• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Need recommendation for good vacuum gauge for carb tuning

440beep

FBBO Gold Member
FBBO Gold Member
Local time
5:53 AM
Joined
Aug 6, 2012
Messages
1,353
Reaction score
699
Location
NW Indiana
I have a hand held vacuum gauge that has to be 30+ years old that I use for setting my idle mixture screws. The gauge needle holds nice and steady (minimal jumping around) when hooked to a vacuum port, but reads 2hg off, but that's ok as I take that into consideration when reading it but at least you can see the needle vibrating around 11hg.

I bought a new one from a reputable online Mopar speed place but when it's hooked up the needle jumps/vibrates all over the place and is pretty worthless when trying to read it.

Anybody on here have a suggestion for a good vacuum gauge that holds steady when hooked up? A work colleague recently bought a '72 Cutlass and I'm telling him some necessary tools to get and a vacuum gauge is one; but I want to recommend a good gauge with a needle that holds steady (and I might also buy it too).

TIA!
Lee
 
Bought mine at NAPA (Actron brand)

20180329_122030.jpg
 
I use the cheapest one available ! Reads the same as my mityvac vacuum pump ...
 
I have one mounted under my dash permanently. I think it's an old Stewart Warner, but other brands are on the market at local parts stores. IF you don't have a "factory car" and have one of those tri-gauges like half the cars I see, take out the volt gauge and put in a vacuum gauge....my 2-cents.
 
yes, but I can't hold the dash gauge in my hand as I'm messing with the idle mixture screws. Need a solid hand held unit like what khrylserkid posted. OR, perhaps just bastardize a good underdash gauge and make it handheld..............hmmm......... you've made me think............:thumbsup:

I have one mounted under my dash permanently. I think it's an old Stewart Warner, but other brands are on the market at local parts stores. IF you don't have a "factory car" and have one of those tri-gauges like half the cars I see, take out the volt gauge and put in a vacuum gauge....my 2-cents.
 
2# off means little when tuning for highest possible reading.
 
yes, but I can't hold the dash gauge in my hand as I'm messing with the idle mixture screws. Need a solid hand held unit like what khrylserkid posted. OR, perhaps just bastardize a good underdash gauge and make it handheld..............hmmm......... you've made me think............:thumbsup:
Good point. I do run in & out of the car a lot while I'm tuning it. I just like the security of having a bunch of gauges in the car so I know immediately if I have a problem. For under the hood, yes, use one like kryslerkid posted.
 
I have a hand held vacuum gauge that has to be 30+ years old that I use for setting my idle mixture screws. The gauge needle holds nice and steady (minimal jumping around) when hooked to a vacuum port, but reads 2hg off, but that's ok as I take that into consideration when reading it but at least you can see the needle vibrating around 11hg.

I bought a new one from a reputable online Mopar speed place but when it's hooked up the needle jumps/vibrates all over the place and is pretty worthless when trying to read it.

Anybody on here have a suggestion for a good vacuum gauge that holds steady when hooked up? A work colleague recently bought a '72 Cutlass and I'm telling him some necessary tools to get and a vacuum gauge is one; but I want to recommend a good gauge with a needle that holds steady (and I might also buy it too).

TIA!
Lee
You can smooth out the gauge by inserting a set screw in the hose just before the gauge. Use a set screw that's just ever such a bit larger than the hose i.d. What you're seeing is basically every cylinder on it's intake stroke. The vacuum will still go by the set screw, just not so violently.
 
You can smooth out the gauge by inserting a set screw in the hose just before the gauge. Use a set screw that's just ever such a bit larger than the hose i.d. What you're seeing is basically every cylinder on it's intake stroke. The vacuum will still go by the set screw, just not so violently.
Or a small orifice.
Mike
 
You can smooth out the gauge by inserting a set screw in the hose just before the gauge. Use a set screw that's just ever such a bit larger than the hose i.d. What you're seeing is basically every cylinder on it's intake stroke. The vacuum will still go by the set screw, just not so violently.
Do you have a pic of that by any chance? Didn't know I could smooth out the needle bouncing.
 
This is interesting. Is the set screw hollow inside so air passes through it? Like an oil galley restricter set screw?

You can smooth out the gauge by inserting a set screw in the hose just before the gauge. Use a set screw that's just ever such a bit larger than the hose i.d. What you're seeing is basically every cylinder on it's intake stroke. The vacuum will still go by the set screw, just not so violently.
 
I sold MAC Tools for decades. They have a 3 1/2" vac gauge kit (VG3000)
VG3000.jpg
that is tops. (if you don't mind spending the money.) The NAPA/ Actron shown above is a good one.
 
xx2 on the small orifice bushing with a smaller hole will dampen
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top