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Wed Mar 19, 2025 5:19 pm

I am just curious, what gauges are you running on your baja bug? Have you added a tach, oil pressure, oil temp, etc?

Pics are always a plus :)

-Joe

Thu Mar 20, 2025 6:25 am

when ive built a Baja or rail the gauges I'll use always depends on how much I feel I need to monitor vs how simple I want it to be. some were just tach and idiot lights for oil & alt, others were speedo, tach, oil, alt, vac / boost, exhaust temp, gas gauge, tach light and idiot lights too. sometimes ive used multi gauges which are nice for saving space. generally I like it more simplistic though

Thu Mar 20, 2025 7:33 am

idiot light is part of the alternator or generator charging circuit.
oil pressure and temperature are mandatory in the desert.
two tachs, dash and engine room.
speedo per state law
and a fuel-air mixture meter, because guessing at the right jets just bites the moose.

Thu Mar 20, 2025 7:48 am

Along with the stock speedo, I use two additional BIG warning lights piggybacked off the original lights. That way its in your face if shit goes south. Kartek sells them.
Other wise I have a 5" tach. 2" oil temp & pressure gauges. Made in the USA by Marshall Instruments. Comp 2 LED.
The senders are located at the remote oil filter.
The screen is the heater control.
My dash originally had a sun baked cracked pad and a huge ugly hole in it from the PO's radio install.

Sat Mar 22, 2025 5:59 pm

I figure keep it super simple. Who has time for face full of gauges when you're pickin' the best line through rocks, ruts, cactus or further north trees and brush?

Rocks all look alike when they're big and in your way.

The traditional deal is a trailer light or clearance light for lack of oil pressure and lack of charge. You want 'em big and bright. You won't be going much further with no oil pressure and a dead battery.

Gauges for oil pressure and temperature if you really want to know.

Don't need a tach if you have a rev limiter.

GPS will tell you how fast you're going.

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Sat Mar 22, 2025 10:22 pm

Dusty1 wrote: I figure keep it super simple. Who has time for face full of gauges when you're pickin' the best line through rocks, ruts, cactus or further north trees and brush?

Rocks all look alike when they're big and in your way.

The traditional deal is a trailer light or clearance light for lack of oil pressure and lack of charge. You want 'em big and bright. You won't be going much further with no oil pressure and a dead battery.

Gauges for oil pressure and temperature if you really want to know.

Don't need a tach if you have a rev limiter.

GPS will tell you how fast you're going.

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100% oil and gen light that's all you need. Who needs a tac it revs to 4500. Read the trail pick your lines and drive. The most used switches... the wipers when I hit a puddle and the headlights when its dusty those come factory installed

Tue Mar 25, 2025 6:12 am

Thanks for the info folks!

-Joe

Tue Mar 25, 2025 8:20 am

In my opinion the oil's condition is a good indication of what's going on with the engine.
I want to know if I'm losing pressure or overheating before its too late. I want to know if my thermostat is working, etc.

Since this is my first old air cooled VW. I'm not used to the normal operating conditions and sounds yet.
As a new guy what does the rpm at 4k sound like with these old engines? Am I pushing it too hard or not hard enough?

Modern cars cruise at 2500 at 65mph, whereas my car is at 3200. To me it sounds like its screaming but from what I've read 3200rpm is normal on the freeway.
If you're not used to how the system operates, gauges are a tool to help learn what's normal and what's not.

Of course for the bare bones you don't need extra switches and doohickeys. Simplicity is best for sure.

I don't have a truck or a fancy trailer I can load my car on to and head out into the woods or an event.
I need to be self supportive. Tools, recovery gear, etc. need to be contained and secured safely within the vehicle.

I'm competing in a rallycross event this weekend. I guarantee I'll be one of the only people who're driving their car to and from the event instead of trailering the car. I'm also the oldest registered car in the event.

I bet 90% of people who own these old cars just drive them around town when the weather is nice. Not 150+ mi away from home out in the middle of nowhere off road.

Correct, gauges aren't necessary, but VW also didn't design these cars knowing they'd be a racing icon 50+ years later.

Its like the old saying goes, ignorance is bliss.
Be reminded though, ignorance can lead to poor decisions, poor actions, and terrible consequences.
To be out driving around without a clue of how my engine is doing terrifies me.

Its your own decision whether to add a gauge or not.

Wed Apr 09, 2025 4:22 pm

I had a Gene Berg temperature sensing dipstick in my Baja. It replaces the dipstick, so make sure to carry that with you if you ever need to check oil level. It will cause the oil pressure indicator light to flicker if it gets too hot. When I had a 1600cc and I was driving it up the Grapvine/ Tejon Pass the light started to flicker so I pulled over and let it cool down a bit. I was driving it about 4500rpm which is pushing it.

Later I had a 2180cc and was driving home from the El Prado VW campout in the dead summer and it was also flickering like crazy. I slowed down to 50-55 but ended up just pulling off the freeway and chilling at a gas station before taking surface streets home. It must've been 105F that day, so the GB dipstick is a really good option to save your engine IMO. Had I just kept going it would've fried for sure.

Wed Apr 09, 2025 7:08 pm

Great idea, I just bought one from forum member VWNos on eBay.

Wed Apr 09, 2025 7:29 pm

Combining gauges can save on space. For example: A water temp gauge can double as an oil temp gauge with a second sensor and a switch. A fuel tank level gauge can sense multiple tanks. A vacuum gauge can double as a boost gauge.

Thu Apr 10, 2025 11:45 am

Wulfthang wrote: Combining gauges can save on space. For example: A water temp gauge can double as an oil temp gauge with a second sensor and a switch. A fuel tank level gauge can sense multiple tanks. A vacuum gauge can double as a boost gauge.

good advice

Sun May 04, 2025 9:09 am

I got a fast fab mount https://www.fastfabonline.com/Gauge-Mounting-Plate-1958-1967-Beetle_p_51.html

I picked up 3 gauges, all smiths: oil pressure, oil temp and tach.

I’ll move my spod and usb charger (with voltage) over to the speaker grill.

-Joe

Mon May 05, 2025 6:20 am

Looking forward to seeing those gauges! Curious which lineup you chose? They all look sweet!

Tue May 06, 2025 6:27 am

I know my baja is in no way stock, but I really dig the look of the original gauges so I got these:
https://www.jbugs.com/product/14-1116-0.html
https://www.jbugs.com/product/14-1112-0.html
https://www.jbugs.com/product/14-1118-0.html

-Joe

Tue May 06, 2025 10:35 am

"Modern cars cruise at 2500 at 65mph, whereas my car is at 3200"

rephrasing slightly:

2500 @ 65 is 26 mph / 1 k rpm
3200 @ 65 is 20.3125 mph / 1 k rpm

my MGB got 18 mph / 1k rpm with the overdive off and 22 with overdrive on