Dashboard/voltmeter

My 1967 CJ5 project is quickly turning into a tear down. My goal is to keep/revert is back as close to stock as practical when it doesn’t affect function. For example, I am putting in rectangular mirrors and 3 point seat belts even though that is not factory.

My dash had speedo, oil pressure, temp, and fuel gauges. How important is a voltmeter? I’m not in the habit of looking at any of the gauges on my F250 because the computer (supposedly) handles everything!

My gauges are Stewart Warner. I don’t like the look of the big Omix speedo, so adding voltmeter would add one more circle in the dash.

Thanks.

 

I like having a volt meter, it's a good way to know that the charging system is working.

 

The stock guage is a big ol' cluster with speedometer, odometer, temp guage, fuel guage, high beam indicator, charge indicator, and low oil indicator.

Technically you only need an odometer, high beam indicator and speedometer. I'm pretty happy with the stock setup but I do have an extra analog oil pressure guage.

 

If you are asking if it's worth it, I would say yes. It will give you a little forewarning if the charging system is headed south. Once upon a time, it also let me know that the EFI in my 3B still sort of functioned at 9 volts--------

 

Like this

 

IMO, quality aftermarket gauges for volts, oil pressure, and temp are very important. No computer in a CJ to keep tabs on everything, that's YOUR job!

 

… and fuel level.

 

Is the temp gauge on the cluster good enough, or is it better to get one that has real numbers? What range of temperatures do I need? The one I am looking at goes from 100-240. Same question for the oil pressure - 0-80 or 0-100?

 

I would not rely on the computer to control things like oil pressure on your Ford truck. It’s always the driver’s responsibility to pay attention to the gauges, which is why they are there. Otherwise very expensive repairs can result. Ask any Automotive Technician worth the name.

 

Why not put them under the dash and leave the dash stock? I have an amp meter under my dash because I have a GM one wire alternator on my Jeep and like to see that it is charging.

 

I would consider a voltage gauge to be very desirable, though the “charge” light in the original cluster gave you an indication f things heading south. I would not use an Amp gauge because of the possibilities of melted wires/fire from the current flow inherent with an Amp gauge. The cluster’s fuel and temp gauges are generally reliable and trustworthy.
I would find a good used original cluster, and possibly add an oil pressure and a Volt gauge below the dash. I stay far away from most anything by Omix.
-Donny

 

Funny thing about this thread is that since the original post, the alternator in my F250 died. Definitely putting a voltmeter in the Jeep!

 

"Is the temp gauge on the cluster good enough, or is it better to get one that has real numbers?"

Don't get me wrong - I love having lots of old-school analog gauges. Makes me feel like Walter Mitty in a fighter plane.

But in reality, a Jeep hardly needs them. You can hear, feel, see, or smell whatever is going on, often before a gauge would even respond.

Like the time my young daughter said "Daddy, look...we're on fire." (No biggie.)

 

For a cheap volt gauge. I installed this in a small hole on my dash. (Just the gauge not the full plate.)

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