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Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 12:38 pm
by topcatcustom
You may have a point- I thought all the tanks I had seen were similar though? If I could find one that would deal with 80deg hot water I could put a 1 way valve in there maybe...
Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 7:57 pm
by topcatcustom
Little bits done this weekend, prop fitted (

) wiring in engine bay started, fuel pump mount welded on, dash out and now got the gauge dilema! I know it is possible to use the standard gauges with the V8 but not sure if I would trust the oil pressure, water temp and rev counter to be accurate?
Does anyone know if I could fit the oil pressure sender in the oil cooler inlet (connected to filter housing in my interim cover) as I have the std warning light sender in the usual place?
Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 10:21 pm
by gelmonkey
Hi Tom
It may be possible to fit an in line take off for a pressure sender unit.
Are you running rubber hoses to the cooler?
There are many different ways to make this work and I may be able to get this sorted for you.
Can you let me know what the id of the cooler pipes are please.
I take it you are going to use a capillary gauage ?
Using a take off will mean all you will have to do is use a couple more Jubilee clips or hose ends to connect it all together.
Re the accuracy of the gauages why dont you get a semi conductor type of voltage stabiliser and this will give the correct readings at all times.
Just got one myself from Ebay and it works a treat.
Cheers
Paul
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:52 am
by topcatcustom
Semi conductor voltage stabiliser? You mean so it keeps a steady 12v regardless of what else is going on?
Oh- I'm not using an oil cooler (yet), I was just wondering about using the tapping in the front cover for a sender, the only difference I can see between using the one intended for the oil cooler inlet from the standard one is that one is pre filter and the other is post, but that shouldn't matter right?
Think I'm going to use the standard gauges- but get a smiths split oil/water capillery one to put somewhere for worry free readings.
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:14 am
by gelmonkey
Tom
Semi conductor stabilisers work on 10v and give perfect readings regardless.
Re the take off can you take a photo and post it up so that I can see what you need please.
I am not familiar with the later front covers but still may be able to help you.
cheers
Paul
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:28 am
by topcatcustom
It's a M20x1.5 thread that you can see through it into the top of the filter housing, not got any pics at the mo. I was going to blank it off but just wondering if it is ok to have a pressure sender before the filter as an oppose to after?!
After a read of a "how to" V8 conversion with the same car I am going to get a couple of mazda senders and use the original gauges, the only bummer is that the water temp has no scale, so I might get another gauge in a pod with digital temperature read out, the oil pressure one has a scale so should be fine- especailly with a new sender.
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 5:40 pm
by gelmonkey
Hi Tom
I can get you an M20x1.5 blanking plug no problem.
With regard to taking a feed off from that to a gauage I can supply a male/male fitting of your choice which you would have to tap and die and then connect the tube to that and the gauage.
cheers
Paul
Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:13 pm
by topcatcustom
Thanks Paul but I've got the gear- I have to replace the blank with a slightly longer one as it fouls slightly but not worth explaining, the thing I just wasn't sure about was whether it was ok to put a sensor before the filter- though I can't think why not!
After another fiddle today I am using the standard dash pod and gauges- but I chomped out the water temp gauge as it has no scale and have squeezed in an electric smiths one which I found in my bits box! Took the glass and chrome trim off and it blends in ok- apart from the needle is upside down and it says smiths

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 10:40 pm
by gelmonkey
Okay Tom
No problems.
P
Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 8:34 am
by topcatcustom
So hows that damned splitter coming along?!!!
Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 6:40 pm
by gelmonkey
Hi Tom
We have been crazy busy just of late and the fun stuff has had to wait a while.
Just last week we completed 12 boats in 4 days!!
Since the last post on that thread I have strpped and rebuilt a 1.6 Manta engine and made some motorcycle fairing moulds for a customer in the evenings.
Never a dull moment down here.
Also, as an old fart,there are days when I have been absolutely knackered and have had to rest my weary bones.
I have also had to wait for reasonable temperatures in the evenings and that is now happening.
With the MOT out of the was this coming Saturday I can then concentrate on the final section,the actual item.
I will keep the photos coming once I get back on to it.
Thanks for asking
Cheers
Paul
Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 11:05 am
by topcatcustom
The only smiths gauge I will be using (for the time being) is a water temp one, do I have to use a voltage dropper on it- and how does it wire in? Live to one terminal and sensor on the other?
Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 1:25 pm
by topcatcustom
This weekend was looking fairly good for the first fire up, but due to some arse not getting the oil pressure sender to me in time (only had a week to post it) probably won't happen now

Unless I go get a cheap mechanical one for initial...
Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 5:41 pm
by mgbv8
Tom!
My leccy temp gauge takes a feed on one terminal and then off to the sender from the other terminal.
Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 7:17 pm
by topcatcustom
Cheers Pel, thats sorted now for the water temp, and would be the same with the oil pressure if matey got it to me in time. Unipart sent me a Durite mechanical gauge and capillary etc so will use that if the time comes! Actually looks like a pretty good gauge, wasn't cheap either- could have ordered a new mazda sender for a few quid more!