HOW TO: oil guage install

engine1 · Post by **engine1** » Mon Feb 16, 2004 10:02 am

1. Before doing this go and buy a 1/8 B.S.P.P to 1/8 NPT adaptar. DO NOT ATTEMPT WITHOUT!2. Open up the dash 3. Then run up the tubing thru small hole (1/4) drilled up and to the right of the proportioning valve on the fire wall. 4. Drill 7/16 hole in air duct and feed thru copper tube and wiring. I tapped the lighter fuse for power and ground just to the left of the cd player! 5. Remove oil pressure sending unit from boss above filter! 6. Use the 1/8 BSPP to 1/8 NPT adaptar here. Put it in first followed by a 1/8 NPT Tee. Then reinstall oil pressure sender on the top branch and insert a 1/8 compression fitting on the open end! Put compression nut and ferrul on line and connect! The following photo shows the set up described above. Now it can be acheived using different fittings but you must have the first one to even begin this project. It is British Standard Parralell Pipe thread, it is very close to 1/8 NPT (1/8 x 27) but has a slightly finer thread pitch @ 1/8 x 28. You will probably have to order it from an industrial parts retailer or you may get lucky and yyour normal automtive guy may be able to source it out for you! The 1/8 B.S.P.Tapered will also work and is an exact match to the OE senders threads, the thread is a tapered style on them but either fitting will work to do this mod. 7. Place rag over end sticking out of the dash and start the car, let run for ten seconds or so, then the tube will be filled with oil. Now connect up to the back of the guage, insert light, re connect all plugs, I cut a peice of plastic and siliconed it in place to block the air duct but it's probably not necesarry but oh well, put dash back together, check for leaks and enjoy your new guage!

cohocarl · Post by **cohocarl** » Mon Feb 16, 2004 10:29 am

Thank you for the "How to"!!! The gauge in there looks even better than I thought it would. Great job. Definately like the full sweep mechanical gauges over a short sweep electrical.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Mon Feb 16, 2004 12:35 pm

very shagadelic baby!

GT_03 · Post by **GT_03** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 10:47 am

What size guage is that????

engine1 · Post by **engine1** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 10:53 am

It's a 2 5/8 Autometer p/n 4421. No dremel needed, it fit very snugly into the vent hole!

Geo · Post by **Geo** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 2:00 pm

Now if only it had a black face and red neon ...Awesome

Vibe · Post by **Vibe** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 2:11 pm

That looks absoutly "FIRST CLASS". James (Vibe)

JohnC · Post by **JohnC** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 11:05 pm

Just curious about the oil pressure...what does it read after the engine is at normal operating temperature (idle and 3k rpm)?BTW nice install and how-to. Thanks!

engine1 · Post by **engine1** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 1:09 am

Quote, originally posted by Geo »Now if only it had a black face and red neon ...Awesome

That would be p/n 3421, no neon but it has a red back-lit face!Quote, originally posted by JohnC »Just curious about the oil pressure...what does it read after the engine is at normal operating temperature (idle and 3k rpm)?BTW nice install and how-to. Thanks! At cold idle the motor makes about 75-80 psi. After reaching operating temp it drops to about 18 psi. Driving around town(60km/40mph) it's around 40psi, at highway speed and when bootin' it is impossible to get it over 60psi. This is on a base vibe so the readings maybe different on the GT!

Mavrik · Post by **Mavrik** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 1:29 am

Looks pretty sweet and handy to have an oil pressure guage, question though where do you get your air from? I know there are other vents but nothing in the middle like that.

ArcsVibe · Post by **ArcsVibe** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 1:30 am

Nice job bro

engine1 · Post by **engine1** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 1:53 am

Don't need that vent, blocked it off now the others blow a little stonger now!

Mavrik · Post by **Mavrik** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 12:20 pm

Quote, originally posted by engine1 » Don't need that vent, blocked it off now the others blow a little stonger now!Well that works then for sure.

Stang2Vibe · Post by **Stang2Vibe** » Sun Feb 22, 2004 3:54 pm

Engine---that looks sooooo cool! Great job!

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Sun Feb 22, 2004 5:43 pm

Dumb question... How will one of those guages help in everyday use? I'll be honest, i'd love to have a system to monitor every part of the car...but i'm curious as to how it'll help out?Granted, I mostly fiddle with the electronics, so I have an extra voltage meter and such.. But..i'd appreciate if anyone could explain what benefits the oil pressure guage would give me!

engine1 · Post by **engine1** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 11:29 am

It's what I get for owning Fords all my life, just waiting for the oil pump to calf on me! I always had a pressure guage on my previous vehicles I kind of felt left out of the loop. Plus did you see how cool it looks!!

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 11:47 am

Aaah...so it gives you peace of mind to know how your oil pump is performing? Makes sense to me..Though yes, it's very cool! I don't think I have a need for an oil pressure guage, but you have me thinking of what else I could put in that space!

engine1 · Post by **engine1** » Mon Feb 23, 2004 11:57 am

Seriously, the oil is the blood, if the heart stops working, or if there is a leak in the system the motor will suffer irreversible damage. I want to know before the dummy light goes off.

OutLaW · Post by **OutLaW** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 10:30 am

That's so funny engine, about the Ford thing. I own a F150 4x4 and I look at the oil pressure more than the speedometer. I been that way my whole life. Oil pressure is the most impotant thing there is on that dash. If not watched, it can be the most expensive also. btw, Good job on the install. Cool idea.

nismo · Post by **nismo** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 11:23 am

hey Engine. Got a question. Did you put something behind the gauge so hot/cold air doesn't hit it? Just wonderin. But nice install though.Inder Singh

engine1 · Post by **engine1** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 1:09 pm

Yeah I cut a disc from an antifreeze bottle to fit and siliconed it in. It blocks the vent and by using silicone I can easily remove it if needed.

mwebb · Post by **mwebb** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 5:30 am

That looks great in there- And I know what ya mean about oil pressure in Fords- my oil pump went out on my Mountaineer

faygolovinjuggalo · Post by **faygolovinjuggalo** » Fri Mar 19, 2004 6:27 am

i like it... thats pretty slick... i dont need the oil gauge, but hum..... any gauge woulld look cool.... thanks for the idea

drummerdude · Post by **drummerdude** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 1:48 am

When i get my turbo i'll be sure and have a Boost Guage put in there!! very sweet good job dude!

Fialchar · Post by **Fialchar** » Sat May 29, 2004 1:15 pm

About the oil being vital, I second this notion wholeheartadly. By the time my oil light came on my engine was already trashed, I had to buy another engine and completely change it out due to the oil. And a stock engine for the base automatic isn't cheap eaither... $7,000+ from the dealership, although I got one with 5k miles on it from a salvage yard out of a Corolla for $700 or so. Oil (And all other fluids, really) are the lifeblood of your car, if you change them out and moniter their levels/colors, your car can last a l-o-t longer. And for all GT owners, it's your oil pump that enables your lift, so I'd imagine you'd want to moniter it even closer than all of us base vibers

HOW TO: oil guage install

HOW TO: oil guage install

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