The Pub

So the dual gauge on my Lotish started to read funny coolant temps... I gave it a good talking to (as joking about temperature on a British car is not always appropriate), but to no avail. It went from its normal readings to something between half normal temperature to zero. The sad part is that this was a nearly new gauge that had come out of a car that I had rebuilt a few years before, mostly living on a shelf. It lasted only a couple of months in the dash of the Lotish. The previous owner was switching to an entirely electronic gauge system with a home brewed fuel injection. But this is not what the post is really about.

Anyway, the problem with the gauge could be fixed by sending it out to a rebuilder, at a cost of around $150 or so, plus travel time, to replace the ether bulb. Or, I could do that myself using a home frozen bulb from another temp gauge (an accessory that was formerly in the +8). along with my formidable soldering skills, but that might be hit or miss (two bad gauges), with only one chance to get it right. Not feeling that lucky, I decided to just order a new gauge. I did this because I didn't want the car undrivable for a couple of weeks, with an open port to the cooling system (and the coolant leaking along with the need to have to bleed the cooling system again after recently installing the alloy rad, cylinder head bypass and fan swirch). The cost of rebuilding the gauge would not be that much more than perhaps buying a new one (I went through this with my Smiths tach on my +8), and then there was the time saving of doing a quick gauge swap without leakage, as well as the hour or so of driving time to and from the rebuilder. Hopefully, the reducer bushings would match up... It's always something...

So, I ordered a new Smiths dual gauge from a US based supplier, and found that the bargain price of $218 was, you know, NOT IN STOCK (as it was listed as being in stock). The shop was good enough to immediately retund my money, so that was not entirely a bad experience. I may even order from them again if they have anything that I need. Moving on...

After looking at the rest of the local (US based) suppliers (Moss, BPNW and others), I found that the gauge was going to cost the better part of 3 Benjamins (plus shipping), so I went to my Smiths standby supplier in the UK, Merlin Motorsport. I purchased my tach from them, and found them to be quick and accurate with parts in stock. They also send me excellent E mails with good information that I use from time to time. So I ordered the Dual Gauge, in ºF and PSI. The cost was listed at £176.21 (221.78USD). With shipping 248.49. Still a pretty good price and it was on the way, due Monday. DHL has always been pretty accurate with their delivery schedule.

Tariff? Of course.

DHL then wanted the dreaded Tariff of another $36.17, which I paid and was still ahead of the local $300+ pricing. Oh, and that added satisfaction of contributing to the "hundreds of billions flowing into our coffers" that will soon make me rich...

So, I expect to see my new Dual Gauge on my doorstep on Monday. Thank you Merlin for the quick response and not dithering around with the tariff. I wish my French suppliers would show the same response. 'Takes them weeks to put together a shipment and invoice it.

Some of the purchases that I have made in the UK lately have included the "Duty" and applicable fees (as my suspension parts from Mullfab), but this one didn't. It wasn't problematic to handle, and the pricing was still fair, and it was in stock. Shipping time is comparable to that in the contiguous 48.

If you are contemplating purchasing some UK produced parts that you find are not available locally, ordering from the UK is not any more complex than before (Not complex at all, really). With the tariff causing some of the smaller suppliers here in the US to cancel or delay parts ordering from Europe, or having fluctuating pricing, ordering direct is a way of getting around some of the delays. With the winter car building season upon some of us. go ahead and move forward with your purchases.

Happy New Year, and I hope you all have your Morgan's running before the thaw...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026-01-01 06:03 PM by SJM1.