Attention: TDR Forum Junkies I finally got around to installing my gauges. I ordered the 3 gauge dash pod, Westech dual EGT/Boost, Westech Fuel Pressure, Westech dual temp gauges from Geno's along with the Vulcan hose kit, tapped banjo bolt and mounting bracket for fuel pressure, drill and tap kit for EGT and the hollow tapped intake bolt for boost. I had this back in March.
I mounted the sensors about a month ago - diff temp sensor on the Mag-Hytek rear cover, trans temp in the Diesel Manor adapted trans cooler line, fuel pressure sensor at the front on the rad support with the tapped banjo bolt going into the feed line on the CP3, EGT thermocouple on the top surface of the exhaust manifold near #4. The EGT connection was done using the greased pilot drill, greased drill, greased tap and a multiple clean-up on the inside with a small magnet. 3 or 4 passes with the magnet and it came out clean. I was surprised at how thick the exhaust manifold was.
At the same time, I prepped the gauge pod. The 3 gauges fit tightly with just a little massage on one of the holes. The mounting bracket interferred with the 2 outside gauges at the 2 bottom mounting holes and the gauge mounting clamps, if I had used them, would certainly have interferred. I moved the bracket to dash mounting holes and ground the necessary clearance on the bracket and the original mount bosses. Then I found that the mounting bracket mounted too high on the plastic parts and left a gap under the bracket. Some adjustment to fit would be required later.
Over the last few days, I fished the wiring through the truck and finished the install. The diff temp sensor wiring needed to be extended, no surprise and it was some fun fishing the wiring around the fuel tank. I pulled the dash cover per instructions and found a hole in the dash where a speaker would mount for a premium sound system. I massaged the plastic pod cover to fit the dash pad and I'm still not satisfied with the fit. I had a bit of fun fishing the wiring through the duct work below this area. I connected the 12V to the pink/yellow line on the cigarette lighter. I connected the lighting feed to the headlight switch. Which orange/brown wire to tap was unclear and after coming back to this site plus looking at some wiring diagrams, I chose the orange/brown coming out of #2, closest to the inside. I chose to leave the dash pod black as received and it looks fine with the black dash inserts.
I tried my lighting this morning by turning on the parking lights, dash lights on but no lights in the gauges, and the dimmer didn't work on the dash gauges either. I thought I might have gotten my power sources mixed up so I tried my ignition switch to run position, watched the fuel pressure gauge rise and fall and thought I might have hooked up to the wrong orange/brown on the headlight switch.
At that point I decided to go for a drive. It was interesting to watch the EGT and boost gauges. After an initial warm-up, cruising at 60 mph, approx 1800 rpm, I noticed very low boost, EGT around 600, fuel pressure about 9 and trans and diff temps at about 100. Upon jumping on the throttle from a standstill, boost shot over 30, then settled at 28, EGT climbed steadily to 1200/1300 and stayed. As soon as a backed out of the throttle at 85, boost dropped right off and EGT settled back to 600. Trans temp might have made it to 125 and diff stayed at 100. As I'm backing into the driveway, EGT had droppped to 400 but trans temp started climbing towards 200. By the time I got into my parking spot, EGT was at 200 and trans temp had settled down to 150. All of the above was interesting to observe and none of it causes any concern. I just need to get used to it as a baseline.
Now its on to determing why my gauge lights don't work. Switch connection is first area to look at.
Sorry about the long post.
Regards, John
I mounted the sensors about a month ago - diff temp sensor on the Mag-Hytek rear cover, trans temp in the Diesel Manor adapted trans cooler line, fuel pressure sensor at the front on the rad support with the tapped banjo bolt going into the feed line on the CP3, EGT thermocouple on the top surface of the exhaust manifold near #4. The EGT connection was done using the greased pilot drill, greased drill, greased tap and a multiple clean-up on the inside with a small magnet. 3 or 4 passes with the magnet and it came out clean. I was surprised at how thick the exhaust manifold was.
At the same time, I prepped the gauge pod. The 3 gauges fit tightly with just a little massage on one of the holes. The mounting bracket interferred with the 2 outside gauges at the 2 bottom mounting holes and the gauge mounting clamps, if I had used them, would certainly have interferred. I moved the bracket to dash mounting holes and ground the necessary clearance on the bracket and the original mount bosses. Then I found that the mounting bracket mounted too high on the plastic parts and left a gap under the bracket. Some adjustment to fit would be required later.
Over the last few days, I fished the wiring through the truck and finished the install. The diff temp sensor wiring needed to be extended, no surprise and it was some fun fishing the wiring around the fuel tank. I pulled the dash cover per instructions and found a hole in the dash where a speaker would mount for a premium sound system. I massaged the plastic pod cover to fit the dash pad and I'm still not satisfied with the fit. I had a bit of fun fishing the wiring through the duct work below this area. I connected the 12V to the pink/yellow line on the cigarette lighter. I connected the lighting feed to the headlight switch. Which orange/brown wire to tap was unclear and after coming back to this site plus looking at some wiring diagrams, I chose the orange/brown coming out of #2, closest to the inside. I chose to leave the dash pod black as received and it looks fine with the black dash inserts.
I tried my lighting this morning by turning on the parking lights, dash lights on but no lights in the gauges, and the dimmer didn't work on the dash gauges either. I thought I might have gotten my power sources mixed up so I tried my ignition switch to run position, watched the fuel pressure gauge rise and fall and thought I might have hooked up to the wrong orange/brown on the headlight switch.
At that point I decided to go for a drive. It was interesting to watch the EGT and boost gauges. After an initial warm-up, cruising at 60 mph, approx 1800 rpm, I noticed very low boost, EGT around 600, fuel pressure about 9 and trans and diff temps at about 100. Upon jumping on the throttle from a standstill, boost shot over 30, then settled at 28, EGT climbed steadily to 1200/1300 and stayed. As soon as a backed out of the throttle at 85, boost dropped right off and EGT settled back to 600. Trans temp might have made it to 125 and diff stayed at 100. As I'm backing into the driveway, EGT had droppped to 400 but trans temp started climbing towards 200. By the time I got into my parking spot, EGT was at 200 and trans temp had settled down to 150. All of the above was interesting to observe and none of it causes any concern. I just need to get used to it as a baseline.
Now its on to determing why my gauge lights don't work. Switch connection is first area to look at.
Sorry about the long post.
Regards, John
