Gauge Mod - Round 2

[Logan]

Round One was last year... Version 2.0 is better. :)

I switched out the stock oil pressure and voltmeter for authentic Autometer Ultra-lite's, that actually work, then holed the cigarette lighter out of existence to make room for the tranny temp gauge.

I also painted up the Dual Gauge Pillar Pod today to match the dark charcoal interior. For those wondering, just wander by any ford parts counter and ask them for Black Charcoal interior paint from an 03 Marauder, it's right there in the computer and comes in a nice big spray can that'll last forever...

Tomorrow, time permitted, I'll wire up the Oil Temp and Air/Fuel gauge into the pod...

As it turns out, there's a spare bung right beside the oil pressure sender bung that's perfect for the oil temp sender to install into, piece of cake, just make sure you swap it when the oil is COLD.. :)

[Logan]

For those wondering about the LED... That's the Power/Warning LED for the Blinder Laser Jammer... The 95db alert piezo is mounted up under the dash...

[RCSignals]

did you put an angle ring on the trans temp guage?

[TripleTransAm]

What holds the new gage in place? I understand the original gages are bolted or screwed in some way.

[LincMercLover]

And why is the oil pressure gauge reading 25?!?! :confused:

[WolfeBros]

A fully warmed up MM engine at idle will read 25 psi or even a tick lower. Mine runs 75 PSI cold start up (100 psi winter time) and then goes to 25 at idle. Runs about 50 psi around town driving. A fully functioning oil pressure gage is really nice to have. :D

[LincMercLover]

Well damn, that's a lot of variation! Who's gunna go get me a set of these? :D

[RF Overlord]

Originally posted by Logan

As it turns out, there's a spare bung right beside the oil pressure sender bung that's perfect for the oil temp sender to install into,

Logan:

Ashamed to admit that I still have my "real" O.P. gauge sitting on the shelf...is there enough room to install the "real" sender in this second bung, and leave the factory unit in place? And can you tell me how you modified the connector to go from the factory "plug-in" sender, to the "real" sender's nut and stud connection?

[Logan]

Angle ring is en route... I'll paint it to match, it'll look great and the trans gauge will be point in the right direction...

The third gauge is held in place by the mounting bracket sent with the gauge...

RF... On the Oil Filter housing, you'll see the two sender extensions there, one has the factory oil pressure switch, the other has a plug in it and isn't used. The oil pressure sender can either replace the stock sender (If you do that you HAVE to switch the gauge too) or you can plug the new sender into the other bung and add the new pressure gauge...

Personally, it makes more sense to run a oil pressure gauge and an oil temp gauge off those bungs...

As for the factory plug in, I just chopped off the plug and wired it to the Autometer sender.

[TripleTransAm]

There's a great procedure in the photo gallery on how to interface the autometer sender with the stock connector. That's the approach I'm currently working on.

PS: still would love to know where a good place was to grab manifold vacuum readings...

[RCSignals]

I really wish Autometer would follow through with Mac's idea of guages with the same face, font, and lighting as our stock ones.

[jaywish]

Hi Folks,

Being a new member I just caught on about the bogus guage with this new thread from Logan. A very nice job there neat and clean.

This site is fantastic. The stock guage would have driven me crazy otherwise.

Does anyone remember the older VDO guages which had an idiot light incorporated in them to draw your attention if they went out of range (oil pressure dropped out/water temp went high)?

I had a set in my Opel GT. Those were always my favorite. In case I was being an idiot they still came on and saved my butt. If I was paying proper attention they provided the detailed info of a real guage. The best of both worlds.

I wonder if there is something similar out there now?

Jay

[joflewbyu2]

would make a great addition to the F&Q section. like to see part #s for the different gauges and pillar pod as well as clean instructions.

[Logan]

I can probably get that done with relative ease... Geez, I've done it enough times... :)

[Dennis Reinhart]

What I plan on doing is make a kit for us to add a Red LED to next to our oil preasure guage or locate on the dash close to the speedo, this will work with a seperate oil preasure sensor that will worl like we all have seen for years, the light will come on if the key is in the run or crank position this will verify the light works after start release the light goes out if oil preasure falls below 10 PSI the light will come on.

[RF Overlord]

Once again, Dennis does something the factory should have done in the first place... :rolleyes: :D

...and JUST when martyo though he'd bought EVERYTHING Dennis sells...

:help: :lol:

[jaywish]

Dennis,

Great Idea on the LED idiot light.
Temp would also be real nice since that probably pops up more often than oil. At least I hope so.

Jay

[Dave Compson]

Great idea dennis. Now thats an idea i believe anyone could afford.

[Crazieboutamerc]

sounds like one of the first mods to make when I get mine.

Tim

[2003_MM_FYRE49]

Originally posted by Logan
Round One was last year... Version 2.0 is better. :)

I switched out the stock oil pressure and voltmeter for authentic Autometer Ultra-lite's, that actually work
COLD.. :)

Logan, is the voltmeter a fake also, or did you just want the gages to match?

Tim :fire: 49

[WolfeBros]

The stock voltmeter is not fake and actually reads pretty accurately between 10 - 16 volts. I am sure Logan changed it so it would match the rest of his newly installed instruments. Which are way kewl .....Wilson (Logan). :D

[Logan]

Yeah, the stock voltmeter is a functional unit. As wolfe indicated, I changed it out while I was at it for a uniform appearance...

[jgc61sr2002]

Originally posted by Logan
Yeah, the stock voltmeter is a functional unit. As wolfe indicated, I changed it out while I was at it for a uniform appearance... Logan _ Excellent idea to have matching gauges.:D

[vegasmarauder]

I was the one who did the tech article on changing the guage faces to use teh factory MM one. I was thinking of the red LED idea at the same time. I am thinking of a way to come up with a logic circuit to just read voltage off the Auto Meter sender. When it hits a certain (low) value it would turn on a red LED. I would mount the red LED into the guage face to keep it all compact. I have to mess up a few guage faces to experiment with so I haven't gone forward with the mechanics of it (yet). I am thinking about how to do it though. But just spent the weeken putting a MM console in my nephews '98 PI so I bushed....

[2003_MM_FYRE49]

Originally posted by Logan
Yeah, the stock voltmeter is a functional unit. As wolfe indicated, I changed it out while I was at it for a uniform appearance...


Excellent idea Logan, what was the part number of the new voltmeter gage that you installed?

Tim :fire: 49

[Logan]

Tim, The autometer replacement volt gauge is part number 4391.

[2003_MM_FYRE49]

Thanks Logan, Your the best :up:

Tim :fire: 49

[Logan]

People keep telling me that, but if that was true, I'd be making a 7 figure income wouldn't I? :)