For Christmas I'm possibly getting a tachometer and an oil pressure gauge for my car, however they're the miniature ones that go to the right of the instrument cluster. I'm having issues deciding between those or just one large tachometer. How difficult is it to install the oil pressure gauge? Are the miniatures less reliable than the full sized? Also, I'd like to know if you'd know of a place to order these things other than eBay. So basically I'd like to know your opinions. I have a 1992 240 Wagon. There shouldn't be any compatibility issues with any early model tachometers I need to know about are there? Any input would be fantastic!
Thanks,
Evan

 

get the instrument panel from a 240GL and it likely HAS a tachometer where your clock is (the 240GL has the clock in one of the square panels left of the upper stereo cubby).

a mechanical oil pressure gauge, you'd pull the oil pressure sensor thats under the exhaust manifold near the filter, and put a T fitting in its place, then screw the sensor back into that T fitting, and connect the thin tube to the T and run it to the dashboard gauge. if that tube ever leaks, oil goes everywhere :-/

an electric oil pressure gauge, you'd replace the stock sensor (which is a high/low switch) with a gauge sensor, and run a wire to the gauge on the dash.

these oil fittings would have to have the right threads for a volvo redblock. good luck with that, its about 15 years too late for anything like that to still be on the market. early 240 sporty models like the GT came with many of these gauges, but finding one to salvage for parts would be challenging, and those gauges are as old as the car (late 70s, early 80s).

 

Thanks! Instead of buying the two little ones I went with just a big tachometer. The two little ones didn't come with bezels and the little rubber feet, so they would have pretty much been unsightly. How difficult is a voltmeter to install? A miniature one of those would be acceptable instead of an oil gauge. The oil gauge sounds a bit like a pain to install.

 

a volt meter just connects to the ignition power and ground. you could use the "hot" side of fuse 1,2,3 as those are all fed from the ignition switch.

if *I* added any gauges to a 240, I'd want them recessed into the blank bezels just right of the stock instrument panel. aftermarket generic hotrodder stuff sitting on top of the dashboard just looks tacky.

having owned a 240 for nearly 30 years, the tach is pretty useless, especially with an automatic. you can't over-rev these engines, they just peter out at the top from lack o air+fuel, and if you do force them up to the redline, the ECU will cut the fuel+spark off as a rev limiter.... even my 740 turbowagon, I hardly pay any attention to the factory tach.

 

I agree entirely that aftermarket stuff looks terrible. The reason I wanted a tach was because I figured id look at it more than the clock that was there. Plus, every now and then my 240 has some strange idling, and the tach gives me something to refer to.

 

VDO made the gauges for Volvo. Other than a Volvo logo on the face, they are identical to the Cockpit Series still made by VDO. Generally, these gauges are still fine, even after 20-30 years. For those gauges using a sender, the oil pressure gauge particularly, it is the sender that is more prone to failure. Further, IMO, the 240 instrument cluster always suffered from dim, yellowish lighting. Cockpit Series gauges, even when new, have the same drawbacks. VDO makes a newer series, the Vision Series, that produces much more light.
Handheld night shot, sorry for the blur...but you get the idea.

You can buy VDO gauges brand new at eGauges.com - VDO, Auto Meter, Defi, Isspro and Classic Instruments Gauges

 

I like those gauges in your instrument cluster! I've often seen some custom ones such as all white with blue letters numbers and pointers that look awesome!

 

Thanks...they aren't too difficult to do when you have quality overlays. Dave Barton does a great job making them. White Face Gauges for the Volvo 240