I need to fit a Smiths dual water and oil pressure gauge in order to recreate a MK 1 Escort 'works' dash but I notice they are mechanical (oil feed line and capillary temperature bulb). The car is set up for ford electrical gauges. Can I convert my ford Xflow oil and temp sensors to work with the Smiths Caerbont dual gauge?

If you want to use any Smiths gauges, you will need to remove your original Ford sensors, they can really only be used with their corresponding Ford gauges. Most electrical gauges, OEM or aftermarket, are designed to work with their own set of sensor units as they all work at varying resistances.

If you wish to use the Smiths Dual Mechanical Gauge, this is very simple to convert. You will need to tell us what thread you have in your engine block (usually where the oil pressure light switch is fitted). Then a T-piece like this can be fitted in its place:
TP-1/4NPT This allows the oil pressure switch to be retained but also allowing the oil pressure gauge oil line to be taken off the side of it to the back of the gauge.

For the Water Temp, it gets a little more complicated. Smiths mechanical water temp gauges have quite a large 'bulb' on the end of the capillary tube which is connected to the back of the gauge. This means they have fitted a 5/8" UNF male fitting on the end of the capillary which is normally fitted to a boss welded in the radiator or a header tank.

Whilst they look attractive and keep the period look, the mechanical gauges are not the easiest to install.

5th February 2015