Real Gauges

[Bob Mathis]

I just put in 4 new Auto Meter Gauges. Replaced the oil and volt gauges with real working one's. Added a trans temp next to the volt gauge. Put in a piller pod with my boost gauge which I all ready had and added an air/fuel ratio meter. It looks like a light show when it in use.
I now can see what my oil pressure really is and can keep an I on my trans. temp.
They really look good at night.
If I could fit a place for a Oil temp gauge I would put one in.
:) :coolman:

[Logan]

The A/F gets a wee annoying some times, I wired a small toggle switch to turn its' power on and off at will. :)

[valleyman]

Logan and/or Bob: what's involved in removing the cigarette lighter and installing a guage next to the voltmeter? Do you just remove the guage cluster and use your trusty X-acto knife to make a hole large enough for the new Auto Meter? Or is it more complicated than that?

[Logan]

Easy. Just pull the cluster. remove the cigarette lighter, then enlarge the hole to 2 1/16" inches. I used a dremel which worked really well. You could also use a 2" hole saw in a drill press if you got one.

The plastic is too thick for a exacto knife.

Once that's done, Autometer sells a nice angle adapter to tilt the 3rd gauge back towards the driver. I painted mine to match using ford charcoal interior paint.

http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=503/1DSC01093-med.jpg

[SergntMac]

Way to go Bob and Logan! Thanks!

I am presently "gauge challenged," but I will be working to catch up in '04. I have some planning ahead, but it's good to see this topic brought to the surface once again.

[schuvwj]

Originally posted by Bob Mathis
I just put in 4 new Auto Meter Gauges. Replaced the oil and volt gauges with real working one's. Added a trans temp next to the volt gauge. Put in a piller pod with my boost gauge which I all ready had and added an air/fuel ratio meter. It looks like a light show when it in use.
I now can see what my oil pressure really is and can keep an I on my trans. temp.
They really look good at night.
If I could fit a place for a Oil temp gauge I would put one in.
:) :coolman:

Bob I performed the Jerry trany mod and added an Auto Meter trany temp gauge in the cig lighter position yesterday. I put the sending unit in the trany pan according to Jerry’s instructions from Zach.

Shifts are firm and very quick. With my stock cooler the hottest I could get the trany oil was about 145 deg. in stop and go driving but cruising 60 to 70 MPH it levels off at 120 deg. I am sure the outside temp being in the 30's helps.

Bob can you please tell me what the part number is on a two gauge pillar pod to install additional Auto Meter gauges?

I would like to order a couple more Auto Meter gauges and install them on my pillar but the only pillar pods I've ever seen are for Mustangs or Focus.


Thanks!

[schuvwj]

Originally posted by Logan
Once that's done, Autometer sells a nice angle adapter to tilt the 3rd gauge back towards the driver. I painted mine to match using ford charcoal interior paint.


Logan I also used the Autometer angle ring on the trany gauge but as you said it is a different color that our interior.
Where did you get the paint to match?

Thanks!

[MI2QWK4U]

I used the Ford Automotive Interior Spray Lacquer in a 13 ounce can directly from the ford parts department from the interior code on the sticker. It is part number:
M4JZ-19M547-4149-H CHARCOAL BLACK INTERIOR LACQUER PAINT.
I believe some others on here have used it as well. I used it on my angle ring for the third gage in the center gauge pod, as well as on the mounted duel Gauge Pillar Pod. I painted the pillar and pod together after they were put together, resulted in a really factory look on the whole setup.

[schuvwj]

Originally posted by MI2QWK4U
I used the Ford Automotive Interior Spray Lacquer in a 13 ounce can directly from the ford parts department from the interior code on the sticker. It is part number:
M4JZ-19M547-4149-H CHARCOAL BLACK INTERIOR LACQUER PAINT.
I believe some others on here have used it as well. I used it on my angle ring for the third gage in the center gauge pod, as well as on the mounted duel Gauge Pillar Pod. I painted the pillar and pod together after they were put together, resulted in a really factory look on the whole setup.

Thanks MI2QWK4U.

I sure appreciate your help!

Have a good one!

[MI2QWK4U]

hope they help.

[MI2QWK4U]

another..

[MI2QWK4U]

another...

[schuvwj]

Originally posted by MI2QWK4U
another...

MI2QWK4U do you know what the part number/order number of the pod is?

[MI2QWK4U]

Last closeup...
I think its important to lightly spray the pod with the grey interior paint (it comes as black plastic), mount the pod to the pillar, then spray the whole assembly as one piece to get the best look. I am really pleased at the results.... Good luck!

[MI2QWK4U]

I ordered it from JEGs catalog, Check out this link.
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=136773&prmenbr=361

Its part number 105-10110 for 27.99.

[Heavy351]

What is the little red light near the bottom of the pillar for?

[MI2QWK4U]

You guys want all my secrets?!

[Heavy351]

ricer proximity alert?

[RCSignals]

now that everyone has all those gauges, must be time for Autometer to come out with the exact Marauder face and backlighting ones Mac tried to arrange for......

[jfclancy]

WOW looks good ! Having seen Logan's up close and in person all I can say is done correctly it looks like a factory/dealer option.

Joe Clancy

[jgc61sr2002]

Logan and M12 your gauges look great. The sure look like a factory installation.:D :up:

[woaface]

Where does it wire up to the tranny? I suppose it comes with the appropriate cables?

[Bob Mathis]

There is a plug on the driver's side of the tran's just forward of the sifter linkage. Its a line pressure connection. And there is no cables. Just wire it to the gauge.

[woaface]

cable, wire, same thing?

[Marauderer]

Glad to see it went as well as you thought it would!

[SergntMac]

Originally posted by Bob Mathis
There is a plug on the driver's side of the tran's just forward of the sifter linkage. Its a line pressure connection. And there is no cables. Just wire it to the gauge.

I've never been sure where it's best to monitor temps of flowing fluids. From where fluid should be it's hottest, or from where it should be it's coolest, without being outside the tranny. It's a "taste great, less filling" coin to flip I suppose.

Using the pressure tap on the tranny is an easy location to plug in to tranny temps, and it will give you an accurate report. However, the sender will be reporting the temp of the case, as well as tranny fluid pushed up against it. This is not tranny fluid that is flowng through the tranny, which is what you should be monitoring. By the time the case, and the fluid at this point heat up, you're already in serious trouble.

The best location to sample tranny fluid temp is from fluid flowing through the tranny, and the best place for that is from the pan. This may be fluid at it's coolest point inside the tranny, but it's better to monitor flowing fluid and calculate from there.

What's a normal temp? Depends on where you're measuring. General rule of thumb on temps say that if you're seeing 175-185 degrees in pan fluid, you're good to go. 200 degrees in the pan, you need to debate an extra external cooler. Any hotter than 220 degrees, shut it off...IMHO.

Tapping the pan seems a pain, but any decent wrench can hook you up. It's a wire job from there. Dennis sells an extended pan that holds more fluid, and I believe it has the sender bunge preinstalled, as well as a drain plug. This added fluid may lower your operating temps to 130-150 degrees, but what you're watching for, is the change in temps, more than the temp itself. Some trannys will run hot, some cool, stable temps are what you're looking for.

Something to think about, just my .02c...

[Marauderer]

Well, if you want to get technical, it has always been my experience that if you want the best temps, tap in to the tranny cooler lines. In fact, the following is a tech tip from TCCoA, where some real pros on this subject post on a regular basis.



If you are thinking about hooking up a Transmission Temperature Gauge to your car you are probably wondering how and where do I hoop up the sensor. Well, there are 2 different ways of doing this:

Most AutoGauge gauges include fittings to either be installed into the pan direct, or to use a temp manifold (like a "T" fitting) that would install into the cooler lines that run to the radiator, this is better than the sump since it is the hottest fluid in the trans. And since fluid life is cut in half for every 25 degrees increase in temp about about 170, it's best to know the hottest fluid.
This aluminum block is sold separate from the gauge, and is designed to work with either 3/8" OD lines(PN 2286) or 5/16"OD lines(PN 2287). The aluminum block has a pipe thread (that's what NPT is) on each end. Into that pipe thread goes a pipe to tube fitting, that's what's in the picture. Then you attach the cooler line to the compression fitting. The sender then threads into the top of the block.

You have 5/16" cooler lines, so you'd need the 5/16" kit.

Otherwise, you will need to drop the pan, drill and weld a bung into it for the sender to thread into.