I'm thinking of fitting an econometer and an ambient temperature
gauge to a my VDO dash. Unfortunately, the one's I'm being offered are
older, Smiths instruments.

Will the Smiths gauges fit? The "blue leaflets" seem to show they do differ a little ...

Smiths amb temp
http://www.volvo300mania.com/technical_ ... sory2c.jpg

VDO amb temp
http://www.volvo300mania.com/technical_ ... sory3b.jpg

Has anyone tried mixing Smiths & VDO?

I'm fairly sure the answer is no. The physical fit is wrong, but also the electrical connections for the ambient temperature gauge might well be different.

The econ gauge would certainly work OK if you could get it to fit though, cos there's no electrical connections to worry about, only the physical fit. Dunno why you'd want to though, they would look very out of place.

I have some smoths clusters and a new spedo cable you could use to make them fit if you want to go that way

OK, thanks a lot for your help! Maybe I'd better leave it then. At least, I THINK it's a Smiths dial:



Thanks for your offer Dai, the same guy has also got a VDO 6-dial dash for sale (unfortunately without wiring / manifold tapping / temp sensor), maybe I'd better go for that ...

Probably best mate. It should be a fairly simple fit. It should just plug in, in place of the old one, and you can swap your speedo over to keep the right mileage. As it's a 360, the manifold tapping is shared with other redblock engines AFAIK. As for the temp sensor, this can be found on 480's with the info centre, somewhere in the front bumper region, then only required two wires from that to the dash.

Might be worth getting the other gauges if they are cheap....... someone else might like them in the future!

Pete

Manifold tapping is on other redblocks, there are 2 sizes, but anything that means you get a tube from manifold to gauge will work. Temp wiring is easy, and as Pete says, the 400 sender works. Easiest to pull from a 480, it's in the grill directly above the Volvo badge.

That's settled then, 6-dial dash is being ordered. In the meantime, if anyone's got a spare temp sender lying around, let me know

The Smiths gauges are fairly priced, but not really "cheap" - around 25 Pounds for both plus p+p. I suppose I could act as a middleman if anyone needs them ...

Will Smith has Volvo gauges!

Will Smith probably has Bentley gauges

trabitom99 wrote: The Smiths gauges are fairly priced, but not really "cheap" - around 25 Pounds for both plus p+p. I suppose I could act as a middleman if anyone needs them ...

I need them !

Let me know more about this, please.

OK, I'll "order" the lot! PM on the way ...

By the way aukki, I thought you already had those gauges? Seem to remember reading something about that in a previous thread ...

Yes, i have, but they are broken.

And we have two cars now, 83 and 84.

Hi.

I live in Spain, near to Barcelona and I see lots of 300 in the yards, three or four days ago I been taken some spares from a dark blue (with chromed bumpers) '85 or '86 360 GLE and has 6 Dial dashboard in perfect shape, in fact all the car was perfect. The cost is about 60€.

Here's a temperature gauge on Ebay. I'm pretty sure it's the Smiths version ...

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... 0073469241

Hello aukki!

Your gauges have arrived!


Part no. 284 706-9 (Ambient Temp Gauge 1983 - 1985)


Part no. 284 705-1 (Vacuum Gauge 1983 - 1985)

I still need to work out P&P costs to Finland, I'll let you know as soon as I've worked it out.

Tom