If you're doing gauges on a budget, Summit Racing has an all-in-one setup that is a 5" tach with oil pressure, water temp, and voltage gauges built into the face of it for about $150. That leaves you only needing to find a good fuel gauge and speedometer to have a full set.
If you're wanting nice, accurate gauges on a budget and don't like that all-in-one approach, then Autogauge is the way to go, they're made by Autometer, and are just as accurate, and look good, they just don't have as many styles or flashy features.
The CHEAPEST guages I'd trust would be Sunpro. Sunpro's gauges are accurate enough, and their higher-end products look nice enough, but their reliability isn't as good as that of Autometer, Stewart Warner, VDO, or Dakota Digital. I've used Sunpro gauges in several cars over the years, including in my 1975 Chevrolet Pickup, and the average life I got out of them was always about 2-3 years before one or more would start sticking (almost always temperature gauge) intermittantly, and it would always be 2-3 months more before the sticking ones would quit working altogether. Their tachs, however, are about as durable and reliable as they come, and accurate enough for the job, I've got Sunpro tachs in two of my three vehicles right now (one IS getting replaced by an Autometer Ford Racing Logo 5" though).
No matter what, stay away from the no-name gauges found at places like flea markets, Harbor Freight, and those large "liquidation sales" held at convention centers. They tend to be absolute junk. You get what you pay for with gauges, spend a little more now and maybe save that expensive engine later.
__________________ 1976 Ford Mustang II Ghia: 302 with a 600cfm Edelbrock carb, Edelbrock Performer 289 intake, Dynomax Blackjack headers, 2.5" exhaust with Flowmaster Super 44s. RJS 11-gallon fuel cell, C4 tranny, chrome 16" pony wheels, fuzzy dice, brown vinyl half-top, and painted in the tackiest color ever (harvest gold, that's why I call it "The Goldenrod").
Also have a 2003 Dodge Ram (lightly modded daily driver/tow rig/office/dining room/home away from home/workshop... I call it "The Big Blue Dawg".) | 
