2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Gauge Installation Tips/Help

[gahorn]

Getting ready to install some gauges on the a-pillar and steering column. I have read through the instructions that I received and the numerous archived posts in this forum, but would still appreciate some advice and guidance from those of you who have been through this procedure,

My gauges are Issopro (Fuel Pressure, Boost, Trans Temp & Pyrometer) and the pods are from Autometer. My questions are:

1) When installing the gauge pod on the a-pillar, did most of you install over

the original a-pillar trim or use the replacement gauge pod by itself? If

you used just the replacement how did you attach it to the truck?

2) Fuel Pressure Gauge -- I have an '01 RAM 2500 - where did you tap into

the fuel line to install the pressure line to the isolator? I've read where

some have attached a banjo fitting into the bottom of the fuel filter

canister, but when looking at mine this fitting has a line which runs to the

VP44. Am I missing something, because the pictures I've seen just show

the new line from bottom of the fuel filter going to the isolator. What

happened to the original line that went from the fuel filter to the VP44?

3) Trans Temp Gauge -- I am replacing one of the transmission fluid lines

with one from DieselManor that had an access point to install the sending

unit for the gauge. Is it necessary to drain the transmission pan first prior

to removing the original line or will transmission fluid go all over the place?

4) Steering Column Pod -- Does it make any difference as far as clearance

issues for gauge lines as to which gauge is placed here? The truck has

a tilt wheel and wasn't sure if anyone has had issues with pinched lines.

My thoughts are to put the Pyro, Fuel Pressure and Trans Temp in the

a-pillar pod and the boost gauge on the column.

Sorry if these questions seem elementary, but I really want this installation to

look as stock as possible. Thanks for any helpful advice or helpful tips you all can provide



Gary

 

[BeefDoc]

Gary,



I finally got my gauges installed in my truck here a few weeks ago. I have had them for a few years, but just finally got them installed completely. I have a Westech fuel gauge (16psi), Trans temp and boost (both autometer phantom). All three are mounted on the A Pillar. I am no expert but I will give you my 2 cents worth. Here is my take on your questions.

1. I attached the gauge pod to an original A Pillar cover with small sheet metal screws (I bought a used factory pillar from a salvage yard that didn't have a tweeter speaker). Before you screw the gauge pod to the factory pillar you need to drill holes in the factory piece so you can get your wires through to the back side of the original A pillar. I removed the bottom metal clip from the factory A pillar to ease the installation of the whole assembly.

2. I spent the money for the billet aluminum fuel filter cap and screwed my fuel pressure sendor into the port on the top of this cap. I realize this is a prefilter reading, but I felt is was sufficient and an easy way to mount the sender (the factory filter cap sucks anyway, I hate plastic). Geno's also sells a hose that will hook up to the scrader valve on the injector pump that also seems to work well for mounting the sender (need to fabricate a bracket).

3. I put a B & M plug into my transmisson pan and screwed my temp sendor into the plug. I cannot give any advice as to your transmission line replacement.

4. If you are using a mechanical boost gauge that requires running a hard plastic tube, I personally would not put that gauge on the steering column. I would think that hard plastic tube would sooner kink and cause trouble verses running just wires to the steering column. I think wires will take the tilt much better than the hard plastic boost tube.

I hope this is of some value to you, again I am not a professional installer, these are just a few things that I ran into along the way.

Thanks

Matt

 

[gahorn]

Gauge installation help & tips

Matt:



Thanks for the reply. Sounds like a plan. I've been messing around with trying to fit the a-pillar cover in place of the original, but I don't like the fit next to the windshield. Good idea to try & find a used one without the tweeter in a junk yard - think I'll do that this weekend. With the boost gauge - that's kind of what I thought about the plastic tubing getting possibly kinked by the tilt wheel. I'll switch some of the gauges around from my original setup idea.

Thanks for your input



Gary

 

[JOdell]

Gary, I installed my 4 gauges in my 01. I put the pyro, boost, and fuel pressure on the pillar and the trans on the steering column. I did this because I wanted all the gauges to match. The tree on the pillar are full sweep and the transmission was not. I replaced my transmission line and it leaked my brand new AMSOIL ATF all over the place. If you are in need of changing your transmission fluid, I would plan on doing it at the same time. Tapping the fuel line was easy for me because I also did the vulcan lift pump relocation and big line kit. It came with a fitting on the VP44 that the sender screwed right into. I hope some of this helps you. -Jason

 

[gahorn]

Jason:



Thanks for the helpful info. I thought I would probably have to drop the transmission pan if I was going to install that new line so thanks. That's how I had my gauges lined up at first, but when I did a test fit it seemed like the connector was going to get pinched by the tilt column. I'll mess around with it again and see what happens. Basically, I just need to go out there and do it instead of thinking about it. I appreciate the replies.

Gary