Quick question for all the guru's on this site. I have a 2001 F150 Supercab with a automatic tranny ( 4.6l motor) with the tow package.

I would like to buy/add a Temp gauge for the tranny

I was wondering if I have to tap/splice a temp sensor into the output line of the tranny, or if it is possible to install directly to the tranny? I read on another thread that there is a "plug" that I could remove/replace with the sending unit? I am not sure what tranny I have, and if it offers a plug that I could directly connect a sending unit?

Is the B&M tranny temp gauge good? are there others I should consider for performance wise?.

I am planning on hauling a car trailer for about 4 hours each way next month, and would like to get this setup beforehand, just to be on the safe side.

Thank you all very much in advance

(where is everyone mounting gauges in the truck anyway, is there a good spot without getting a a-piller gauge pod? (not a fan of the loss of vision there, had them on my cobra and didn't like it at night)

 

Has anybody installed a tranny temp gauge?

 

I have in the last 2 weeks.
Installed a 'manifold' in the outlet line to the radiator and use an electric gage.
This location has the most accurate fluid temp after is has passed through all operations of the transmission instead of one area, or the pan after cooling that tells you nothing of the actual operating temps.
I don't reccomend the Pan location or the pressure port location but if you don't use the outlet line then the pressure port is next best.

 

You have the 4R70W. All of the top gauge manufacturers are similar. Yes, you can install it directly into the test port, although I agree with Bluegrass' recommendation. If you don't like the pillar pod, there is a steering column pod. Some have also cut a hole and mounted it in the dash, right of the steering column. Photos of both applications can be searched in the archives.

 

I just installed the B&M temp guage inline into the upper line into the radiator a couple of weeks ago. Seems to work good. I had to add a couple of washers on the sending unit stud where the wire connects. It was grounding out and they don't give you any other washers to fix the problem. I am in 60F air temp and normal city driving w/o trailer shows about 110F temp. Haven't pulled the trailer with it yet.

 

I have the Autometer big 2-5/8" temp and oil pressure white faced Phantom electric gauges.
The Autometer heavy gauge panel is mounted to the lower dash rail, over the hump, with modified electrical clamps equipped with allen head 1/4-20 bolts and a shim to take up space between the dash trim face panel and the metal rail. The panel ends up at an angle upward and a nice viewing angle for the distance.
The gauges are white faced, very bright with lighting, just the right angle upward to see them with out more than glancing downward and a bit to the right.
I rotated the gauges clockwise to about the 2 o'clock position so they can be seen even better.
Also mounted on the bottom of the panel is a Prodigy brake controller at just the right angle upward to make the small angled display panel about level and meet the angle requirements for it's mounting..
Wiring: the panel can be prewired for all leads with connectors. Run single leads from the senders and power the panel from an ignition source and a dash power source.
These power sources are right in the inside fuse panel by selecting the correct two fuse positions and making up two add-a-taps, by converting them to plug into the small ATC fuse holders.
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Doing the oil pressure sender mounting is a story unto it'self if you need to know how I done it.