Gauges for 1998 Chevy Astro 4.3

[luckybodog]

Hi Everyone
I have factory Gauges on my Astro LT 4.3. I am not sure what size they are without taking them out . I would like to replace them with mechanical gauges. I would not like to put them on the post of the dash or a screw them up some where. I like to put them in same holes. So any suggestions of brands or place to buy etc. luckybodog

[Phantom]

All the gauges are part of the instrument cluster and wired in a printed circuit as most modern day clusters are , to modify the cluster would be a lot of work and more costly than buying new mechanical gauges if you desire mechanical gauges the best way would be just buy some and make a good place to mount them , you can customize the dashboard if you want a built in look ,
or you can remove the cluster and custom fabricate a panel to fit in place of the cluster and make custom holes for the gauges and lights , which would not only look really cool but be functional with better quality gauges ,, just time , talent and money is all you need

Sun gauges , Autometer are a couple brands that are good

most parts stores have a selection , or Jegs.com among some places

[luckybodog]

Thanks for the quick reply, I will be looking a Jegs and Auto parts stores . Iuckybodog

[luckybodog]

I have decided not to replace my gauges. I have the gas and oil pressure fluttering . Any Ideas what would cause that. I have replaced the oil pressure switch . That show the amount of oil pressure but still flutters. Thanks for the help

[ccookie66]

Its normal for the oil pressure gauge to flutter. Mine does too. It goes with the engine. Like if I rev it, the oil pressure gauge goes up. For the gas gauge, how bad does it flutter? A little is normal, since they are floating in the gas tank. If I have half on the gauge, if I come to a stop, it drops to a quarter, then back to half. I think its normal.

[luckybodog]

The Gas gauge is more like a nerves twitch. The oil pressure jumps from a quarter of the way to regular pressure.

[luckybodog]

Anyone know were the ground to the Gauges is located? That might be the problem. Thanks for Ya'll help!

[ccookie66]

Beats me. I have the same problem with my gas gauge. Only difference is, its not a small twitch. It snaps out of sight, past full, then back. There is a ground under the van, by the fuel filter. It comes from the fuel pump. I think its just the ground for the fuel pump, but maybe its the same ground.

[redfury]

Ah, the buzzing fuel gauge. Well, there is a big discussion on another forum that specifically deals with this. Part of It comes down to the gauge signal from the Fuel Tank Sending unit. The coating on the windings get broken down by ethanol and the gauge sweeping one specific spot ( usually the point where your gas gauge spends the most time ( at full, etc ). The 98 Van ( I have the same one, same problem ) fuel gauge wiring is sent from the sending unit, to the computer, and then to the gauge.

It's caused by some level of interference that the computer can't compensate for and the gauge itself cannot absorb ( they are stabilized by heavy oil in the gauge motor ) which is why on my gauge, it's stability is determined by where the gauge is reading. For example, at full, the gauge reads empty until I've used a few gallons of fuel, at which point the needle moves back to full and vibrates slightly. At 3/4 the needle vibrates like a schnauzer waiting for a table scrap and at half it sits buzzing like a nervous chihuahua. Once it gets to 1/4th tank, it's pretty stable, but it won't read below 1/4th tank accurately anymore.

Mind you, this is with both the stock gauge set and the white faced flame gauges I bought off of another member here. It's not the gauge itself necessarily, and it's not always necessarily the fuel sending unit ( although in my case I'm sure I'd have a lot more accurate gauge if I replaced it.

However, on the last page of the link below some of fixed with silicon oil injected into the gauge motor because it apparently can leak out, however, that doesn't address a jumpy fuel gauge that is inaccurate like mine.


Hope that helps. The link to the discussion is here-----> http://www.pacificp.com/forum/viewtopic ... &start=100
Much smarter people taking on the fundamentals of the operation of the fuel gauge design by GM.