Water Temp Guage

Roos85 · Apr 27, 2008

I am thinking about buying a water temp guage for my car, I know in the ls1 motors from camaros there is already a spot for it on the block its juts plugged and you have to buy a fitting from autometer to get it to work. Any way there is something like that on my car?

deftsound · Apr 27, 2008

Roos85 said:
I am thinking about buying a water temp guage for my car, I know in the ls1 motors from camaros there is already a spot for it on the block its juts plugged and you have to buy a fitting from autometer to get it to work. Any way there is something like that on my car?

Yes there is a plug on the driver side of the block, here is a pic

just make sure you drain your coolant first unless you want to get bathed in it

Roos85 · Apr 28, 2008

awesome, so all i need it the fitting from autometer?

deftsound · Apr 28, 2008

Roos85 said:
awesome, so all i need it the fitting from autometer?

yea i just used the fitting that came with the gauge

rabidscoobie · Apr 28, 2008

Yup,thats what I did too,just used the fitting supplied with the gauge.I just did this over the weekend.Only the plug in my block didnt look like that,mine was just a plug with an allen wrench head.But thats the same place,back of the block drivers side.and the same type of fitting for oil pressure too,right at where the oil filter is,I just uncapped and used the supplied fitting from the gauge,of course I ditched the nylon tubbing and went copper.

Roos85 · Apr 28, 2008

How did you wire in the electric and where did you hook it up at?

rabidscoobie · Apr 28, 2008

Roos85 said:
How did you wire in the electric and where did you hook it up at?

Me?I used mechanical gauge...or do you mean the lights?

Roos85 · Apr 28, 2008

Please dont tell me you ran a mechanical guage line into your car did you? And yes, also want to know how you hooked up the lights

deftsound · Apr 28, 2008

Roos85 said:
Please dont tell me you ran a mechanical guage line into your car did you? And yes, also want to know how you hooked up the lights

I did i have a mechanical oil and water temp gauge both running into the car

The water temp doesnt actually run hot coolant straight to the gauge it has a little thermometer on the end of the wire...the oil line comes into my car however..unless your retarded its pretty hard to screw up

Oh and the picture i posted just shows where the location is, the stock plug just has an allen socket

Mechanical gauges FTW, thats all i've ever used, electric ones are ok but if your going for precision (which is the idea behind upgrading in the first place) mechanical is the best bet

rabidscoobie · Apr 28, 2008

Roos85 said:
Please dont tell me you ran a mechanical guage line into your car did you? And yes, also want to know how you hooked up the lights

Yes I did,mechanical water temp is just a sensor to the block..there is nothing to worry about...if it breaks...it breaks,nothing to it.besides my uncle has built race and show cars since before I was born..and has allways used mechanical.If done right there shouldnt be a problem.

Now for the lights I have temporarly tapped into the fuse box for the lowbeam fuse.I ran outta time to wire inot the switch,but if I remember right I think its the blue w/white stripe on the headlight switch,but just use a volt meter to see what wire is hot when the lights are on,and dead when they are off.Splice the positive from the gauge light to that then ground the neg to the chassis.

This is what it looked like on my 01 GT:On my mach it was an allen wrench

View attachment 319687

deftsound · Apr 28, 2008

You can wire everything using the fuse box alone, i have 4 gauges and have all of them wired to various fuses on the fuse box. You can go to autozone and buy something called a 'mini add-a fuse' to wire it all up correctly

Roos85 · Apr 28, 2008

Well I guess its not a big deal with those ones but I wouldnt want to run a mechanical fuel line into a pod inside the car. I heard mechanical ones are only for mounting outside the vehicle

deftsound · Apr 28, 2008

Roos85 said:
Well I guess its not a big deal with those ones but I wouldnt want to run a mechanical fuel line into a pod inside the car. I heard mechanical ones are only for mounting outside the vehicle

yea but who has a mechanical fuel gauge? Never heard of anyone having one

Roos85 · Apr 28, 2008

Whats the difference in the hook up between mechanical and electric? How hard is the mechanical to hook up?

deftsound · Apr 28, 2008

Roos85 said:
Whats the difference in the hook up between mechanical and electric? How hard is the mechanical to hook up?

depends on what type of gauge

the water temp is just a temp sender unit that plugs into that hole in the block, i believe the electrical ones just tap into the stock sending unit but im really not sure

oil pressure you have to make a T connector by the oil filter

vacuum is extremely easy

Bottom line is Mechanical gauges are more accurate but more of a pain to install

Roos85 · Apr 28, 2008

Making a t connecter by the oil filter is pretty easy?

rabidscoobie · Apr 28, 2008

Roos85 said:
Making a t connecter by the oil filter is pretty easy?

Yeah very easy,actually my Mach already had a free spot for the hook up.Right next to the oil filter is the electric sending unit.Now on my GT I had to buy an additional "T" fitting from lowes or Home depot and remove the sending unit put in the "t" with a couple adapters(also from Lowes or Home Depot)put the original sending unit in 1 branch of t and the oil pressure line in the other.Just make sure anywhere the line goes into has a compression sleeve under the fitting,and use a sealant,I used red high temp rtv silicon-sensor safe on all threaded connections,they say you can use teflon tape but I prefer the silicon.Most gauges come with nylon tubing but I dont feel all that safe useing that on the oil gauge,I bought the copper tubing.You can get that at most auto parts stores iin the same area they sell the gauges.

The water temp gauge doesnt have any fluids running through it,the tubing is already connected to the gauge...DO NOT REMOVE THE TUBING FROM THE GAUGE,it is usually gas filled with a sensor probe on the other end that goes into the blocks drain plug as in the above pics.And no mechanical gauges are not external use only.Think of the old muscle cars...60's,70's and earlier,they all used mechanical gauges,I think...lol.My uncle has a 66 chevelle that runs mid 9's...he will only use mechanical gauges.All I have ever run in any car that I put gauges in...all mechanicals.

Roos85 · Apr 29, 2008

sounds good... thanks for all the info. what series gauges do you have?

rabidscoobie · Apr 29, 2008

Well the ones I have now are ok gauges,I got 3 gauges and the dash bezel pod from a buddy the other day for $25 for all,pretty much brand new.He decieded to go the pillar pod...he can never make up his mind.They are called Iequus,you can buy them from Orielly's Auto...dunno if you have those there.They arnt bad looking gauges really,white face w/silver ring around them.They dont look like the cheap looking Sunnpro stuff.They take normal dash light bulbs so you can change the lighting color easily.They look similar to Ford racing gauges without the Ford logo.Havnt decieded if Im gonna keep my stock gauge overlay or change it,whenever I decide Then Ill go for the AutoMeter gauges,depends on my overlay as to wether ill get white face or black.But either way its gonna be awhile before I buy more gauges,think id rather have the pillar pod.

Roos85 · Apr 29, 2008

I got you, I think I am going to go with Autometer NV series gauges.

Water Temp Guage

Roos85

New Member

deftsound

Please ask me how much my supercharger cost

Roos85

New Member

deftsound

Please ask me how much my supercharger cost

rabidscoobie

Roos85

New Member

rabidscoobie

Roos85

New Member

deftsound

Please ask me how much my supercharger cost

rabidscoobie

deftsound

Please ask me how much my supercharger cost

Roos85

New Member

deftsound

Please ask me how much my supercharger cost

Roos85

New Member

deftsound

Please ask me how much my supercharger cost

Roos85

New Member

rabidscoobie

Roos85

New Member

rabidscoobie

Roos85

New Member

Similar threads

Water Temp Guage

New Member

Please ask me how much my supercharger cost

New Member

Please ask me how much my supercharger cost

New Member

New Member

Please ask me how much my supercharger cost

Please ask me how much my supercharger cost

New Member

Please ask me how much my supercharger cost

New Member

Please ask me how much my supercharger cost

New Member

New Member

New Member

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency