Westach combo gauge and VDO gauge questions

[Homicide]

Hey Folks,

Getting ready (finally!) for a bomb run on gauges.

Questions:

1) For those of you running Westach gauges, on the Westach temp sender (oil or transmission) are there two wires (ground & Pos) to run from the sender back to the gauge?

1a) How many wires from their Pyro back to their Combo gauge?

2) After looking at VDO gauges online, are the VDO senders grounded at their threads; thus, leaving only one wire to run back to the gauge? If so, this seems a lot cleaner of a wiring job.

3) What is a quick summary of the reliability of the Westach Combo gauge and VDO gauges?

thanks a billion.

Steve


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1999 2500 Quad SLT, 4x4, Auto, SWB, white with Agate leather interior, all options except fog lights. Very happy with the changed 4. 10 gears to 3. 55. 285/75 tires. Towing a '96 21ft Boston Whaler Outrage with 225 hp Johnson and galv. TT. Getting ready to BOMB because the Dodge is a little doggy towing the Whaler and my big butt. Bomb run #1, Edge EZ box. In transit: Mag-Hytek Double deep pan and Rear end cover. Next???

--What did the snail yell as he was riding on top of the turtle? ... ... . YEEE HA!!!

"LIFE IS TOO SHORT FOR CHEAP BEER and/or DODGE PARTS"

 

[bigkavr]

Steve,

I'm running the Westech combo and trans and oil temp gauges. I've really taxed my combo gauge as it's only a 30 psi and I'm hitting
42 at WOT. Kinda peggs the gauge... .
Also, my EGT is a little "high" so the EGT gauge gets a real workout too.
I really like the backlights as their the same green as the instrument pannel.
For the temp pickups, I used the magnetic ones and just ran the grounds to the frame.
(no need to go all the way back to the gauges. )
They've been installed for over a year now with no problems whats so ever...
(Though I really should see if Westech builds a 50 psi. combo model. )
I'd buy them again with no hesitation.
Have fun.


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97 2500, extcab, 4x4. BFG 285/85/16 AT, "warmed over" pump, JRE Stage III plate, AFC spring kit, BD gov. spring seats only, 370 injectors, K&N, 4" Edwards Exhaust with Dynomax straight through racing muffler & 5"tip, (Cat got "lost"), EGT, boost, oil & transmission temp. gages, Low Stall torque conv. & BD valve body, silencer ring "exiled", Grover Emergency air horn and a multitude of strobe lights and switches (Vol. firefighter)

 

[dresslered]

Steve-

The VDO temperature sensor is a single wire design (case grounded). I believe that this is also the case with the pressure sensor. The VDO pyro, and I believe all others pyros, are a dual wire design because of a very small voltage being generated and it would be unreliable to rely on the chassis ground return for accurate measurements. Ideally, these wires should also be twisted or at least shielded to prevent noise. A single wire design does not necessarily mean a cleaner install. In fact, I personally think that the dual wire is a better design. I have always had excellent results with the VDO guages and I like the fact that the Vision Series match the Ram instruments.

In the airplane industry, the Westach is considered as a very poor quality aircraft gauge. This does not mean to say that they will not perform adequately for us. I have heard that Westach has very good customer service and that they will even build a gauge to meet your specifications (tough to beat that!).

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David Dressler
2001 Driftwood 3500 Quad Cab 4x4, 155 inch WB, HO Cummins (ETH), 6-Speed (DEE), SLT+, 3. 54 LSD, Camper Special, Trailer Tow, Heated Leather, Sliding Window, Jacob's E-Brake, Rhino Liner, VDO Vision (pyro, boost, engine + diff. temp. ), Weather Guard Diamond Plate Saddle Box, Tork Lift camper tie-downs, Mag-Hytec, Mopar Tow Hooks, AND functional Halo light!
Bigfoot 3000 10. 11 Slide-in Camper. "Do it in a Dually"

 

[Cooker]

I agree on the first class customer service from egauges.com.

 

[OILBRNR]

The Westach pyro wire is a dual config, but the first oh 4 feet of it is incased in a braided SS loom. Then it connects to the lead up to the guage.

Temp senders have two leads, but one can be grounded near the sender itself.

Only problem I've had in the past year, the boost presure line blew off the 1/8 NPT barb adapter. I put it back on with a zip tie, and no problems since.

I'm going to purchase their fuel pressure guage here shortly.

I like 'um!

 

[Bob Wagner]

great prices on VDO gauges @ www.egauges.com

Customer service is first rate too...