Gauge Install Q's

[tmontague]

Got the install done, took most of the weekend due to two major issues I wasn't expecting to have to deal w/.

1. The sandwich plate I bought from MI came with a messed up thread where I was putting my plug. I has 3 holes and I only needed two but the one I wanted to plug would not properly thread like the other two did.

2. Getting vacuum tubing and electrical wires through the fire wall grommet together is impossible. Save yourself the time and feed them through individually and do not even bother trying the put plastic protection tubing around the wires going through the fire wall. The tubing won't fit either.

I'll post images after this weekend. Currently the gauges work awesome and are properly installed and wrapped. I have a few small oil drips each night from the sandwich plate. One is from the plug that isn't properly threaded and the other is where the plate meets the engine block.

The plate has a wide flat type washer that fits into grooves on the plate on one side and flat against the block on the other. I have it tightened down quite a bit and I can see the o ring coming out the sides so I believe it may be a few turns too tight.

I just purchased a 1/8 NPT tap so I'll be running down the threads this weekend as they aren't in terrible shape, just a bit flat. I also bought a 1/8 NPT plug since the allen bolts that came with the kit are soft and strip extremely easy. In hindsight since a 4.5mm allen wrench was a bit loose and a 5mm wouldn't fit, I should've tried SAE sizes, maybe that was the issue.

Either way I now have one with a normal hex head that I will be able to tighten down properly .

For my constant 12v I just used a quick tap to my already wired constant 12v (for my keyless entry) and then ran an inline fuse on it.

I used mini sized add a fuses not the low profile mini size that is found in our fuse box under the dash. This is due to some people having clearance issues on other car forums and I didn't want to have to go all the way back to the store to get another size if they didn't fit. The mini size fits fine, they just pop out a little further than the low profile ones.

For the located in Southern Ontario, go to Princess auto for your aut electrical stuff, stay away from CT. Add a fuse @CT=$16.50. Add a fuse @ PA=$5.99

I'll keep this thread updated as I fix what needs to be fixed.

As a side, It's crazy how long oil takes to get up to operating temp. This morning it was about -1C and it took about 15mins to get to 170F and that was about 13mins on the highway at 120km/h. Oil also cools down a lot quicker than I thought it would.

I'm also surprised at how much the oil pressure fluctuates. On the highway it is around 80-85 psi and at isle with oil at operating temp it is down to around 16-20 psi.