Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Plus 4 GDI: new dash board instruments

Considering to install some additional gauges, I was looking at the Smith's Classic Series (52mm), available at Holden.

Fitting an oil pressure gauge has been described here, and a clock and battery shouldn't be a problem either. I am just wondering if the water temp and fuel gauge are somehow connected to the bus system of the engine, which would make replacing them difficult? Any insights would be appreciated!

Yes have just traced those two from senders and they both go direct (via various connectors) to ECU I'm afraid.

I've lost the trail after that but instruments are connected via VDO master gauge connector (26 way but only 8 used).

Caerbont manufacture gauges. They set up after Smiths closed there and some employees started the new company.
www.caegauge.com

@sospan: link not working!

@RichardV6:
Well, if replacing them would be difficult due to the ECU "in the middle", what about using some sort of "T-piece" with additional sender installing a second set of wires directly to the new instruments, and just leaving the old wires without the old gauges?

Or could I connect the Smith's classic gauges with the VDO connector?

Or should I use VDO gauges instead? (see example here)

I really wonder what gauges MMC used.

Try this link for Caerbont.

Very unlikely the T piece idea would work. You could only go with standalone matched sensor and gauge unless you found perfect match electrical/electronically to OE.

ETA: you could try Borghi or MK but the latter admit they don't have the range of instrument options available on 2014 on Plus 4's and only offer alternate walnut dash.

Robert,
Suggest that you consider the waterproof Durite gauges available from Car Builders Solutions.
I have this type of gauge in my Pembleton, no condensation problem, unlike the Smiths gauges in the Morgan.

I know from Harleys that‘s difficult to change parts which are in line/wire with the bussystem.

For the bikes are so called „Dummies“ available which must be connected to tell the bussystem „hello, here I am..“

Than you can install your new instruments out of the bussystem with the usual wiring.

Greets René

I would have some hesitation adding to the VDO guages with Smiths (Caerbont). I have found them, Caerbont, generally unresponsive without persistent emails and telephone calls. I had them change the colour of my speedo and tacho faces and make replacement guages for the 3-in-1 instrument and a new clock. After 3 attempts they still could not get them the fuel, and temperature guages reading correctly and I have had to compensate using resistors on a trial and error basis in order to get "near enough" readings at critical points (ie, running temperature and near empty fuel tank). The 3 instruments were supplied with LED lighting of different colour of white and the clock has an incandescent bulb. I have spent a lot of time with LED replacements for the speedo, tacho and clock to get a near match.
All in all a lot of time, expense, and faffing about.
I think that if the original instruments are VDO I would be only thinking of adding to them using VDO from the same series.

The one thing I will say in favour of Caerbont is that they will produce custom guages to your design at a reasonable cost but why they have difficulty programming them correctly I can not imagine. Unfortunately they did not allow for an external interface to change the calibration and the guages have to be dismantled to adjust the calibration table.

It is also true to say that guages function on very low currents and poor connections may have some bearing on results. I have been told that in order to get correct fuel gauge readings an London Taxis they had to run an earth wire direct from the sender to the battery.

Sadly true especially of the lever float type where the arm tracks a slider over bare copper resistor coil. Because it has to move, the sliders electrical connection to ground (tank) is via the float arm pivot. Slightest corrosion on this can give higher resistance which gives higher or lower gauge reading depending on design.

Not sure if it would work on a car but a previous boats water and diesel tanks had long vertical sensors with a series of reed switches along their length actuated by a concentric float with magnet. This brought various resistors into circuit to allow corresponding gauge indications. There was also a make/break reed switch for low warning light. Reliable as no moving parts on electrical circuit.

OK, I understand the hesitation. But has anyone actually tried to replace the factory gauges with the Smith's Classic ones? What might happen if you do? So tempting...