Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025

I have still been running my Autometer vacuum gauge — the one that barely has a backlight. Yes, the one that is so dim you can’t see it when its one.

The difference between the gauges is the face of the vacuum gauge compared to the other three. The other three gauges have transparent digits on their dials, so when the backlight is on, the number themselves are illuminated — and very easy to see. By comparison, the vacuum gauge digits are solid and opaque — the digits are painted solid white, and light does not come thru the dial face. So the only light you can see in the vacuum gauge face only comes around the edges of the face.

So yeah, I’ve been trying to find a 2-5/8 inch vacuum gauge that has clear, backlit digits that match the other three gauges. So far I’ve not found another vacuum gauge that meets those specs.

Anyway, I recently found a vintage Stewart-Warner vacuum gauge listed on eBay priced to sell. I didn’t have a clue if its backlighting would closely match my existing gauges. It was a working Stewart-Warner gauge, so it was worth a tr y.

Now a couple days ago, a new wrinkle entered the equation — the Autometer vacuum gauge quit working. WTF??

I checked the hose, I checked the connections. I couldn’t find any problem or break in the line. I uninstalled the vacuum gauge and tested it — and it worked! WTF X 2??

I reinstalled the gauge in the bezel, and as you might expect, the gauge quit working. Damn!

ENTER STEWART-WARNER.

OK, time to try my new-to-me vacuum gauge. It worked fine. The backlight doesn’t match the AutoGauge trio of gauges, but it was much better than the first Autometer vacuum gauge. But it works fine. Different look, but hey, the lighting is a better fit. I’m happy with it.

So what the deal with the AutoGauge? I think when the mount screws are tightened up, its putting that gauge in a bind, and it quits working.

So the BRAND NEW AutoMeter vacuum gauge I bought was in a box, unused, after I paid more than $100 for it. Instead I have a vintage Stewart-Warner gauge that set me back $40. Probably should have simply .picked up all vintage SW gauges, lol!

INTERIOR PANEL BOOGIE.

I need to get to work on my door panels as cooler temps begin to arrive. I bought a large supply of nylon fasteners to secure the door panels to the doors, but have mislaid/misplaced/lost the damn things. Worse yet, I’m not real sure who the vendor was where I purchased them.

I simply need to use a section of my clear shower curtain material and mark the locations where I need to drill the door and the door panel so they’ll mate up and hold the completed door panel in place. I also need to by some 1/8 inch luan or other paneling type mateiral to make the rear seat side panels too. Once I find the nylon fasteners, I’ll be in business.

The other project i need to complete is carpet. I’m so tired of looking at the silver heat shielding on the floor. All in good time. Door panels first.

Well that’s all from the Shade Tree Garage for the moment. More to come!