Classic Trucks wrote an article detailing the construction process on a custom instrument panel for their ’69 Ford F100.
FAQ Category: Instrument FAQs
How long will it take to build my instruments “My Way”?
Our SuperStock instruments are available in two categories – Ready To Ship (RTS) and Ready To Build (RTB). Our RTS sets are preassembled and ready for final programming and testing. They typically ship within two working days of order confirmation. RTB sets are ready to paint and assemble as soon as your design is finalized. These sets are usually shipped within one week of order confirmation.
For RestoFit and Full Custom Build gauges, we will work with you while quoting a cost to determine an estimated lead time. This lead time will be determined by where you are now and where you want to end up.
What happens if I can’t make them work correctly?
We test every instrument function in every set before we ship it to ensure proper operation. We strongly advise you check the instruments prior to final installation to ensure nothing has been damaged in shipping as it is much easier to trouble shoot them at that time.
If your “pre-check” finds no problems and you have an issue after installation you will need to determine what happened during installation to cause the problem. We will provide as much support as possible to help you track down the source of a problem but in the worst case scenario you may have to return the instruments to us so we can determine what happened and repair them.
Your lighting appears to be brighter than on my stock panel. Can it be dimmed?
Yes, we turn the lights up for our photographs, so they always appear to be bright. However, we do offer an in-line dimmer to allow you to lower the lighting to your desired level.
What voltage does it take to run your instrument sets?
They are designed to operate on 12 volts. Sorry, we do not have an option for 6-volt systems.
What temperature range does the gauge cover?
Our standard programming range is 160 ° – 240 ° degrees. It can be changed if required.
My new water temp gauge seems to show temperature changes more than my old one. Why?
The needle moves in reaction to the signals it gets via the PCB from the water temperature sender. It is most likely just more sensitive than your old one and it shows as needle movement. If you believe your water temp is constant and the needle is moving it is most likely a wiring connection interfering with the signal from the sender or from the PCB.
Can I use my sending unit that provides output in volts?
Unfortunately, no. Our PCB reads this function in ohms, so you will need a sending unit that does that.
Why is my oil pressure or temperature gauge reading zero? I put in a new sender and wired it per the instructions.
If you used thread seal or plumber’s tape when you installed the sending unit you may have plugged the pressure orifice or insulated the ground connection. If that is not the problem, then you will need to check the output signal at the sender and at the PCB.
Can I use my factory sending unit?
Yes. You will need to know – or measure – the resistance at empty and full tank.