Need advice on short and long sweep gauges

[RockinChevy]

I'm considering changing out the entire dash cluster gauges for some newer ones, I have Autometer in mind but unsure of style. Since my truck is a '90, I assume all my gauges are electric, but correct me if I'm mistaken. I'm learning as I go.
So with that being said, I looked at the short and long sweep models and wondered which do I really need? I'm not sure but I figured go long sweep on the voltmeter, and go short sweep on everything else; trans temp, oil pressure/temp, fuel level/pressure. And of course all speedos and tachs come in long sweep style. I'm also aware of the price difference between the 2 sweep styles, but if money was no object......
I'm not 100% satisfied with my choice so which ones would you guys go for?

 

[nad]

I think it's just personal preference. They're both just as accurate from what I understand. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[onetonbb74]

definately preference, i noticed the sweep had something to do with electrical or mechanical guages. I like mechanical for the enging temp and oil pressure. Electrical for everything else, including tranny as the sender for the electric guage is smaller then the sender for the mech. guage. I just ordered both, then returned what didn't work out after the install on a few of the guages. Its definately easier to have all electrical guages, since fuel, volts, and tach have to be electrical anyways, and the mechanical guage senders have to be fed thru the firewall thru a big hole and is a slight pita.

 

[RockinChevy]

definately preference, i noticed the sweep had something to do with electrical or mechanical guages. I like mechanical for the enging temp and oil pressure. Electrical for everything else, including tranny as the sender for the electric guage is smaller then the sender for the mech. guage. I just ordered both, then returned what didn't work out after the install on a few of the guages. Its definately easier to have all electrical guages, since fuel, volts, and tach have to be electrical anyways, and the mechanical guage senders have to be fed thru the firewall thru a big hole and is a slight pita.

I haven't noticed whether electrical or mechanical had anything to do with the sweep choices. I haven't dug that deep into it yet. I asked this because I wanted to get the right sweep within reason than over preference. For example, if I went short sweep on the voltmeter and voltage dropped 4 or 5 volts, I wouldn't notice it, but on the full sweep, I'd catch it. I was thinking the same for the pressure and temp gauges but not sure if it's really necessary to go full sweep on those. Just trying to avoid having to exchange the gauges later by choosing it right the first time.

 

[UPS]

I went with these Autometer gauges;
Liquid filled mechanical oil pressure #5421.
Liquid filled mechanical water temp #5431.
Short sweep electrical trans temp #5457.
Liquid filled mechanical vacuum #5484.
Short sweep voltmeter #5492.
5" 9,000 RPM play back tach #3966.
They all look good but I haven't installed them yet. They were a X mas present from the GF.

5 volts on my short sweep voltmeter is a 45* movement, I think you would see that.

Mike

 

[lak2004]

I like the Ultra Lites and Pro Comps. I just looked at the price difference between the full sweep and short


I am going w/Ultra Lites and ill probably do full sweep for volts, pyrometer and oil pressure. Fuel, trans and water will all be short sweep.

 

[RockinChevy]

I went with these Autometer gauges;
Liquid filled mechanical oil pressure #5421.
Liquid filled mechanical water temp #5431.
Short sweep electrical trans temp #5457.
Liquid filled mechanical vacuum #5484.
Short sweep voltmeter #5492.
5" 9,000 RPM play back tach #3966.
They all look good but I haven't installed them yet. They were a X mas present from the GF.

5 volts on my short sweep voltmeter is a 45* movement, I think you would see that.

Mike

Dang, you got a nice gf, dood! Tell her you need more guages and send them to me. J/K...

I missed this..

Let me rephrase what I really meant on 4 or 5 voltage drop, say it dropped that much from 13-14 volts (not sure if I make sense here) but I didn't notice it on the stock short sweep until the battery was too low to start the truck. I mean the needle barely moved, still showing 13-14 volts....I'm speaking of this from past experience and I tested the Optima battery with a multimeter and it read 9 point something (can't remember exactly) but it turned out to be the battery, it was old, too weak to hold a charge. Battery was replaced 2 years ago and since then, the voltmeter is dead to this day. A bunch of other guages are dead too so I figure it's time to upgrade guages and wiring especially with the rollcage project coming around.

 

[lectric80]

There is a reason you didn't notice it, and that is that when the engine is running, the voltmeter shows what the alternator is putting out. So to see battery voltage on any gauge requires the engine to be shut down. If you have a 3 volt drop on charge voltage from the alternator, you will notice it on either short or long sweep gauges. There may be a way to isolate battery and alternator voltages to see if the battery is failing, but I don't know how to do it.

I prefer short throw, since so much is in the way of the stock dash, short throw just seems to make sense, but it truly is a personal preference, not something related to accuracy of a gauge.

 

[RockinChevy]

Thanks, lectric80. I'm not too worried about having too much in the way of the stock dash. I'll be making a new one out of sheet aluminum after the cage is done, so there's room for everything. I guess I'll go with the short sweeps.

 

[rcamacho]

I've had both long and short sweep autometer gauges. I prefer the long sweep having used both. Personal preference, take a look at both.

 

[nvrenuf]

My preference is a full sweep gauge. Typically you will take a quick glance while wheeling or driving so it takes less effort to "read" the full sweep type (for me). The smaller scale on a short sweep gauge may not have much distance between the acceptable and bad reading (ie; 12 volts vs 10 volts), I would rather not spend my time doing "double takes" reading a gauge if I don't have to.

 

[Hossbaby50]

I personally like Autometer Ultra-lites. That is what are in the gauge pod in my Dodge. I like white/grey face gauges but that is my personal preference. Buy what you like and what fits your budget the best.

Harley

 

[RockinChevy]

My preference is a full sweep gauge. Typically you will take a quick glance while wheeling or driving so it takes less effort to "read" the full sweep type (for me). The smaller scale on a short sweep gauge may not have much distance between the acceptable and bad reading (ie; 12 volts vs 10 volts), I would rather not spend my time doing "double takes" reading a gauge if I don't have to.

Doing double takes at the gauges is what I want to avoid the most. I just wish full sweeps didn't cost twice as much.

 

[RockinChevy]

I personally like Autometer Ultra-lites. That is what are in the gauge pod in my Dodge. I like white/grey face gauges but that is my personal preference. Buy what you like and what fits your budget the best.

Harley

I was thinking of going with the black face so I don't have to tolerate the backlight on white face gauges during long night trips. I'd like to avoid the incadescant bulb design so LEDs are cool... Might go with the Cobalt but I'm not dead set on it yet. So yeah, whatever fits my budget.