Autometer Gauges: Factory Ultra Lite hard to read at night. What about Sport Comp?

[fastcar]

Friends,

I'm looking at installing a real, mechanical oil pressure gauge, along with a Transmission Temp gauge.

I considered gauges to match the existing 2" gauges, Ultra Lite P/Ns 4321 (mechanical oil) and 4351 (Trans Temp).

Trouble is, they are very difficult to read at night, and at night DO NOT MATCH THE TACH OR SPEEDO in look.

Sure, they look good during the daytime, but I want to be able to READ them at night.

I'm thinking of the Sport Comp gauges, P/Ns 3321 and 3351 (oil, trans). They are premium mechanical gauges, as well, but have a black background with white indicators.

What do you guys think? What is everyone else doing? Did it work out well? Any issue I should consider?

Has anyone else switched to the black? How do you like it?

Thanks for the help. BTW, I found a seller on eBay who has the BEST prices on brand new Autometer gauges. Just search for them, and you'll find him.

Thanks for your input,

fastcar:burnout:

[fastblackmerc]

I've switched the factory gauges to the corresponding Autometer ones and I have no problems reading them in the light or dark.

BTW... the gauges in the pod are 2 and 1 sixteenth not 2"

[Breadfan]

Get Ultralite II's - LED lighting very bright and sharp and easy to read and stock looking in the day.

Regular sport comps are backlit with incadescent like the regular utralites so you won't see much of a difference.

You may also be able to replace the bulb with a small cluster of bright LED's, I was going to do this before getting my II's, but you'd need to know what to do since you have 12v source so you'll need to know how to wire them in right.

If you want I could get a pic of my Ultra Lite II's at night.

[fastcar]

If you want I could get a pic of my Ultra Lite II's at night.

Really? That would be great. The factory ones are all washed out, and difficult to read. Good point on the Sport Comps... If the lighting technology is the same, why should they look much better.

fastcar:burnout:

[fastcar]

If you want I could get a pic of my Ultra Lite II's at night.

I went to the website, and the gauges you suggested Autometer depicts in daylight as well as nightime illumination.

On the website, they look just like the factory gauges, white during the day, and according to their depiction, they look BLACK ON WHITE when illuminated at night (like the factory tach and speedo!)

Breadman, is this true, do they really look like this? I'd LOVE to see daytime and nightime pics of yours. If this is true, you have SOLD me on these gauges. THEY WILL BE BETTER THAN I IMAGINED - they will look just like the factory tach and speedo!!!

Thanks for the suggestion, I'm really happy you helped me out this way, and yes, I will wait for your pics :)

Also, has anyone else used these? Any more opinions?

fastcar:burnout:

[Breadfan]

Yeah that's about right, I'll go out in a bit and nab a pic

[gmtech]

send me your email and ill send you some pics of my set up

[Glenn]

Gage lighting brightness is all in the boots. Different color boots will significantly increase the brightness.

Glenn

[SamF]

Get Ultralite II's - LED lighting very bright and sharp and easy to read and stock looking in the day.



These are what you want. I have them also, they are perfect.

[Breadfan]

Non-lit in daylight:
http://www.neuralimpulse.com/misc/IMG_1887rs.jpg

Illuminated at night:
http://www.neuralimpulse.com/misc/IMG_1883rs.jpg

Yeah, as you can see my boost gauge is not accurate from AutoMeter, it's gotta go back for a replacement. :rolleyes: Car's don't have vacuum when turned off. :)

Other than that I really like 'em, keep the stock look pretty well but super nice at night. Anyone in the car at night compliments them.

I have the electric half sweep electonic oil pressure and full sweep mechanical boost.

Here's another pic with less exposure time, they're brighter than this image in real life but this does show of how the lighting cmoes through the face:
http://www.neuralimpulse.com/misc/IMG_1884rs.jpg

[fastcar]

OMG, Breadman, these look totally awesome! I am sold. They are SO much easier to read than the factory Ultra Lites. I can read you pics better than the gauges in my own vehicle!

They match the speedo and tach, too. It's super. I'm going to the catalog to find the PNs right now. Thanks a LOT gang for all the help. I'll post photos back here when it gets done. Take care,

fastcar:burnout:

[fastcar]

They don't have a VACUUM gauge, or a MECHANICAL trans temp gauge.

WAAAAAAAAAAAA!:bigcry:

fastcar:burnout:

I hate when they do that. They never seem to have all the gauges you want in one product line...

[Breadfan]

They don't have a VACUUM gauge, or a MECHANICAL trans temp gauge.

WAAAAAAAAAAAA!:bigcry:

fastcar:burnout:

I hate when they do that. They never seem to have all the gauges you want in one product line...

Yeah I thought the same thing when looking them up last year, also the price between short sweep electric oil and full sweep electric oil is BIG! Like 75 bucks vs 200 bucks!

Glad to help, you'll like 'em, they look great at night!

[RF Overlord]

I second what Breadfan said. The Ultra-Lite IIs are MUCH easier to read at night. I swapped out all four of my original Ultra-Lites for the IIs just for this reason.

fastcar, if the gauges you're replacing are the OEM ones, then an added advantage is that now you will have a REAL working oil pressure gauge instead of the fake one the factory supplies.

[RCSignals]

If the ultralite2s had green numbers when back lit you'd never know they weren't factory.

In daylight they have the same face as stock. Only difference is the 'II" on it.

I have the Ultralite2s and love them.