Water temp sender/gauge and oil pressure/temp gauges

[captjon1959]

I am concerned that the current gauges in my 84 vanagon do not give me enough detailed information to avert a disaster (blowing out the engine).

The water temp gauge in the dash of my 84 vanagon has no temp markings (actual degrees). If I buy a VDO water temp gauge will the current sender work so that it accurately records coolant temp on a new gauge? I would like to know what the actual temp is.

I also want to install an oil temp and pressure gauge and this seems straight forward.

Any opinion on whether this set up is sufficient or is it overkill? I see you can also add a cylinder head temp gauge but it's more pricey. I would appreciate any advice. Mount is a whole nother issue.

[AngeloEvs]

You can fit a an aftermarket temp gauge but will loose the coolant level warning facility unless you add a secondary circuit to do this and connect it to the coolant level sender control unit. As for calibration to the VW sender the only method is to test the new gauge using a dummy resistor of 100 ohms which represents the coolant temp sender resistance at 100 degrees. Quite frankly I would keep the VW gauge and just check its calibration at 100 degrees, the needle should sit slightly left of the LED + or - one needle width.