Hey gang, I just finished up installing my oil pressure gauge on a dual pod pillar. The water temp gauge will have to wait on an adapter that I ordered yesterday Here are some steps I took to make the install as clean and hidden as possible with regard to wiring.

Since I'm using electric gauges, all I had to run from the back of the gauges to their respective sending units were wires. Here you can see 2 black (ground) and 2 white (sensor) wires going through the firewall on the driver's side:

 

If you remove the left front wheel and plastic inner lining, you can see where the wires come through:

 

And here's how it look after I wrapped the wires in some of that ribbed-for-her-pleasure stuff that's under the hood any way. Even though this is never seen once the inner covering is put back on, my goal for the install of these gauges was to be as neat and clean as possible.

 

And I also put some on the inside:

 

And here's where the wires come through into the engine bay. From this location you can run them however you please to where ever they need to go:

 

For the power connection, I ran 2 red wires behind the console and followed Ford's wires to the fuse box in the passenger side kick panel. I tied them into the fuse for the OD shut off, per someone who used that fuse for their rear-view mirror with a compass. I also used some larger diameter ribbed stuff to cover the wires - Ford left them wrapped in electrical tape only.

 

Back on the driver's side again, pop open the side panel on the dash using a flat blade screw driver and gentle pressure, and fish your wires through:

 

Next, and this is tricky, fish one or two of the wires up through an existing hole at the base of the pillar where it meets the dash. Then use one of them as a pull wire to pull you others through. Be patient and don't get in a rush or get frustrated. It's time consuming but it does work and 6 wires will fit with no problem.

 

Pop on your new pillar pod, fish your wires through the gauge holes, crimp on your connectors, and secure them to the back of your gauges.

 

Pop the gauges into the holes on the pod, and believe me when I say they fit tight, I mean they fit TIGHT!!

 

And if you're interested, here's where the sensor for the oil pressure went. I cut the wire from the factory sensor and grounded it to keep the factory "gauge" happy. I drove my 96GT for 3 years like this before I sold it and had no problems, so don't worry about it [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]

2/4/06 edit: This location for the oil pressure sending unit did not work properly. To get the thing to fit, I cut about 1/8" off of the threaded end, where you connect the wire. Well this also eliminated any contact the wire inside the post had with the outside of the threaded rod (it's hollow). So I attempted to solder the wire to the threaded rod without success.

 

I'll add that during this entire project, I drilled not one single hole in the car for the routing of anything. Take your time, think about routing your wires both under the hood and the dash, tie everything up using tie-wraps and use a crimp tool for your connectors and you'll be fine. I fired up the car and OP gauge went to 80PSI (which it should) and by the time it reached operating temp, it dropped to about 25PSI, but I only took it out for about 15min. Modular engines usually run about 20PSI at idle once they're fully warmed up. I blip the throttle and the gauge responds accordingly, like it should

 

Nice write up. I like those gauges too. It looks like the a-pillar has some kind of "bump" above the water temp gauge. What is that?

 

Taking another look, it looks like the oil pressure gauge is blocking the window defroster.

 

well he lives in Tampa :bang:

 

well he lives in Tampa :bang:
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And man don't I love it

 

MTAS
Great write up man. Did all the fittings come with the guages? If not, what sizes fittings will others need?
thanks again for the great write up and install pics
Mike

 

Hey bud, where in Tampa do you live? I have a townhouse in Carrollwood Village.

 

Mike - the oil pressure gauge came with the necessary adapter and went right into where the factory sensor was, no proble.
The water temp gauge is another issue. I'm getting 2 different answers from Autometer. One guy tells me I need an adapter, another one says that one of the two adapters that came with the gauge should work, in the same spot where Gordon put his. We'll see.

Greg - I'm in Plant City

 

why didnt you use a "t" fitting and use your factory guage, and sending unit at the same time?