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Custom fuel gauge???

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Old Jan 12, 2015 | 09:34 AM
  #1  
broke91firebird's Avatar
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From: pardeeville, wi
Car: 1991 Pontiac Firebird convertible
Engine: 3.1 soon to be 3.4/3100
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: original gears, for now
Custom fuel gauge???

Anyone ever make a custom LED bar graph style fuel gauge? I'm thinking of trying to build something similar to the image below, but can't find much online about how to go about it.
Any help from others who have custom built gauges would be great. '99 LS1 gas tank for those who are wondering.
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Old Jan 13, 2015 | 01:40 AM
  #2  
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From: Lawrence KS
Car: 91 z28
Engine: LS1
Transmission: 4L60e
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt 3.42
Re: Custom fuel gauge???

You can buy them from china $10.00. The instructions are in Chinese so I can't tell what ohm sweep it is. Just type in "led" or "digital" fuel gage on any search engine.
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Old Jan 13, 2015 | 06:33 AM
  #3  
broke91firebird's Avatar
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From: pardeeville, wi
Car: 1991 Pontiac Firebird convertible
Engine: 3.1 soon to be 3.4/3100
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: original gears, for now
Re: Custom fuel gauge???

Originally Posted by camarotucker
You can buy them from china $10.00. The instructions are in Chinese so I can't tell what ohm sweep it is. Just type in "led" or "digital" fuel gage on any search engine.
I have been searching for "LED bar graph fuel gauge" for a while now, but the only thing I have found is the vertical gauges set into 3 1/2 housings

or digital number readouts .

I haven't seen anything like what I am looking for.
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Old Jan 13, 2015 | 05:55 PM
  #4  
camarotucker's Avatar
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From: Lawrence KS
Car: 91 z28
Engine: LS1
Transmission: 4L60e
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt 3.42
Re: Custom fuel gauge???

I hate to post Ebay links because they are worthless in a few weeks for future readers.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/1pc-12V-Car-...-/201035919158


Could always gut the vertical and custom make a housing.
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Old Jan 13, 2015 | 08:07 PM
  #5  
broke91firebird's Avatar
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From: pardeeville, wi
Car: 1991 Pontiac Firebird convertible
Engine: 3.1 soon to be 3.4/3100
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: original gears, for now
Re: Custom fuel gauge???

Thank you. I hadn't looked on eBay! Here it is future readers

1pc 12V Car Motor Replace instrument Blue LED Fuel Gauge Refit Fuel Gauge
Attached Thumbnails Custom fuel gauge???-_3-1-.jpg   Custom fuel gauge???-_3.jpg  
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Old Jan 13, 2015 | 10:00 PM
  #6  
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From: Pennsylvania
Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: Rebuilt 350 going in after paint
Transmission: WCT5, 7k & counting behind the 350
Axle/Gears: 4thgen disc rear w/ 3.73 Posi
Re: Custom fuel gauge???

I've been thinking about this for a long time, and for other gauges as well. You'll need several LEDs of course, but the main piece you need is an LM317 chip. That's what controls the LEDs. If you search in google for that chip + fuel gauge! you can find lots of instructions and schematics to make your own gauge. I'm pretty sure I saw some good diagrams on http://www.the12volt.com as well.

Probably can't do it for much less than $10, but wanted to put it out there anyhow for those who may be interested.
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Old Jan 14, 2015 | 01:04 AM
  #7  
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From: MN
Car: 85 SC, 86 Berlinetta
Engine: V6, V8
Transmission: 700r4, 700r4
Re: Custom fuel gauge???

I was going to mention the same thing. ^

I'm assuming that the idea of this is to get around the incompatibility of the LS1 sensor and the Thirdgen gauge?
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Old Jan 14, 2015 | 06:29 AM
  #8  
broke91firebird's Avatar
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From: pardeeville, wi
Car: 1991 Pontiac Firebird convertible
Engine: 3.1 soon to be 3.4/3100
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: original gears, for now
Re: Custom fuel gauge???

Ok thank you 92RS_Ttop I'll look into that.

Originally Posted by Scorpner
I was going to mention the same thing. ^

I'm assuming that the idea of this is to get around the incompatibility of the LS1 sensor and the Thirdgen gauge?
Ya that's the main reason behind it. THough I think the idea my dad came up with would be pretty sweet: a couple of Bar graphs like the one above for gas, oil pressure, and oil temp. All mounted vertically flush in the "A" pillar plastic with back-lid LED indicators. I would of course have analog gauges for temp and oil pressure somewhere too.
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Old Jan 14, 2015 | 11:34 AM
  #9  
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From: MN
Car: 85 SC, 86 Berlinetta
Engine: V6, V8
Transmission: 700r4, 700r4
Re: Custom fuel gauge???

Yeah, that does sound cool. I wanted to mention in case you didn't know, Thirdgens use 0-90 Ω sensors while the LS1 sensors range from 40-250 Ω. You still might need to factor that in for the difference with the LEDs as well. If you're going to do that and still have access to the tank, there is also a part number for the sending unit (25319676) that is supposed to work, it's expensive but there is supposed to be two per box. More info here:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...nder-swap.html
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Old Jan 14, 2015 | 11:58 AM
  #10  
broke91firebird's Avatar
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From: pardeeville, wi
Car: 1991 Pontiac Firebird convertible
Engine: 3.1 soon to be 3.4/3100
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: original gears, for now
Re: Custom fuel gauge???

Originally Posted by Scorpner
Yeah, that does sound cool. I wanted to mention in case you didn't know, Thirdgens use 0-90 Ω sensors while the LS1 sensors range from 40-250 Ω. You still might need to factor that in for the difference with the LEDs as well. If you're going to do that and still have access to the tank, there is also a part number for the sending unit (25319676) that is supposed to work, it's expensive but there is supposed to be two per box. More info here:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...nder-swap.html
Actually I am glad you mentioned the ohms, I had partially forgotten that. I thought the LS1 was the 0-90. Which in hind sight doesn't make sense. Thank you.
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Old Jan 14, 2015 | 12:17 PM
  #11  
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From: MN
Car: 85 SC, 86 Berlinetta
Engine: V6, V8
Transmission: 700r4, 700r4
Re: Custom fuel gauge???

You're welcome! I wasn't sure if you knew or not.
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