Guage tubing / Pep Boys Effin suck

[MT-PTK]

I've been planning on istalling some mechanical gauges onto the A pillar of my 60. Today I just happened to be driving by Pep Boys and figured I would stop in and check it out. They had some of the Auto Meter Pro Comps at a good price so I had the guy unlock the case they were in and check to see that they were illuminated. He opened the box for the oil pressure gauge to confirm they were and I also grabbed one for the water temp and Volts. When I get home I open up the oil pressure box and pull off the void tape to check it out. Then I open up the water temp and the void tape has been pulled off and stuck back on with another one over the top of it. WTF? Then I notice that there is no wiring/tubing inside. I open the Volt gauge box and the void tape is gone and again, nothing but the guage.
Yeah, I probably should have checked them before paying for them but we looked in the OP box and everything was cool. I figured if they were in a locked cabinet they should be intact. The only folks who could canabalize them would be the folks who work there...no? Anyway, a phone call and run around with no confirmed answer as to when they will have more in....frig it, I'll take my money back and go elsewhere.

So on a lighter note:

The OP gauge came with plastic tubing. Anyone ever use that? Or should I just go ahead and get copper tubing for setting it up (when I buy another set of gauges)?


Thanks,
William

 

[2mbb]

I've been using the plastic tubing for oil pressure on a ford 302 application. I have not had any problems with it, but I don't put that many miles on the car. I have heard that (1) the plastic is more resistant to vibration (won't crack like copper can) but (2) the plastic is less tolerant to heat (you need to keep it away from exhaust pipes, etc.

 

[ntsqd]

In a perfect world you could both afford and justify using -2 stainless over-braided teflon hose & related fittings.

The old school approach is copper tube. A former employer refused to allow the use of the plastic tube. He insisted on copper. Claimed that he'd seen engines fail because of the plastic tube. Since what he does is build racing & special purpose engines I'll guess that he's seen it all. GM used copper tube from at least '73 to sometime in the mid 80's on their pick-up trucks and Suburbans.

Put a couple of vibration 2"-4" OD loops in the end at the engine.

 

[nodaksn3]

Concur with ntsqd(?)- I used the plastic tubing, and it quickly developed a leak. Use copper, with a loop for vibration. Ned