Ultimate How To MGL STRATOMASTER All-in-One Gauge Write

[hometurbine]

I'll post on behalf of the OP, since I bought his MGL gauge. Generally I was very happy with the set-up aside from the VDO dual sender gauge that I bought separately, which was off, so make sure you check that before you install it. My oil pressure light went off at too high a pressure, making me think I had a low oil pressure issue. Having the set-up help me figure out I had to adjust the timing, gave me an idea for temperatures, improved my driving/shifting, etc.

See this thread that gives an idea of some of the readings/issues I was getting that I solved, 1 by 1:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9679441#9679441
_________________
Bill
'75 Westy Bus with Subaru EJ25 engine
GE CT58-100 helicopter gas turbine
Tiernay TT10 APU gas turbine

[pacrat]

To the OP:

Great write- up and post! Thank you! Are you still using this set-up? Happy with it?

I have a new engine in my split bus and thinking about going this route to have everything hidden in one location.

Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

Tony

[BUSBOSS]

[BUSBOSS]

[NoBudgetVWGarage]

What would be the new model # equivalent to the E1?
_________________
1969 Transporter - 1600 s/p
1966 Ghia - 1776 w/turbo

[guanella74]

I don't recall unfortunately; are you getting no reading regardless of the setting it's on?

For some reason, I do feel like I'm remembering some diode or resistor or something that you may need on it to smooth out the signal(?), but I'm really back in the cobwebs of my memory on this, to be honest. I don't have the ability to look at the bus right now, but will see what I can find as I'm heading to the shop later today.
_________________
- Travis

1974 Westy CampMobile - the OG!
1979 Transporter
1979 Transporter
1977 Transporter
1974 Transporter
1973 Transporter
1971 Westy

[BUSBOSS]

Thanks for the tip. I will try out your recommendation. Do you remember if you received any reading upon initial start up? I ask because I am getting a zero reading.
_________________
All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
1976 Westfalia
1970 Karmann Ghia Convertible (sold - but not forgotten)

[guanella74]

BUSBOSS, hey! Glad you're finding this writeup useful. Forgot that I wrote it so long ago now! Honestly, I don't actually remember how I set it up, but I did write this:

[BUSBOSS]

I am wrapping up my install and wanted to get advice on my tach setup. I have good grounds (one to the body and one to the engine case) but I am getting a zero reading. Does the initial reading require on screen set up or adjustment on the back of the gauge?

Thanks in advance!
_________________
All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
1976 Westfalia
1970 Karmann Ghia Convertible (sold - but not forgotten)

[BUSBOSS]

I am looking for photos showing the preferred routing for the wire to the oil temperature sender. Thank in advance!
_________________
All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
1976 Westfalia
1970 Karmann Ghia Convertible (sold - but not forgotten)

[TomC]

Has anyone had experience using the OP's recommended Omega 4KX24SPP thermocouple cable for CHT probes? It's great extension wire; good quality and relatively low cost. But the individual conductors and the bundle are insulated with polyvinyl, which is rated for temperatures up to 221 deg F. Our cylinder heads get much hotter than that, and I worry that the insulation close to the head would get pretty soft, possibly leading to failure.

Of course, one could make separate probes out of a short length of more temperature-resistant wire and connect them to the extension wire, but that would increase cost. If I can get away with it, I'd like to use the cheap stuff from probe to gauge.

I found a few CHT-related threads that recommend the Omega wire, and no bad reports. Has anyone found otherwise? Has anyone found it to be just fine?

Omega 4KX24SPP Spec sheet: https://www.omega.com/temperature/pdf/4KX_MULTIPAIR_CABLE.pdf
_________________
Tom C

77 Westy
72 Beetle Convertible

[surfbus23]

Can someone help me out with how I'm supposed to wire the tachometer with this setup?

Thanks!

[samwise]

[Synapse]

Cool. I'll give it another try.

[guanella74]

It was funny - I thought this would be super difficult, and somehow with the wire it just worked and looks fine with no gaps or anything. It does just mate straight up as the outer 'bezel' is the same size. Just got lucky I guess when I took a stab at it...sorry I'm not more help!
_________________
- Travis

1974 Westy CampMobile - the OG!
1979 Transporter
1979 Transporter
1977 Transporter
1974 Transporter
1973 Transporter
1971 Westy

[Synapse]

Thanks for the writeup.

How on earth did you get the stratomaster attached to the instrument cluster like that?

On mine the lip on the front of the stratomaster is almost the exact size as the lip of the opening on the instrument cluster. Thus, when the two are mated the stratomaster either sits just proud of the cluster with a small opening on either the top or bottom, or it sits cockeyed in the opening.

I ultimately gave up trying to wire it in. Did you clearance the instrument bezel for it to fit? If you didn't, how has the mounting held up?

Thanks

[guanella74]

If you search on here there is a lot of info and even diagrams of where folks have JBWelded. I started with the JB and later on put one lead going to every plug (in place of the washer on the plug - see the writeup).

Having the leads at the plugs, you see them fluctuate more (ie are more responsive real-time), but for head temps that's not super necessary. It's 'fine' vs 'coarse' readings - in this case IMO only coarse is really necessary.

Also, for ease of installation, I haven't pulled my plugs since the install because of the thought of having to perhaps re-do the wire leads as they can get buggered up, etc.

SO, if you just want something to set and forget, do the JB to the heads between the fins, near the plug(s) so you don't have the extra worry of pulling your plugs taking 5x longer each time...my .02
_________________
- Travis

1974 Westy CampMobile - the OG!
1979 Transporter
1979 Transporter
1977 Transporter
1974 Transporter
1973 Transporter
1971 Westy

[obnoxiousblue]

I know you've discussed different placement for the temperature leads. Between the fins on the heads, and the plugs... But what do you think it the best spot in terms of installation (ease and serviceability) as well as accuracy? Is the plugs inaccurate? Or is it that the fins give a better reading?
_________________
Mike
1964 Beetle
2001 Eurovan Camper

[guanella74]

Nice! In that case, most definitely worth the relatively small investment!!
_________________
- Travis

1974 Westy CampMobile - the OG!
1979 Transporter
1979 Transporter
1977 Transporter
1974 Transporter
1973 Transporter
1971 Westy

[blues412002]