how hard is it to install gauges?

hello guys!

i just bought 3 gauges:
water temperature, oil pressure and volt.
how complicated is it to install them? how do i proceed?
by which hole do i pass the cable and senders?
do I need to create a new one or can I use an existing one?

thanks for your answers

 

did they come with any instructions? I'm asking because that might be a good way to start. I found this link on the autometer site: http://www.autometer.com/download_instruction/247e.pdf

You can get started off that and then if you hit a bump in the installation ask again. I have bought my gauges and haven't started on them yet. So I'm curious to see how it goes. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

 

yeah, came with instructions and stuff.
i'm not really concerned about how to fix them or plug them
it's more: were do you pass the senders and wires thru?
I mean to go from the engine bay to the inside of the car.

I'll tell you how it goes once i get started...
but it won't be before few weeks

 

Should have bought he electric style gauges, then it's just wires that have to be passed through the firewall. The little black rubber things that hold the firewall insulating material to the fire wall are the easiest way to get wires out there without drilling new holes, just nip the end of one (about 1/8") and they are hollow, and act as a grommet, or remove one, and use that hole.
Plus, it's no fun when one of those plastic oil pressure lines, lets go inside your car.

 

What a shame.
I should have ask before.
that was $30 well spent.

 

I ran my tach through a plastic plug that was in my firewall.

 

Agreed, thats why I run copper line.

*your mechanical gauges will be fine.
Just buy copper line for you oil gauge (any parts store should have it)

 

You most likely can find an existing hole that already has some wires in it. Should be some room in some of them.

 

oil presure guage

Autometer sells a steel braided pressure guage line, just put one on my car. Looks good too. But not cheap...most speed shops will have it.

 

ok...
so just to be sure where i'm going:

here is my water temp sender, right?



and here is my oil pressure sender, right?



and I should be able to pass everybody through this guy, right?



thanks guys!

 

I don't think I would pass it thru there. That is the main wiring harness for your car.

Look for some rubber plugs oer by your heater hoses where they go thru your firewall. If your car had factory AC...it will have the plugs.

 

ok. I'll take a look on the other side of the bay when I get home.
at least I'm right about the sensors, it's already a good step!

 

did it yesterday...
it took me about 5 hours (don't laugh ... it's my first time )
really easy to do. (I did it, so it has to be the most simple thing to do on a car )
at the end I just drilled a hole through the firewall and put a big fuel line to pass every thing through it.
plugged everything as explained on the instruction.
everything works great!
happy to discover that I don't overheat even after sitting on idle in the garage for 20 minutes

next project on my day off: having a nice and pretty trunk

 

awesome man! 5 hours well spent. Post some pics if you have any.

 

here you go








just be prepared for the oil sensor.
it needs a special socket (that i didn't have, of course) to be removed.
just went to my auto part store next door and bought it.

I put teflon tape on every adapter and i don't have any leak for now.
also, i used a coper line for the oil pressure (as recommended by others on this board, thanks guys! )