Testing gages - how to?

[torredcuda]

Any tutorials here or elsewhere on how to test gages? I'm starting to restore the dash for my road runner  and need to make sure they work.

[Bullitt-]

I would imagine Cody's e-body gauges video would translate to your b-body...
https://www.e-bodies.org/videos/

[dodj]

First step is get a bigger work bench...lol

[Filthy Filbert]

Look up the operating ranges of the sending units.  Typically measured in Ohms.   Then find a rheostat (like a light switch dimmer in your house) that is capable of duplicating the same values.   most dimmer switches operate from 0 ohms to open circuit, so one of them should work.

Use a multi-meter to dial the dimmer switch to the maximum resistance of the sending unit from the gauge you're working on.  Then, use the dimmer switch as your "sending unit" and temporarily wire it up to that gauge and see where the needle goes.  Don't forget your grounds! 

That will work for oil pressure, fuel level, and water temp.    the amp meter you will need a way to generate a known current and see if it responds.   Or, if you're happy enough to see it go positive or negative, then wire it into a circuit and watch how it responds.  Flip polarity of the gauge to test for positive flow and negative flow. 

Tachometer is a little trickier because it uses a pulse count from the coil firing. 

[torredcuda]

First step is get a bigger work bench...lol

I brought a small table upstairs in the spare bedroom so I can work where it is warm, not a tone of room but better than being cold! As you can see I have a bunch of gage housings I`ve collected over the years in varying states of disrepair but once I get all the parts for one good, complete unit the rest will go into a container as spares so I`ll have a little more room to work.