Aftermarket gauge install help. Have Q?s

[astronut1885]

Hey guys. UPS just dropped off a nice big box full of Speedhut goodies I bought off of a fellow Stangnet-er. I got electric oil pressure, autometer phantom a/f ratio (I know, useless w/o wideband, but it was included), and water temp gauges, a mechanical boost gauge (blower soon), a 5" tach, a cluster face kit, HVAC panel kit, and some billet along with pods. What I don't see in the box is a sender for either the oil pressure or temp gauges. Do the gauges tap into the factory wiring in these cars? I had all mechanical gauges in my 87. I know I need a tach adapter for the tach, and I'm going to grab a UPR mount for a clean installation, but I'm not sure what I need to track down for the other two gauges. I'm pretty sure the a/f gauge just wires into the 02 sensors. It's also got all kinds of controllers for the different colors the gauges can do ( I just want blue.). If it's going to be any more of a ****** to install these than it was on my 87, I might just send it to the shop. Anyway, what's the deal with the temp and pressure gauge senders?
Thanks.

 

[astronut1885]

Oh, on a cool side note, the gauges are white face with red flames, and the tach has a grim reaper (small one) on it that is eerily similar to my signature pic. I thought that was kinda fitting.

 

[HISSIN50]

You're correct. You need the sending units for the elec OP and elec water temp gauge.

The OP sender is a little pricey IIRC, so I might get ahold of the seller if it was supposed to be included. The temp sender is not that expensive.

Knowing the build date of the gauge (it's normally got a sticker on it) helps when it comes time to order. AM's customer service is also very helpful if assistance with sender selection is needed.

Good luck with the install. Sounds like fun.

 

[astronut1885]

Well, the guy who sold 'em to me said he never had senders, that he had it tapped into the stock system. Now, (A) doesn't that defeat the purpose of aftermarket gauges? and (B) is that even possible? I know the stock cluster in my 87 was horribly off, but is the electronic equipment in the 04 reliable enough to trust and then run aftermarket gauges off of?

 

[astronut1885]

Hissin, where are you located? I have a T5, bell housing, FRPP clutch and factory replacement flywheel from my 87 in the shed, and I want it gone.

 

[HISSIN50]

Well, the guy who sold 'em to me said he never had senders, that he had it tapped into the stock system. Now, (A) doesn't that defeat the purpose of aftermarket gauges? and (B) is that even possible? I know the stock cluster in my 87 was horribly off, but is the electronic equipment in the 04 reliable enough to trust and then run aftermarket gauges off of?

You're right again. The stock senders are not calibrated worth a poop and even if they were, the stock and AM gauge senders would need to relate the exact same output per measurement/reading, and that's generally not the case.

I'm not sure how the newer SN95's are but I seem to recall that your gauges are pretty useless. They like to use a 'sender' that puts the OP gauge needle in the middle (normal) range above 6 PSI, and below normal when below 6 PSI. Otherwise the movement of the needle is random.

Unfortunately you'll have to get some senders.

And PM sent.

 

[astronut1885]

Pm replied to.

I figured I'd need senders. I doubt the factory equipment in my 04 is as bad as my old 87 was, but it's still not aftermarket. It would make little sense to try and tap it into that. I think I have an electric temp sensor hanging around from an old oil temp gauge, so it should work. These aren't AM gauges BTW (except for the a/f), these are all Speedhut Revolution. Looks like I'll need a OP sender, and I like that there's a second access point for it on the block, so the factory cluster will remain operational. Is there a second bung on the intake for a temp gauge, or do I yank the factory one and replace? I know when my blower install is done, it has two bungs on the coolant runner, which again is nice for keeping the factory cluster functional (looks better than all the needles dead except the speedo), but how about on the stocker?

 

[oxfordgt]

You should have had senders. All autometer gauges come with them. The O2 light show gets tapped into the computer harnes not the sensor. The tach should not be installed!

 

[astronut1885]

Why not a tach with an AM tach driver? Nothing wrong with that IMO. The guy probably just spaced on the senders. Also, these are NOT AM gauges, they are Speedhut. I'm not so worried about the light show, and I'll let the shop wire that one up.

 

[H0SS302]

why dont u just get a raptor shift light of ebay.. they wire into the pcm and can be set out of the way and are pretty much invisible if ur not looking for it.. ill never understand why ppl need 2 tachs in 1 car

 

[02nightmaregt]

Yea whats the problem with the tach? Its way better that trying to watch the garbage stock tach. And don't even say it looks ricer. Those r-tards stole that from us muscle car guys.

 

[astronut1885]

First off, I like having an aftermarket tach that can keep a better eye on things than the stocker. It also has an integrated shift light in it. In my 87, the stocker was at minimum 700 RPM off at all times.

 

[02nightmaregt]

Exactly my point. Ours are still new and my not be that much off but a better aftermarket one is definately more accurate. Plus is soooooo mush easier to see while getting some.