311 Gauge Replacement
 

Ok, my mechanic says it is time to throw my VDO's in the bin. I know a lot of you have done "upgrades". What panel(s) did you use, what gauges and what was the approximate cost? Need to do it this winter, so I would like to start collecting parts. :drink:

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

The biggest pain in the a$$ will be changing the fuel sender. VDO uses an a$$-backwards range compared to Livorsi/Gaffrid and rest of world. THere is no way to get around that so look at how difficult it will be to cahnge that out andf make sure the sender matches whatever gauge package you buy. Avoid the RedLine series from Gaffrig--lousy reliability.

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

I understand that all of the senders are backwards and will have to be replaced. My temp and oil pressure gauges on one side are acting up and the illumination (with all new VDO bulbs no less) is going south in a hurry. So, I gotta do it. Isn't the fuel sender gauge on the tank just forward of the engine compartment?

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

Yes, it's on the rear of the tank. You can easily access the tank flange from the engine bay.

I need to keep up on this thread too. My stock gauges suck! :mad: Can't see them for chit at night. So, all the questions you're asking SeaWeasel, will help me too. :cool:

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

I replaced all the VDO's with gaffrigs.

I changed all the senders becasue they were cheap enough and 15 years old. I had a tough time getting tto the fuel sender becaus of the way we installed the genset--right over the sender at the rear of the tank.

Like I said--just avoid the RedLine series--great idea--it just doesn't work and isn't at all reliable.

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

You can get to the flange from the engine bay but the unit is too long to pull out of the tank because it hits on the rear seat bottom. I don't know how you're supposed to get it out - it was probably in the tank when the boat was assembled and no thought was given to replacing it. :confused:

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

Poorsche- do you have any pictures of your new set-up? No red-lines, so did you use monster? I assume you had to buy/make a panel? Who did the work? What did you spend? Why do we all own old boats? Oh, yeah, no 7 figure income . . . .

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

I replaced the RedLine guages (water temp, fuel and oil pressure) with regular Gaffirg guages. I just installed them in the holes that were already in the dash. I've been trying to make a template for new dash insert forever with no luck. I'm not a tool and die maker or even a draftsman so I can't even get close to a template.

My dash is a real complicated shape with compund curves and angles so its not an easy job.

I can send you pictures when I get home are you could do a search for my posts and I think there are pictures of the dash somewhere on here.

I kind of like my old resin bucket--especially since it's paid for and keeping it running is good therapy.

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

I am with you on the therapy issue- my boat was about 99% when I bought it, but at 15 years old they all have "issues". It only has 250hrs or so on it, but LOTO is a rough SOB and stuff goes south if you don't stay on it. I will look for the pics.

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

Are you sure about that wnatsa??? Although I have not had to pull the sender in my 311, it appears there is plenty of room to get it up and out. Have you actually tried it?

It would really suck big time to have to dissect the boat to get the fuel gauge senser out. :(

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

It's close but on mine it came out without any dissection. I created a problme by mounting the genset right over the sender flange.

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

Hey Poorsche- is your boat a 311? What kind of gene did you add and how did you plumb it for intake air and exhaust? What do you use it for?

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

The seat is in the way. We replaced the sender on my 311 with a Livorse sender. It is new and has zero moving parts and slides right into the tank. You have to have them calibrate it to your VDO gauge because VDO is diferent. Most likely you will destroy the old foat sender when you pull it out. Trick Marine carries these units.

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

I've got an SR357--1986. We mounted 5KW Kohler across the beam on top of the stringers in front of the engines/partially over the fuel tank.

Had to put another thru hull with strained and seacock in for intake cooling water. The fuel line we just "T'd" into main fule line. Not really a problem since I rarely run genset with the main engines running.

Had to make a cut-out in seat back for wiring and/or started so we faked a special center cushion to cover it up in bottom of seat back.

Really pretty neat--but TIGHT.

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

I'd be surprised if the Livorsi sender wouill work with the old style VDO fuel guage. VDO fuel guages are A$$ backwards and different ohm range from AMERICAN guages--ie Teleflex, Livorsi, Gaffrig, Faria etc.

Gaffrig even tried to make me a special guage to work with the VDO sender--coudn't make it happen so I pulled the sender and did it right.

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

Here's a picture of dash in older SR357 with Livorsi/Gaffrig guages. At this point I was still trying to make the VDO sender work with the Gaffrig guages and it just wouldn't work so I had left the VDO in place. Also was still trying to live with the Redlines.

You can see that a new panel with the convuluted shape of dash is a pain to find an insert for,

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

Yeah, guages are on my "to do" list this winter as well. My dash lights work when the motors aren't on, that or there a firefly in there someplace that glows red. Just about worthless.

I'm having trouble with my starboard temp guage. Needle bounces around, sometimes doesn't work at all, sometimes works perfectly. Replaced the sending unit and now it reads about 12 degrees higher than before. Figures......

That will be part of my paint the interior white project this winter. New guages and new white interior.

I kinda like my old tub too. It's paid for, still looks good, and not one of them dangerous life threatening stepped hulls that we all know are just accidents waiting to happen....:D :D

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

Formula- let me know how you proceed with a dash. Now, Poorsche, is that a factory dash? I have the old "square" VDO's, so I am presuming my dash is either not going to work with new round stuff or it will be 2-tone from the elements.

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

I think the insert you can see outlined around all the instruments wasn't factory. The VDO's had a square trim piece around them so that area especially around tach's and synch do show the sun fade. The holes for VDO's and Gaffrigs are the same so that part wasn't a big deal. The terminals on the VDO's are slide-on connectors--the Gaffrigs are rings. It was a major exercise in frustration to cahgne all of those out because wire was old, had to clip a few of the tie-wraps to get enough pigtail to re-terminats.

Caused much swearing and drinking--but got 'er done and everythinhg worked except the fuel guage (because of sender/guage incomapitbility).

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

Slide on vs. rings. Wouldn't have it any other way, would you? I did a set of Fountain switches on my old Baja- took me 3 hours to simply rig the wiring harness. Like I said, wouldn't have it any other way. :D
BTW- did you swap out the senders (other than the fuel)?

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

Poorshe:
It took them two tries but they(Livorsi)finally got it right. He has the Livorsi sending unit with the VDO guage, works great and didn't have to sawsall the rear seat.:D.

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

My gauges are crap. Who has a panel that will work? Anyone, hello? Anyone? I think- wait, I know -my tachs are off at lower end of rpm range. Must . . . get . . . new . . . panel . . . soon.

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

Hey,
Not to rob the thread but.. where can one get the VDO temperature sending unit? The larger one that has the small rubber wheel on it? I bought one from basic marine and it does not work at all.

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

Did mine on my 272 three years ago now. Changed all the senders and added fuel pressure ,oil temp and water pressure. Also changed to white panels.

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

I tried every which way but loose to get that sucker out. It's at least a foot long and it hits the seat before you can angle it out. I took out the seat back cushions and used a 3 inch hole saw to cut an access hole thru the bottom structure. You can't see the hole unless you take out the seat back. Looks like it came from the factory that way.

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

mopower- did you just shoot the panels or did you have them powdercoat ed?

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

Got them made up new...copied from my old ones with the exception of the passenger side where I had the top panel made as one piece instead of two.
Unfortunately Mark from MearImage who did it has seemed to dropped off the face of the earth :eek: :eek:
I know he had some major health issues when I was dealing with him :(

Re: 311 Gauge Replacement
 

I couldn't help but to notice this thread. Mark at Mear Image started to handle my gauge line. He took a couple sets as "samples" then sold them. I never saw a penny from him.

If you are interested www.sscompetition.com I'm running a sale now.

If you are afraid cause the pricing looke "too low" Dare to compare with Livorsi or Nordskog. 30 day no questions money back guarantee and one year warranty.