Ok, I'm looking to install a 2 gauge pod (Oil PSI, and Temp). WHat I want to know is, how will I go about hooking up my oil psi "thingy" (sender)? I havn't purchased the gauges yet, I'm looking at a nice AutoMeter setup right now though. Temp sender is easy, remove a plug in the radiator (yeah, I know, not as accurate as in the jacket). Will my 2.8 idiot light setup accept the sender for the gauge? has anyone done aftermarket gauges before? The reason I don't want to do the "in dash" cluster swap is availability, and the fact that it's a PITA for a stock looking setup (It's a wanna-be racecar, needs to look like one =P ) Thanks for any help folks. (oh and I did a search, after the 3rd page I gave up trying to find relative data)

 

You'll have to install a gauge sender to replace the light sender you have now. The are mounted in the same hole with a 90* fitting coming out of the drivers side of the block. You can buy a factory style oil "gauge" sender unit from any autoparts store like Autozone. If in question, just ask for "an '87 RS 2.8 oil pressurer sender for a guaged car, not idiot light" Mine has one factory. The Autometer wiring will plug right into it the same as the factiory gauge.

 

Are you going electrical or mechanical?

I've got mechanical gauges in my pod (back from 1996!), they're the Summit gauge packages, two 2 1/16" gauges for $15. They're both mechanical. I pulled the idiot light switch for the coolant temp, from the outermost front corner of the driver's side head, behind the a/c compressor. I needed an adapter- but the Summit guy knew which one I needed. (Very cool!)

For oil pressure, the fitting that it came with worked where my old idiot-light-pressure-switch went. Now, I've got an '86, which had separate "idiot light" and "fuel pump switch" ports- but 87-up use the same hole. So you'll need a brass T-fitting, one that screws into the oil filter mount, and one side will be your factory connector (for the fuel pump switch), the other side will be your new gauge. Your oil filter mount might have a pipe plug in it that's capping off the 2nd hole- and if it does, you don' t need a t-fitting. Just remove the pipe plug and install your gauge.

I'm with you on the "added gauges" look- I prefer it to a full gauges dash. (That is, unless the full-gauges dash was homemade with all aftermarket gauges.) I have a full gauge package from a Firebird sitting in my basement 'cuz it was free, but it'll never go on my car.

Tip- you'll have to remove the bulb from the oil pressure idiot light. With the wire disconnected, the car won't get a ground signal- and your dash will see "0 oil pressure", and put the light on.

 

Thanks Guys, just had to make sure I wouldn't have to replace the oil filter housing or anything like that (I have 2 from 3.4's, but I didn't want to jack with them, lol.
-Aaron