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Autometer Electrical Gauge Installation

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Old Mar 21, 2001 | 03:02 PM
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CAMARORS1991's Avatar
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From: Perry, GA, USA
Autometer Electrical Gauge Installation

Im planning on getting the Lo Tek A pillar gauge holder and 3 autometer guages. I think I want the Air/Fuel ratio, trans. temp, and Im not sure about the other. I wanted the fuel pressure but it is way too expensive and my car does not even have enough mods on it to even need one. I might go for the oil temp. Anyway, my question is how hard are these to install for the amateur. They will all be electrical. Can I do it with out screwing something up?
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Old Mar 21, 2001 | 04:06 PM
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Car: 2002 SOM z28
Engine: LS1
Transmission: T-56
It isn't so hard. Be aware that my T-top leaks like a mother with the pillar in because the weatherstripping is indented to the old pillar...

I have oil psi, A/F, and Tranny temp in mine. I went with the green bulb covers too because it was a PITA to see out the window at night with the gauge about 2" from your left eye.

It is kind of a pain to drill the hole that holds the pillar on in the middle. I also took the old weatherstripping off the old pillar and glued it onto the LoTek one. And I drilled some very tiny holes (2 or 3) just below the gauges because water will collect in there and will fill up your gauges (and don't think about sealing them off either). I get water dripping onto my seats/leg, but that will change if I ever get around to the weatherstripping...

Hooking up the gauges is straightforward. Follow the instructions and double check things before you plug them all in. Many people look for a wire to splice into for power, some use the fuse box, I actually replaced all my dash gauges too, so I used those wires to the origional dash gauges.

------------------
1984 z28 w/ a 357 cu in. monster engine which is looking like the posterchild for Edelbrock with the exception of the Holley 750vac... all the suspension stuff... 9-bolt posi disk is in...

-=ICON Motorsports=-
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Old Mar 21, 2001 | 08:23 PM
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Thanks for the advice. The info you gave me made me think twice about getting that gauge pod. I already have a slight leaking problem with my t-tops, i dont want it to be worse. Which line of gauges do you have?? I like the phantom gauges mainly because of the white face, it will match my white overlay for my instrument cluster when i get it. Thanks again
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Old Mar 22, 2001 | 02:23 AM
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From what I have read (in this post) and from the picture I have seen of the Lo-tek pillar cover I think I am going to get the auto-meter piece that fits over the stock one. I need a three guage holder (H20, Fuel Pressure, N20) but I the third guage in the pillar just doesn't look right. If lo-tek made a two guage pillar cover that wasn't so square i'd probably buy it.

Are there any full pillar cover replacements besides Lo-tek?
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Old Mar 22, 2001 | 01:20 PM
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I agree that Lo Tek should make a 2 gauge pod because there is really only 2 gauges that I want, the air/fuel and trans. temp. The 3 gauge pod also looks a little over done. I didnt want to get the autometer pod for our cars because it doesnt blend in really good. Its just stuck on there with some 2 sided tape and you have to drill holes in you A pillar for the wires. With the Lo Tek you can keep you old pillar and you dont have to mess it up.
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Old Mar 22, 2001 | 02:33 PM
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From: Lima, Ohio
http://www.geocities.com/leeson.rm/guages2.jpg

Hey go check out this picture. Does this answer the question about 2 gauge pods?

Later on,

Brendan

------------------
1987 IROC-Z L98,SuperRam,EB 6085's,LPE 219/219 Roller, Crane 1.6RR, EB TPI Base, 58mm TB, ADS 24#, AFPR, K&N, EB TES, Catco Cat, 3" Borla Cat-Back, Accel cap,rotor,distro/other crap, MSD 6AL, MSD Blaster 3, Aluminum DS, 94 Disk Rear, Adjustable Valve, Precision 3.73 Gears, Sub-Frame Connectors, Hotchkis Lower Control Arms, KYB Shocks/Struts, Suspension Techniques Lowering Springs, Polyurethan Bushings all over the place, Moog Upper/Lower Ball joints and Tie Rods ends/Idler Arm,

To see the ROC, Check out the webpage Here
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Old Mar 22, 2001 | 11:01 PM
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The Autometer gauge pod looks cool but I dont personally like it because it is stuck on there, it doesnt blend. This is why I want the Lo Tek ones.
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Old Mar 27, 2001 | 01:07 PM
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I think the autometer is the way to go... just looks better and won't leak. I don't really care about drilling my old pillar cause I have a spare just sitting in my garage. Now that the electric fuel pressure guage (phantom) is only $80 in summit, I am gonna get that one and a nitrous guage and put those in the pillar.
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Old Mar 27, 2001 | 09:58 PM
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The price for the fuel pressure gauge must have went down? Going back to the installation of the electric autometer gauges how easy is it to hook up the sending units for the oil temp and trans. temp gauge. Do you have to drill into the pan to put the sending unit in there or how does that work? Also I know you hook the air/fuel gauge to the O2 sensor but you dont connect it directly it from your manifolds do you??
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Old Mar 29, 2001 | 10:32 AM
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I have found my air/fuel gauge to be pretty much useless. I think its more of a show item unless you have a 3 wire O2 sensor.....It looks cool though.
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Old Mar 29, 2001 | 11:48 AM
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I dont think I will ever find a use for the air/fuel gauge. It will mostly be for show. I really want the trans temp gauge and the best way to put it in our cars is either with the lo tek or autometer gauge pod. And unless I get the single gauge pod from autometer I have to get at least one other gauge to fill the pod so I figured the air/fuel one would be ok. I still havent heard a response to my previous post about the installation of the gauges, how do you wire them and everything?
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Old Mar 29, 2001 | 01:39 PM
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I dont think my Autometer pod looks "stuck on". It is obviously an addition, but it can be made to look nice.




------------------
Mike Metzler (Desert86Roc)[*] Webmaster: SpeedWorldMotorplex.com[*] Click Here For 86 IROC 305 TPI (406 build in progress) Page

ET's @ 1250 ft[*] 14.28 @ 95.461 mph (uncorrected, NOS, no headers)[*] 15.365 @ 86.785 mph (uncorrected, headers, no NOS)

[This message has been edited by Desert86Roc (edited March 29, 2001).]
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Old Mar 29, 2001 | 08:43 PM
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It looks nice and I have nothing against the autometer pods but I still like the blended in look where everything is all in one piece. I guess thats just how I am. But I might be going with autometer after all because I heard about the leaking problems with the Lo Tek pod. Im not sure yet, Im still weighing the options. Thanks for the pic though.
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Old Mar 31, 2001 | 02:35 PM
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From: Boosted Land
Car: 92 Z28
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Auto meter is the way to go for gauges. i have the pod also. IF you want it to look like a single unit use some fiberglass and blend it. If your good with it. Thats what Im gona do soon.

Im exelent with glass and carbon fiber so It wount look like ****. Heres a pic of it now.
Will post more when Its done.


I need to rescann the pic better.

------------------
Chris
1992 25th Anniv Z28 W/383 Stroker
536 RWHP 569 FT LBS
(chassis dynoed at Ramsies Perf.)
Check the rest out here
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