Gauge install questions

[Dawg]

As per my "got Gauges" article, I am rounding up my incidentals. My AutoMeter Boost Gauge did not come with a "T" fitting to splice into the rubber pressure line. Where can I find one? Is it brass or plastic? It looks like it has to be threaded on one end to that I can use the ferrule and nut to attach the tubing from the gauge.

I'm a little nervous about doing this project by myself. You may see this thread back to the top a few times whie I work thru this! Anyone in my area with experience in drilling and tapping the manifold???

Thank you

[GMC-2002-Dmax]

Dawg,

Look in my pics under gauges. I used brass with barb connectors and a reducer.

It works great.

GMC :D

[Dawg]

GMC-2002-Dmax, Great pictures but I am floundering! What exactly have you done? Is that a brass "T" that you can pick up at any hardware store? What size is it? How about the barbed ends. Looks like they screw into the "T". How did you attach the the tubing from the gauge? I don't know why this seems to have thrown me for a loop!!

Thank you

[GMC-2002-Dmax]

Dawg,

Purchase the following:

1 - 1/2" NPT "T" 90 - brass
2 - 1/2" male threaded adapters brass ( barbed ends )these are similar to air line ends.
1 - 1/2" to 1/4" brass adapter - it's actually a reducer ( for boost gauge line ).

A little teflon tape and hose clamps if you think you need them. The barbed connectors with the way they hold is probably not necessary.

Get some 3/8" split wire loom to make it all look good.

GMC
;)

[ 03-13-2003: Message edited by: GMC-2002-Dmax ]</p>

[Dawg]

GMC-2002-Dmax, Thanks again. It all makes sense now that I can actually concentrate on the project and not the other 6 things I was trying to do at the same time!

[TBC]

GMC-2002-Dmax

Where did you get the pillar? Did you have to paint it or did it come as the matching color?

Did you have to drill the manifold or is there another way to get the temp? I thought I saw one that clamped on but I am not sure how good it would work. Thanks for your help.

Tom

[Idle_Chatter]

It's not as bad as it sounds, Dawg. There's a lot of experience and information available if you search "gauges" in the 6600 section. This one contains my learning experience and some great followup info by Hoot:

http://forum.thedieselpage.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=3&t=004638&p=

[GMC-2002-Dmax]

TBC,

All the parts are AUTOMETER, gauges and pod.

Bought locally from a speed shop, fair price, got to look at first. Paint again bought locally and all was self installed by me in under 4 hours.

If I had to do it again I would buy the AUTOMETER Lunar series. MACKIN and I helped "BILL" a.k.a. the chevyhdman put his together one COLD Saturday and they look sweet at night!!!

Anyway my pyro was set up for drill and tap or band clamp install as I think ALL Autometer's are. I went with the band clamp out of ease of install and I tow nothing so high EGT's are not a concern towing. I have compared EGT's and they are within 50-100 degrees of a manifold installs, however gauge reaction is slower.

The install is easy if you are comfortable with electrical and mechanical things, if not a local shop can probably help you out and anyone here will as well.

Some places sell them all set up.

GMC :D .

If you need help ask.


;)

[Dawg]

Okay, pod is painted, grommets are in firewall where I am going to pass the wires/tubing through. Things are looking good. Just got to get the nerve to drill the manifold!! Any last minute tips?? What drill size should I start with? How many progessively larger holes should I drill? What is the final size for the AutoMeter gauges? I understand I will use a NPT to tap the manifold. I should not run the tap too far in to ensure the tapper is not too large for the pyro.

Thanks

[Dawg]

I'm needing a little help! The instructions for my AutoMeter gausges shows the fitting for the manifold is a 1/8" NPT. I'm assuming that is the thread size, beacuse the fitting appears to be about 7/16". So how do I know what size of hole to drill in the manifold? Is there a correct way to measure the fitting so I drill the correct hole size?

Thanks

[a64pilot]

Dawg,
The easiest way is to go to a local hardware store and buy a 1/8 NPT tap that comes with the correct size drill bit. If you already have a tap the correct size drill bit usually is written on the tap.
MAKE SURE THE TAP IS NPT. NPT stands for national pipe thread and is designed for an interference fit, no other 1/8 tap will work.

[hoot]

Here are the correct tap drill sizes for various size NPT threads....

1/8-27.... "R" (.339") drill
1/4-18.... 7/16" (.4375")
3/8-18.... 37/64" (.578")
1/2-14.... 23/32" (.718")

If it surprises you that the tap drill diameter is larger than the actual designated tap size it's because the fitting size is the actual hole in the fitting diameter. Obviously the outside of the fitting has to be larger than the hole going through it.

In the plumbing world, pipe size is inside diameter. They do it that way so they can calculate flow rates/capacity using the real pipe size callout knowing it's the true inside diameter.

[ 03-19-2003: Message edited by: hoot ]</p>

[Dawg]

Installed the gauges today. Drilled the manifold also. No problems. All went very well. I want to thank everyone for the help. I saved myself a lot of money doing the project myself. If anyone is nervous about doing their own install, don't be! It is a piece of cake. Just follow the Got Gauges article.

This site is great! Thanks again.

[GMC-2002-Dmax]

Hey Dawg,

PICS????? Let's see the finished project :D

GMC ;)

[Dawg]

I'm behind the tech times. I'll see if I can get ahold of of a digital camera and figure out how to post some pictures. This will be much more of a challenge than installing the gauges!!

Thanks again to everyone. It made the job very easy! ;)