hooking up gauges

[ttocs]

when I decided to install the gauges, I thought the hardest part would be fabricating the mount for the gauge that would satisfy me. After just crawling out from under the car installing the oil pressure/temp senders I can say I was wrong... Man what a pain to get that first 45 started, not too bad after that.

Already installed the fuel pressure sender, and I know where I will tapp the vacuum lines for that gauge when I run the wire to the firewall. All I need to know now is what size fitting I need for the water temp sender? My sender is 1/8" npt just like the oil was, is it just a 1/4"-1/8" bushing that is needed? I have learned alot from this and at the very least am a little more familiar with the gauges and the npt crap. Thanks to all for the pics and advice.

After that all that is left is runing the wires which will take a little while. After installing audio/security for so long I am ANAL about wiring and it will all be airline twisted, individually colored, covered with tech flex/shrink wrap and labeled so that when I mess with it 10 yrs from now I can understand it.

Still waiting on the damn afr too, shipping was delayed....

 

[Paul]

All I need to know now is what size fitting I need for the water temp sender? My sender is 1/8" npt just like the oil was, is it just a 1/4"-1/8" bushing that is needed?

For the water temperature gauge, I'm assuming that PLX sending unit is also 1/8" NPT, so you'll probably just need another reducer like you used for the oil pressure sender because the intake manifold port is also threaded 3/8" NPT.

Paul.

 

[ttocs]

well funny you should mention that quote from earlier. I had everything I needed in 3/8" npt ready with teflon tape this afternoon when I removed the factory sender. I was suprised(well a little but not really) when I compaired the factory sender to the parts I bough, the 3/8" parts were all too big. I had saved all the packages(which were resealable) and the receipt so I ran back to ace and exchanged everything for 1/4" npt, with 1/4" - 1/8" reducers and it fit perfect. I am always one size too big it seems(THATS WHAT SHE SAID!).

Since the sender is covered up I can't tell if its the same threads as the oil pressure sender or if they are smaller. Now after getting a little acquainted with the npt crap I have learned that THOSE LITTLE FREAKIN FRACTIONS MATTER! If my 5th grade teacher had told me I needed to know them for cars I would have paid attention so I blame Sr Angela personally....

 

[Paul]

Really? Dang. I could've sworn the intake was 3/8" NPT. I must be losing me mind.

Well, glad you got it figured out then.

 

[ttocs]

I would take the easy way out like I did and blame yer 4th-5th grade teacher like I did. Don't care if she wais holy or not........ I completely understand how easy it can be to do that which is why I kept all the packages and the receipt. You were probably thinking that because it made sence as the 1/8" actually measure 1/4" across. It made sence to me until I got back to ace and then realized that I guess because there is a fraction involved its one of those stupid rules that you have to remember is wrong, or makes no sence.

But again just to clarify, the temp sender is the same threads as the pressure sender? I have not removed it as I figured there will be some water comming out of that when I remove it. Is that wrong?

 

[Paul]

Water isn't going to come out if the car isn't running. It's not under pressure.

 

[ttocs]

hopefully I will make my last trip to the store for the bushing and the wire/heat shrink to complete the sensor portion and can move on to the wiring. Pics to come when its done...

 

[Paul]

Cool man. Have fun. It'll be sweet when it's done.

 

[ttocs]

it was the water temp sensor that you remembered being 3/8", the oil pressure is 1/4".

The recent increase in the copper price is killin me on this project between the $5 fittings and the wire. Just went to get the primary wire that I need to wire them up and didn't expect to drop almost $40 there.......

 

[Paul]

Okay, that makes sense. I'm glad I've not totally lost my mind.

I have a bunch of cheap wire in spools in the garage... probably a lifetime's worth at the rate that I use it.

Paul.

 

[ttocs]

as a former audio/security installer the bottom of my box is nothing but random wire/install bits. I probably could have soldered then together to make what I want but again the anal part of me is aginst that.

Hell if you bought that a couple years ago you have a good investments sitting there.

 

[ttocs]

FINALLY, got it all done! If I were not so anal about my wiring it could have been done long ago but between airline wrapping, techflexing and heatshrinked, and then crimping and solding the little pins for the hrns at the gauge module. Now I need to make a new switchplate to house the remotes buttons but that should not be too bad.

I know the tune is made to run with a car that is running its fuel pressure at 40 lbs, my gauge is showing between 33-35 lbs at idle now. Guess that would account for the low numbers on the dyno, hopefully I can get the new fuel pump and afpr installed soon. Pics to follow shortly but I am gonna go enjoy the loud pedal a little bit.

 

[95opal]

FINALLY, got it all done! If I were not so anal about my wiring it could have been done long ago but between airline wrapping, techflexing and heatshrinked, and then crimping and solding the little pins for the hrns at the gauge module. Now I need to make a new switchplate to house the remotes buttons but that should not be too bad.

I know the tune is made to run with a car that is running its fuel pressure at 40 lbs, my gauge is showing between 33-35 lbs at idle now. Guess that would account for the low numbers on the dyno, hopefully I can get the new fuel pump and afpr installed soon. Pics to follow shortly but I am gonna go enjoy the loud pedal a little bit.

39psi vac unhooked. Are you taking your readings with the vac still connected?

 

[ttocs]

not sure what you mean. I have a electrsonic pressure sensor mounted fulltime to fuel rail where the schrader valve use to be.

Also this being the first time I have installed gauges, what should my numbers be for vac, oil pres, fuel pres, oil temp and water temp? I can set up alarms to alert me if I reach a min/max value, when should I be worried to set those values?

 

[rz5.0]

Your fuel pressure regulator has a vac line hooked up to it. Disconect see what reading you get then. Should be from 39-42

 

[ttocs]

ok, will try that tomorrow.

So far the temp is steady at 204-206, oil pressure from 28-33 psi. The vac is all over the place depending on the throttle. Are these normal?

 

[Paul]

Yes, those are all normal.

 

[ttocs]

any idea on when I should be worried? I have one display monitoring 5 different sensors so if I have it set to another vac for examply and the oil pressure drops it would give me a warning when it reaches the min value I program into it. What would be considered low/high oil pressure? Low/high temps? vac?

Sorry for all the questions but thanks for your time in answering them.