Mechanical Auto Meter Gauges.

[TheWizard]

Hey gang.. I'm wanting to install a water temperature and oil pressure mechanical gauges in my 86 GT.
Whats the best way to route the lines through the firewall? Other than ripping the steering shaft rubber seal.

Ive searched, but very little to no info as far as install.

[teddy1500]

Drill a 3/4 hole, using a hole saw. look where the firewall meets the trans tunnel for a clear area to drill. be sure to use a grommit to keep leaks to a min.

[TheWizard]

Yes, it looks like that's the way to go, just finished reading the AutoMeter's website and they also say to drill.
Maybe someone can chime in with some pics.. That'll be sweet.
Thanks Teddy.

[sowaxeman]

I just removed a mechanical oil guage from a '88 Saleen Mustang. The line went through an existing hold/grommet up near the driver side hood hinge. I am going with a new electrical gauge....I can't stand the thought of hot, pressurized oil running through a cheap piece of plastic tubing and risking an oil mess on the minty interior.

Not sure if the hole is a factory hole if it was drilled out for the lines. The fuel signal and boost line went through there as well.

It's a 2-5/8" Phantom Mechanical AutoMeter guage and works just fine if you want a used one. Has all the fittings, just need new tubing. Feel free to email me if interested and want pics sowaxeman AT jdsaleen DOT com.

[TheWizard]

That's the grommet I've been eyeballing, it just seems super tight for lines and fittings to go thru without damaging something.
I think I just need to find the sweet-spot as to where make a new hole, a step drill might work here.

As far as the lines, the oil pressure is a braided so it should be fine. And the water temp line it's married to the gauge so there's no way around that lol.
I'm also thinking to place them where the info center is, I'm sure it's gonna look good once it's all said and done.

I can't wait to have a reliable temperature gauge!!

thanks Jason.

[TheWizard]

I'm still working on this...not a whole lot of free time tho, but I've made some progress. I did manage to make a housing for the info center location, and mock it up with an extra center console from the parts bin.

let me know what you all think..





Testing the oil pressure for leaks..

[DARKPHREAK]

Nice clean install!

[TheWizard]

Nice clean install!

Thanks!..

[85TwisterII]

I've been eying a setup like this on LMR. It's the perfect place to drop in a few gauges. The downside is I lose my info center, which still works...I don't know if I can part with it lol.

[TheWizard]

I hear ya on the info center, mine works fine too and I use it a lot as well, when timing warm-ups etc. The clock is nice and bright which is a plus when you're getting old like me. Lol

That's why I've decided to place them under the glove box for now. Also noticed that when sitting on the driver seat, the steering wheel blocks the view to the gauges down at the info center. While over to the right is a quick corner of the eye glimpse.

[TheWizard]

Here's a pic as I'm starting to wire up the gauges on the passenger side.

[85TwisterII]

Next time I'm sitting in the car I will have to take a look down over at the glove box...not a bad spot.

[TheWizard]

Next time I'm sitting in the car I will have to take a look down over at the glove box...not a bad spot.

I like it there for now, its not a clean of an install as the center would, but its decent. And the footwell is plenty wide for passenger to ride comfortably.

[TheWizard]

I need help wiring up the lights to the gauges please..

Did a lot of searching and it seems that the wire to use would be the >>light blue with a pink or brown stripe<< But read some conflicting posts that mention not to connect anything to this particular color wire.

I just probed it with a test light and it seems to me that this is a good source of power for the gauges, it even dims.
But I want to make sure I don't fry anything. This is where I need your help guys..all wiring gurus please chime in!



Is that it there? on the far right of the picture.

[shadowracing]

The blue and pink stripe wire is where I hook my gauge lights to with no problems been like that for years and it makes it nice to dim the lights to

[TheWizard]

The blue and pink stripe wire is where I hook my gauge lights to with no problems been like that for years and it makes it nice to dim the lights to

thanks for the reply...and welcome to FEP!

[TheWizard]

Got the lights going finally... there's still some tweaking left to do.
Thanks.

[TheWizard]

Well.. my OCD along with a bad case of anal retentiveness would not allow me to leave things well enough alone, so I moved the gauges to where I originally intended to put them in the first place. Down at the Info Center location.

I was not thrilled by the idea of removing the original part, but it can always be put back on later if need be, plus I was tired of the inaccuracy.. the water temperature specially. One thing's for sure, the stock gauges are a joke compare to the Auto Meters.

[TheWizard]

One more..

[sowaxeman]

They look right at home there....much better than the hanging bracket off by the passenger foot well. Nice work!

[mustang22]

Nice clean look.

[TheWizard]

They look right at home there....much better than the hanging bracket off by the passenger foot well. Nice work!

Thanks Jason, yeah the bracket just didn't look right..I also changed the silver socket cap screws to black ones, a bit more subtle.
The project is not finish yet, since I still need to tap on the t-housing to run the stock sender, but I'm on it.

[TheWizard]

Nice clean look.

Thank you.

[sowaxeman]

I completed my mechanical to electrical swap on the oil gauge a couple weeks ago myself. New gauge works great and is reading the same PSI as the previous mechanical gauge. I know they say mechanical is more reliable than electrical, but after finding a leaking fitting with oil on the carpet, I couldn't stand the thought of a possible line breakage while driving!

[TheWizard]

I hear ya on the leak fear, my set up came with a braided hose but I soon found out it was too short, so
I ended up using a nylon one, but I'm hopeful that being a new line, fittings, insulated and routed away
from heat, that it'll be ok.
It's only temporary, eventually that will be replaced with a braided line. Those suckers aren't cheap!