aftermarket gauge installation HELP!
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
aftermarket gauge installation HELP!
ok, here's what i've got. 04 4x4 HERITAGE with a 4.6 in it.
i have purchased a mechanical triple gauge set.
got the oil pressure and voltage hooked up.
how on earth do i install a water temp gauge on this thing?!?!
i can't figure out where to put the sensor! i figured there'd be a plugged hole on the intake somewhere, but the only one i find has the STOCK temp sensor in it. i figured i could "T" off of that one, but i cannot find a T that is deep enough to hold the 1 1/4 inch long sensors.
someone HELP!
daniel
i have purchased a mechanical triple gauge set.
got the oil pressure and voltage hooked up.
how on earth do i install a water temp gauge on this thing?!?!
i can't figure out where to put the sensor! i figured there'd be a plugged hole on the intake somewhere, but the only one i find has the STOCK temp sensor in it. i figured i could "T" off of that one, but i cannot find a T that is deep enough to hold the 1 1/4 inch long sensors.
someone HELP!
daniel
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Alabama
Use the T and a short nipple with a union on the end. It might look ugly, but it'll work. Sorry I haven't worked on the 04's yet, so I don't know if they have a plug on the heads you can install it into.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
Daniel,
Glad to hear that the the other two went well!
The temp guage could be installed in the heater line. Either one will work, (in the old days there was a valve in the heater core line, so coolant didn't always flow if the heater was off. But the vehicles now days the coolant always is flowing in the lines [no valves]. But for true engine temp it would be best to have it in the heater supply line, not the return line, of coarse the supply line would be the hottest of the two when the engine was running.) It will make it easier to tell which of the two is the supply if you turn your heater on as high as possible and the highest fan speed to open that gap between the input/output lines temps. If you can tell the difference by feel, tape a meat thermometer to them, I would think you should see atleast a 20* difference.
Cut the rubber line into where you want to install the sensor, install a tee fitting of the correct size for the hoses with hose barb fittings and clamps, on the side output of the tee install a short pipe nipple and coupling the correct length for the temp probe to just touch the water flow and not restrict it in the heater core line. Use brass fittings from an auto parts strore to prevent rusting on the outside of the fittings and to keep it looking nice.
This should work just fine!
Good luck!
Have any problems, just ring us back.
Gene
I see my post came in after JamJam's, so here's an edit: Just using the stock location with both the stock sender and your probe would work, but I would be a little concerned about the air that would be trapped up in fittings and not giving you a true correct reading. Just my $.02 worth.
Glad to hear that the the other two went well!
The temp guage could be installed in the heater line. Either one will work, (in the old days there was a valve in the heater core line, so coolant didn't always flow if the heater was off. But the vehicles now days the coolant always is flowing in the lines [no valves]. But for true engine temp it would be best to have it in the heater supply line, not the return line, of coarse the supply line would be the hottest of the two when the engine was running.) It will make it easier to tell which of the two is the supply if you turn your heater on as high as possible and the highest fan speed to open that gap between the input/output lines temps. If you can tell the difference by feel, tape a meat thermometer to them, I would think you should see atleast a 20* difference.
Cut the rubber line into where you want to install the sensor, install a tee fitting of the correct size for the hoses with hose barb fittings and clamps, on the side output of the tee install a short pipe nipple and coupling the correct length for the temp probe to just touch the water flow and not restrict it in the heater core line. Use brass fittings from an auto parts strore to prevent rusting on the outside of the fittings and to keep it looking nice.
This should work just fine!
Good luck!
Have any problems, just ring us back.
Gene
I see my post came in after JamJam's, so here's an edit: Just using the stock location with both the stock sender and your probe would work, but I would be a little concerned about the air that would be trapped up in fittings and not giving you a true correct reading. Just my $.02 worth.
Last edited by triumphman; Dec 11, 2004 at 12:07 PM.