more money. I know the sender for a autometer fuel pressure electrical guage costs more than the guage itself. Although mechanical is simple and less likely to cause problems. Thats my 2 cents..
But what ever you do, it's always better than stock!