FJ55 Replacement Gauges

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winthropfj55

winthropfj55

10 Year
Joined
Feb 19, 2014
Threads
7
Messages
14
Location
Seattle
Greetings. I'm restoring a 1978 FJ55 and need to replace the stock gauge cluster with an aftermarket gauge kit. I am fabricating a dash panel.
Can the experts on this forum tell me if this VDO kit will work in the 1978 FJ55? http://www.egauges.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=600-9226
Diameter: 3 3/8, 2 1/16"
Range: 120 MPH GM/Chrysler, 7000 RPM, 80 PSI, 250F, 8-16V, 10-180 Ohms Fuel
On Dial: MPH, RPM, OIL, WATER, FUEL, VOLT
Notes: 3 3/8" Programmable Speedo for GM or Chrysler vehicles with threaded transmission senders, 3 3/8" Tach, 2 1/16" Oil Press, Water Temp, Voltmeter, 10-180 Ohm Fuel Level gauges. Includes 340-011 threaded Transmission Sender, 1/8-27NPT Press Sender, 1/8x27 NPT x1/4", 3/8" & 1/2" Press sender adapters, 3/8x18NPT Temp Sender, 1/2" adapter for temperature sender and 6"-23" Adjustable Length Fuel Sender. 12 Volts.

Or recommend a kit that will work?
Thanks!
MC
 
I think the oil pressure sender is 1/8 Bpt NPT wont fit i ran into this problem with my aftermarket sender you may need an adapter.

i ended up going with GPS speedo /combination from speed hut. i love them.


IMG_2884.webp
 
yeah the fuel gauge...who has successfully worked out use of an aftermarket fuel gauge?
 
billstoudt said:
I think the oil pressure sender is 1/8 Bpt NPT wont fit i ran into this problem with my aftermarket sender you may need an adapter.

i ended up going with GPS speedo /combination from speed hut. i love them.


View attachment 1090047
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these are the way to roll....if we can use that fuel gauge...what did you do, Bill?
 
billstoudt said:
the speed hut gauge allows you to set a custom point for empty and full. i just pulled out the sensor set it to full and set the gauge and then did the same for empty. works like a charm.
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duh. that's friggin Awesome...
 
billstoudt said:
did i mention they glow indiglo blue at night. very nifty.
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While this is super bitchin'! How does the gps speedo work in the real world? Does it drop to 0mph in tunnels? Ever lose GPS signal? Does it not work for a few minutes when you first start it? Love the look but wish it had a cable or wire input for the odometer and speedo.
 
Napster said:
While this is super bitchin'! How does the gps speedo work in the real world? Does it drop to 0mph in tunnels? Ever lose GPS signal? Does it not work for a few minutes when you first start it? Love the look but wish it had a cable or wire input for the odometer and speedo.
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SpeedHut gauges are also the way i plan on going, so i have done a little research about some of the info. Yes, the guages take some time to sync up, theirs two wiring options. Key on power, which takes aprox 20 secs for it to acquire signal. Second option is always hot hook up, this hooks the gauge to battery power all the time, and acquiring only takes aprox 2 seconds. Personally 20 seconds of key on wont bother me. I'll drive without a speed guage like i currently do now :doh: .Yes it will go dead through long tunnels.

Heres a link with a video of setup and functions towards the bottom. http://www.speedhut.com/about-speedometers.html
 
i havent had the chance to go in a tunnel so i cant speak to that. but i would imagine that they go dead.

like Npulver said you can keep them powered all the time. ( using very little amperage ive left my rig sit for 3 weeks and still had plenty of battery) its synced by the time i back out of a parking space.

the other thing to take into consideration is it uses an external antenna (i mounted mine to the roof) so i would suspect it would be even better than an in-car GPS.
 
I use a speedo app on my phone for now. I actually have an old phone doing it because the gps still works with out it being hiked up. Gps will change a couple mph under a bridge and drop out a bit In a tunnel but it so much better than a cable.

I have been looking at the speedhut choices too, I just keep getting other drivability things done first.
 
So... I've got the Speed Hut gauges and we're wiring everything up as I type this.

Bill, you mounted yours on the roof, do you think on the dash would be a bad idea? I didn't want to go through the roof for this.

Anybody have some input on this?
 
Ron,



I can’t speak about the Speedhut GPS speedometer but I do have a fairly high end GPS on one of my Toughbook’s that I’ve been using for navigation and even though there has been great advancements recently in reliability IMHO GPS speedometers will always be a little quirky when driving in conditions not conducive to good signal to the antenna like trees, heavy foliage or periodic whether conditions, especially rain, I’ve also had issues driving in mountainous areas during certain times of the day. This is why I went with a conventional speedometer for mine.



This attachment will explain better than I what effects GPS signal.
 

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I understand lost signals from time to time, but how does that really effect you in the long run. As far as MPH monitoring goes, most people let me know when I go too slow, they blow their horns or give me the salute! :) I guess it will effect mileage recording. I'm just hoping the signal will go through the windshield.
 
scrapdaddy said:
I understand lost signals from time to time, but how does that really effect you in the long run. As far as MPH monitoring goes, most people let me know when I go too slow, they blow their horns or give me the salute! :) I guess it will effect mileage recording. I'm just hoping the signal will go through the windshield.
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I guess if you only need a part time speedometer than no problem really, just wait for the horns to blow then speed up or when you see the red and blue blinky lights - slow down.

Seriously I think you’ll be fine running your antenna on the dash, modern GPS is pretty reliable and the glass has no effect.
 
Ron, was reading about it from speed huts page. Running the GPS antenna on the dash is fine as long as it's not upstructed by anything (don't tuck it under the A pillar or under the dash)
 
It really is amazing that it only takes 20 seconds. It may seem like an inconvenience but the calculations it is making in that time is rediculous. It receives radio frequency from a sat that has a time stamp. Using that time and the time in the device it knows how far away the satellite is. It gets 2 frequencies from each satellite L1 and L2. Using the US and Russian constellations you can be hooked into 14 to 20 satellites. So it's making up to 40 equations to resolve it's location. Now think about driving 60 mph down the road and every second resolving a location to inverse to the last location get a speed.

It has an atomic clock and only keeps track on 2 numbers for date. It tracks seconds and weeks from the start of GPS. Every Sunday it starts at 0 seconds and adds a new week number. It was one of the reasons Y2K did not effect the satellites. GPS was turned on January 5th, 1980 and been counting weeks since.
 
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