Another Autometer Gauge Question

[MENINBLK]

I haven't seen anyone post their complete experiences with these gauges,
so I thought I'd start and you guys can tell me if you are having
the same experiences or different.

I replaced my OEM Oil Press, Voltmeter, and Cig Lighter with the defacto
REAL Autometer UltraLight Gauges, Oil Press, Voltmeter,and Trans Oil Temp.

My Voltmeter reads a steady 14.5 volts while cruising....

On a COLD START, the Oil Pressure sits at about 95lbs, and then comes down as the idle adjusts, and the oil warms up.
When the engine in finally warm, the Oil Pressure is a hair below 25 psi at idle.
1500RPM - about 2500 rpm usually brings the pressure up around 50 psi,
and anything over 3000 rpm brings it over 75 psi to a full 100 psi.

Once the weather gets warm, I will be connecting the Trans Oil Manifold to the cooler line,
and then from the sender to the gauge.
I'll write back with what I find out after I've used it for 2 weeks or so...

[RF Overlord]

On a COLD START, the Oil Pressure sits at about 95lbs, and then comes down as the idle adjusts, and the oil warms up.
When the engine in finally warm, the Oil Pressure is a hair below 25 psi at idle.
1500RPM - about 2500 rpm usually brings the pressure up around 50 psi,
and anything over 3000 rpm brings it over 75 psi to a full 100 psi.

What oil are you using? My readings are very slightly higher, using Mobil 1 5W-30...

[snowbird]

I haven't seen anyone post their complete experiences with these gauges,
so I thought I'd start and you guys can tell me if you are having
the same experiences or different.

I replaced my OEM Oil Press, Voltmeter, and Cig Lighter with the defacto
REAL Autometer UltraLight Gauges, Oil Press, Voltmeter,and Trans Oil Temp.

I'll write back with what I find out after I've used it for 2 weeks or so...Interesting tread. I tired too, to see all the gauges posting "everything OK don't worry" when they seems not having any clue ...

Could you give more details on how you manage to make the swap from lighter to transmission gauges (appearance, wiring and location of pickup for transmission ?) and do you have any part number for the tree gauges ?

Thanks in advance

[Warpath]

What oil are you using? My readings are very slightly higher, using Mobil 1 5W-30...
Don't forget about the accuracy of the gauges. Each gauge will not read exactly the same.

[RF Overlord]

I tired too, to see all the gauges posting "everything OK don't worry" when they seems not having any clue ...
snowbird, not trying to hijack the thread, but just for your information, the factory voltmeter IS a real working gauge...only the oil pressure gauge is fake. The only reason to replace the voltmeter is if you want an EXACT match with the replacement oil pressure gauge; there are minor cosmetic differences between the factory gauges and AutoMeter's replacements, mostly visible at night...in the daylight, very few people would notice the difference.

[RF Overlord]

Don't forget about the accuracy of the gauges. Each gauge will not read exactly the same.You're correct, of course...I worded my response poorly. I meant to say that I got readings almost exactly the same as MENINBLACK's, but I thought if he was using 5W-20 and I'm using 5W-30, that might account for the slight difference.

Mostly, I wanted to confirm for anyone who has just recently done or is contemplating doing the gauge swap, that MENINBLACK's readings are normal and correct...

[Fourth Horseman]

I haven't seen anyone post their complete experiences with these gauges,
so I thought I'd start and you guys can tell me if you are having
the same experiences or different.

I replaced my OEM Oil Press, Voltmeter, and Cig Lighter with the defacto
REAL Autometer UltraLight Gauges, Oil Press, Voltmeter,and Trans Oil Temp.

My Voltmeter reads a steady 14.5 volts while cruising....

On a COLD START, the Oil Pressure sits at about 95lbs, and then comes down as the idle adjusts, and the oil warms up.
When the engine in finally warm, the Oil Pressure is a hair below 25 psi at idle.
1500RPM - about 2500 rpm usually brings the pressure up around 50 psi,
and anything over 3000 rpm brings it over 75 psi to a full 100 psi.

Once the weather gets warm, I will be connecting the Trans Oil Manifold to the cooler line,
and then from the sender to the gauge.
I'll write back with what I find out after I've used it for 2 weeks or so...

I think those oil pressure readings are very close to what I'm seeing. I'm just a bit below 25 psi at idle when warm as well (with Mobil 1 5w30). I see a bit more indicated pressure at speed than what you note, but not a huge difference. I'm willing to bet that there's some margin for error in the accuracy of our sending units. What you're seeing looks well within tolerances to me.

[drgnrdr33]

Your oil presure readings are the same as mine

[MENINBLK]

I am using Mobil1 0W-20.

To replace the Cig lighter with a gauge, you first need to buy the Autometer Angle Rings (#2334).
This allows you to place the gauge and angle it so it is even with the other two gauges.
You use the angle ring to draw a circle on the Gauge Pod to make the Cig Lighter hole big enough to accept the new Gauge.
Then you mount the gauge using the hardware that comes with the gauge.
You have to trim the mounting bracket that comes with the Autometer gauge
to match up with the angle of the gauge pod.
You'll understand what I mean when you have the gauge in your hand
and are trying to put it together with the gauge pod.
The Autometer Gauge instructions explain this clearly.

I then spliced the power wire from the other two gauges to the third gauge,
as well as the ground wire.
I didn't want the gauge lights to be different brightnesses, so I spliced the positive from the left gauge
and the ground from the center gauge to the light bulb socket for the right gauge.
So the right gauge borrows power and ground from both gauges and the lights are the same brightness between all three.

I haven't run a wire for the Trans Oil Temp yet (right gauge), but I have the Trans Oil Temp Manifold
ready to go when the weather warms up.
The Manifold installs in the cooler line of the transmission oil cooler circuit.
You decide where you want to mount the manifold, strip the paint off a 4" section of the line,
(you need to connect directly to the line to insure a tight seal) and just cut out about 2" of the oil line,
on the line that carries the Trans Oil from the tranny to the cooler.

ahess77 has a good post about mounting the manifold here...
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=11222
and here...
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=14671

Autometer PRO-COMP Ultra Light 2-1/16" Gauge Part Numbers...

Oil Pressure #004327
Voltmeter #004391
Trans Oil Temp #004357
Trans Temp Manifold (5/16 OD line) #002287
Angle Rings (set of 3) #002334

Senders are included with the Gauges.

[MENINBLK]

snowbird, not trying to hijack the thread, but just for your information, the factory voltmeter IS a real working gauge...only the oil pressure gauge is fake. The only reason to replace the voltmeter is if you want an EXACT match with the replacement oil pressure gauge; there are minor cosmetic differences between the factory gauges and AutoMeter's replacements, mostly visible at night...in the daylight, very few people would notice the difference.

The differences between the FORD Autometer gauges, and the REAL Autometer gauges,
is that the Ford Autometer gauges have the stenciling cut out and replaced with a green film
so that during the day it appears to be black type on a silver background,
and at night the stenciling lights up green.

With the Autometer gauges, the bulbs come with three socks that fits over the 194 bulb.
You just install the green sock and the gauges will be backlit the same color as the rest of the dash gauges.

[snowbird]

I am using Mobil1 0W-20.

To replace the Cig lighter with a gauge, ......

... manifold here...
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=11222
and here...
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=14671

Autometer PRO-COMP Ultra Light 2-1/16" Gauge Part Numbers...

...
Senders are included with the Gauges.
Thanks a lot Meninblk for your very complete answer :beer:

[FordNut]

I haven't run a wire for the Trans Oil Temp yet (right gauge), but I have the Trans Oil Temp Manifold
ready to go when the weather warms up.
The Manifold installs in the cooler line of the transmission oil cooler circuit.
You decide where you want to mount the manifold, strip the paint off a 4" section of the line,
(you need to connect directly to the line to insure a tight seal) and just cut out about 2" of the oil line,
on the line that carries the Trans Oil from the tranny to the cooler.

I changed one of the fittings to a barb (hose) fitting and installed the manifold at the end of the steel lines where they connect to the rubber lines for the cooler. There's a thread and pics describing it somewhere around here.