Topic: Lets See Your Aftermarket Gauges

[Kurlee Daddee]

I am looking to install some aftermarket gauges in my truck since I don't really want to rely on the idiot gauges. I am going to install oil pressure and water temp gauges. If you have a set of aftermarket gauges in your truck, please post pics.

[bleakhorizon]

not TOO pretty but they work.....only prob i got is there VERY bright at night, need to hook up a rheostat

[2manytoys]

bleakhorizon, color your bulbs with a sharpie. I used a black one on the tip my highbeam indicator bulb so it didn't blind me. I can still see it just fine.

It's a quick fix until you get it rewired.

[kneedownnate]

You can get bulb socks at auto parts stores too, work great for dimming the light.

[Kurlee Daddee [OP]]

I remember getting those bulb socks with Autometer gauges that I have bought in the past.

Looks good bleak. Are those electric gauges or mechanical. I assume electrical since you don't want lines filled with oil and water going back up and into the cabin.

Anyone else? I need ideas.

[bleakhorizon]

actually the oil and water are mechanical......  i wanted it about as fool proof as possible...  The water temp doesn't actually carry water to the gauge it uses a shielded type (copper?) wire i believe (sort of like a choke cable)... The oil however does carry oil to the gauge, but I dont use that crappy plastic hose they supply with the gauges i use copper tubing and make sure you use a grommet in the firewall. i do however keep a small stock of repair parts and pipe plugs just in case there is a leak...

Here is a question for everyone who has a mech oil gauge..... were did you tap into the supply...  i took the plug out under the oil filter and left the stock location.... 

[steveco.]

The water temp doesn't actually carry water to the gauge it uses a shielded type (copper?) wire i believe (sort of like a choke cable)... The oil however does carry oil to the gauge, but I dont use that crappy plastic hose they supply with the gauges i use copper tubing and make sure you use a grommet in the firewall. i do however keep a small stock of repair parts and pipe plugs just in case there is a leak...

Here is a question for everyone who has a mech oil gauge..... were did you tap into the supply...  i took the plug out under the oil filter and left the stock location.... 

That copper type wire has Mercury in it.

For the Mech oil gauge i tapped it also under the oil filter as well. works great.

[75 toy]

I just bought cheap gauges from auto zone. I have the expensive ones in my tow rig.  I had a truck once that showed overheating problems that had a mechanical water temp gauge(a more autometer). The problem turned out to be the gauge was not accurate. I have since heard from race guys that they ( the ones I talked to) never run mechanical water gauges because they are commonly not accurate.  I don't know but I run electric temp gauges and have not had a problem with them.
 I'm still trying to decide what to put in the last hole. The unlabeled switches are open and the idiot lights are for my alternator and check engine light.

[Snowtoy]

Here is the one I made for my '90 for 2" gauges.


I used cheap gauges from Napa.  The water temp gauge lasted about 2yrs, before it started reading high this past summer when it started shooting up 280* before the engine was even warm to the touch.

[emsvitil]

 I'm still trying to decide what to put in the last hole. The unlabeled switches are open and the idiot lights are for my alternator and check engine light.

Oil temp or vacuum( if it's not a 22R).   Vacuum gauge on a 22R is more like an on/off indicator.....

[bleakhorizon]

I had a truck once that showed overheating problems that had a mechanical water temp gauge(a more autometer). The problem turned out to be the gauge was not accurate. I have since heard from race guys that they ( the ones I talked to) never run mechanical water gauges because they are commonly not accurate. 

hmmmm i will have to watch that but never had a problem so far.....

as an update im upgrading my fuel tank and getting a different sender, and as that and the tach are the only things i still use on my SR5 cluster.. Im pulling it and throwing all the gauges plus a tach and fuel gauge in the dash..... 

whatya think should i get the 12" monster tach with shift light lol

[75 toy]

Oil temp or vacuum( if it's not a 22R).   Vacuum gauge on a 22R is more like an on/off indicator.....

Its a 4.3 vortec v6.    It will probebly be a trans temp gauge.

[Kurlee Daddee [OP]]

So where are you guys putting your Oil Pressure and Water Temperature sensors on the motor? Did you splice into the original wires for the dash? Did you have to drill and tap new threads for the sensor for each gauge?

Also, do most gauges such as VDO and Auto Meter come with the sensor itself? Or do you have to buy it as and accessory?

[Snowtoy]

For the oil pressure sending unit I just used the stock location.  For the water temp, I fab'd up a section of pipe and installed it between the rad and the t-stat housing.

Not exactly the cleanest way, but the t-stat housing really isn't all that thick.
I ran all new wiring, making them separate from the oem system.

[Kurlee Daddee [OP]]

For the oil pressure sending unit I just used the stock location.  For the water temp, I fab'd up a section of pipe and installed it between the rad and the t-stat housing.

Not exactly the cleanest way, but the t-stat housing really isn't all that thick.
I ran all new wiring, making them separate from the oem system.

If you unhook the stock oil pressure sending unit in favor of the aftermarket one, will you get a low oil pressure light on the dash? That is my only concern with doing that. I was thinking about installing a "T" fitting and keeping both sending units.

Also with your water temp housing. I think they sell those at Summit, right?

[pumkin toy]

here is a pic of the pillar pod in my rig.  I need to get a third gauge to put in

[75 toy]

So where are you guys putting your Oil Pressure and Water Temperature sensors on the motor? Did you splice into the original wires for the dash? Did you have to drill and tap new threads for the sensor for each gauge?

Also, do most gauges such as VDO and Auto Meter come with the sensor itself? Or do you have to buy it as and accessory?

All electric gauges that I know of come with their own senders. You have to use them so the gauge is accurate.

BTW if you want some sweet gauges here is a shot of my auto meter cobalt gauges in my tow rig. They are pricy but I went to ebay and got them from a guy in Florida for about 2/3 what they were at Kragen.

[OOPS]

Here is one I made about 13 years ago when I first got my truck. It is made from PVC pipe fittings and plexglas. I had to get rid of it when I installed the cage.



This is what I am running now.



Here is how I mounted my temp. sensor. Drilled and tapped the thermostat housing, screwed the brass fitting in and JB welded into place.

[brainlessfool]

Vacuum gauge on a 22R is more like an on/off indicator.....

  

[Snowtoy]

If you unhook the stock oil pressure sending unit in favor of the aftermarket one, will you get a low oil pressure light on the dash? That is my only concern with doing that. I was thinking about installing a "T" fitting and keeping both sending units.

Also with your water temp housing. I think they sell those at Summit, right?

The gauges are on my '90 w/the 3.0, and since there was never a turbo model, I don't think there are any housings made w/any  bungs on them.

My 3.0 came w/the touring package(tack, oil, charge gauges), so there isn't a low oil light.  I had originally planned to run the oem oil gauge as well, but was lazy the day I hooked up the gauges and didn't feel like finding another oil port, or trying to use a "T" and two sending units.

[Kurlee Daddee [OP]]

Anyone know the I.D. of the upper radiator hose on a 22RE? I am trying to order one of these:

http://www.jegs.com/i/Auto+Meter/105/2282/10002/-1

to install a water temperature sensor on. Jegs sells 2 types. 1 1/4" and 1 1/2". Please let me know.

I also found this one for cheaper:

http://www.glowshiftdirect.com/28-mm-water-sender-attachment-1.aspx?utm_source=google%2bbase&utm_medium=product%2bfeed&utm_campaign=google%2bbase+feed

Is it 1.31" or 34MM? Found some info here: http://www.google.com/products?q=1985+22re+upper+radiator+hose+id&hl=en&aq=f

[emsvitil]

Look the part up at rockauto..............

[Kurlee Daddee [OP]]

Look the part up at rockauto..............

GATES Part # 21398 13.6" length 1.38 I.D.

Guess I am ordering the 36mm since that is the closest to 1 3/8" or 35.05mm.

[Kurlee Daddee [OP]]

For those that installed aftermarket gauges, which hot wire did you tap into for power?

Or did you tap into the lightswitch wire so the bulbs can be turned on and off?

[81yotalove]

for you guys who have installed aftermarket gauges and removed the stock sending units. did it mess with the ecu and operation of the engine? im looking to do this for oil pressure and water temp since my cluster got fryed and i want more accurate readings. thanks in advance.

[OOPS]

for you guys who have installed aftermarket gauges and removed the stock sending units. did it mess with the ecu and operation of the engine? im looking to do this for oil pressure and water temp since my cluster got fryed and i want more accurate readings. thanks in advance.

Nope as far as the oil pressure, water temp. I left the stock sender in place and mounted the aftermarket sender in a different place.

[SamuelEngelking]

[Redbeard1]

I need some pics of your dash cover and door skins

[81yotalove]

hopefully someone could help me out here. from searching the web i found autometer 2275 to be the adapter i need to mount my aftermarket temp sender beside the head in between fuel injectors two and three. however i can not get this adapter the screw the hole. when i put the stock sender against the adpater its the same thread pitch and a 16 mm wrench just barely slip over both. my question does the stock sender have a slight taper to it? i have also heard of putting the sender in the coolant block drain? thanks for any help.

[ninjasyota]

I just bought cheap gauges from auto zone. I have the expensive ones in my tow rig.  I had a truck once that showed overheating problems that had a mechanical water temp gauge(a more autometer). The problem turned out to be the gauge was not accurate. I have since heard from race guys that they ( the ones I talked to) never run mechanical water gauges because they are commonly not accurate.  I don't know but I run electric temp gauges and have not had a problem with them. 
 I'm still trying to decide what to put in the last hole. The unlabeled switches are open and the idiot lights are for my alternator and check engine light.

Just throw a clock in the open space!!