[moparPW200guy]

i will be going out to the boneyars this weekend to try and find a few things for my dart but if i happen to find a volt meter i will snag it... my ? is... is there a how to on hooking one up or anything to use as a guide i know stupid ? deserves a stupid answer but i am not an electrician so i dont know these things...... {peace}

 

[Ram]

I would not trust a volt meter from a jy. I would purchase a new one from "Stewart Warner" or "AutoMeter" then it would also have an instruction sheet to install it inaccordance with the mfg's requirements. Would also be a more accurate and reliable meter when new.

 

[moparPW200guy]

it all comes down to money.... thats something i dont have a lot of.. but what i was looking at when i get one is a VDO from a volkswagen or audi.. i have priced out the autometer and stewart warner guages and they are not cheap... i have had VWs in the past and even with them being 20 yrs old they still worked beautifully... accurate and reliable

 

[Ram]

it all comes down to money.... thats something i dont have a lot of.. but what i was looking at when i get one is a VDO from a volkswagen or audi.. i have priced out the autometer and stewart warner guages and they are not cheap... i have had VWs in the past and even with them being 20 yrs old they still worked beautifully... accurate and reliable

A gauge from one of the volks or audi wouldn't be bad, I was thinking about them but didn't know how mechanically inclined you would be to modify your dash for a gauge from a different manufacture. Basiclly the wiring for a volt gauge, IMHO should go to the battery. BUT, I don't know what the wiring of the volks or audi does. I don't know if those gauges can take 12 - 16 volts direct or not! All I can imagine, is I'd say that you connect it directly and then the gauge blows because it needed a resistor inline some place to divide the voltage down to what the gauge needed! Thats why I recommended the Stew or Auto gauges. If you have experiance with the others go for it!

 

[moparPW200guy]

i already modified my bezel for a tach so i am not worried at all.... unless i find a factory unit i'm gonna go that route.... plus i have a Bently book for VW sittin on myshelf so i can look up the wireing diags if need be... and yes they can take direct voltage if memory serves.... but its been a LONG time since i worked on one...

 

[moparPW200guy]

well i found a volt meter out of an 84 audi that works beautifullly.... now all i need is a diagram which i will get form VDO themselves.... thanx guys

 

[Ram]

Would be nice if you had some pictures of the new gauge and a how to for others to follow. I'm sure a lot of folks with the late 70's models would like to up-grade to a volt meter vice that old amp meter thats prone to shorts and burning up wiring. What do you think?

 

[moparPW200guy]

sure.. no problem... i will have pics as soon as i go take em.... the big thing is i didn't have a hole saw so i improvised... i'll have it up in a few days...

 

[moparPW200guy]

well after running a few tests i found out i have something wrong with my heater system.... with the lights and radio on it puts out 13v approx. at idle in reverse. the wipers dont effect that at all.... as soon as i hit the heat my guages drop down to - 15 amps or so and the voltage drops to 11v approx... is there anywhere i can get an NOS heater switch or am i stuck with an aftermarket deal....? as you can tell i am "working the kinks out" as some would say... also how hard is the heater blower motor to get out.... i dont have a book on this truck YET but i am working on getting a FSM as soon as i can...
thanx again