Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) transmission line and torque converter gauges installed,pics and details

[**ICEMAN**]

we monitor everything else on our rigs, why not monitor our high $$ trannies also ?

after lots of searching for the right fittings,hose,gauges, senders etc. here is what i put together.

*i used 2 vdo 0-400 psi gauges and senders because of their availabilty. i later found that westach will build me a custom gauge that reads 0-150psi and can be custom lettered. the 0-150 gauge will give a more accurate reading and i will be ordering 2 with senders asap. one labeled t/c press. and the other trans line press.

*i installed the oem line with temp sender port, part#5011244-AA.

*i used 1 aeroquip -8 in line pressure adapter,part# fcm2184

*i used 2 aeroquip-8 straight aqp hose fittings, part# fcm1013

* 1, 3 inch piece of braided hose 7/16 I. D.

* parts above were used to replace the rubber hose on the oem line.

*t/c press. @ idle 0psi to 110 psi @ WOT.

*line press. 80 @ idle to 110 psi @WOT

comments or suggestions are welcome!!

 

[**ICEMAN**]

OEM line on left.

my creation on right

 

[**ICEMAN**]

line press. sender

 

[**ICEMAN**]

t/c press. sender

 

[Shovelhead]

Looks good Don,

Any more info to keep track of and we're gonna hafta start travelin' with a co-pilot.



Thanks in advance for the M-D TDR emblems. I hate to just call them "stickers", they look waaaay too nice.

 

[cD'amato]

Nice

That is a sweet spot to mount the gauges. Nice work.

 

[Mutch]

temps?

looks great!

Where are you measuring temperature? just on the outgoing line to the cooler?

thanks,

Drew

 

[FFutch]

Good job Don,I like the Aero-quip fittings... Doug

 

[Devildog]

Looks great

What about reverse pressure guage? in reverse idle it should be around 215psi.

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

Re: Nice

Originally posted by cD'amato

That is a sweet spot to mount the gauges. Nice work.

Unfortunately, I already used that spot for my Alpine DTS sound processor...



JMc

 

[**ICEMAN**]

drew,,temp sender installed in the output line in the temp sender port that is attached to the line (part # above)



devildog,

with this setup i monitor only the forward pressures so the gauge is 0psi when shifted to or through reverse.

you can add another gauge and sender to the reverse port to see press. in reverse and another to monitor overdrive if you like.



my setup was installed to try and avoid another costly rebuild due to the slowly failing govenor press. sol. and 3-4 lock up sol. which eventually toasted my trans. and t/c. if i had the gauges installed before i would have seen the falling pressures and took action.

 

[**ICEMAN**]

not much interest in transmission pressures?

 

[JGarcia]

Your setup is both unique and impressive. Unfortunately, I'm not very mechanically inclined. And I'm totally jealous of you guys that can do this type of stuff!!

The upgrades I've done so far have been the fun things for me. But I guess I'm kind of reaching the point (just me personally) where if I have to monitor anything else on this truck, it's not going to be the truck I want to have. The tough part is balancing performance and reliability, always has been, I guess, for most of us. I guess maybe I'm just getting older, but lately I've just reached the point where I just want to get in and drive. Kind of naive on my part, huh?



JRG

 

[Strick-9]

ICEMAN,



Nice setup! I don't know how I missed this when you first posted it.



It sounds like your measuring the pressure in the cooler lines. Is that right?



You mentioned at sometimes you have 0 pressure in the cooler lines. Did I read that correctly? Is that only early in the mornings on a cold start or is it actually every time the truck is at idle like you wrote it?



Does anything change on that gauge during any of the shifts or lockup? Just curious.



Whose valvebody are you running?



What are you looking for on these gauges that will show you when the governor pressure solenoid is failing. Same question for when the 3-4 lockup solenoid fails.



Thanks,

Chris

 

[**ICEMAN**]

STRICK-9

the t/c pressure is what i'm reading off the transmission to cooler line.

0 psi is what i'm reading at idle,70 -90 just crusing and 110 psi at lockup. these 0-400 psi gauges are hard to give you an exact reading.

this is a DTT transmission in my 01.

basically i'm watching for any pressures to drop and investigate why before it's too late.

auto trannies are all new to me and i'm gradually starting to understand what makes them work and why.

i talked to BILL. K about monitoring these pressures and he helped me understand why it's very important so i came up with this set up .



the forward line press. is tapped at the test port in the case as shown in the pic above.

 

[Murietaman]

I mounted three guages on the hump plastic. Works great. . Oo.

 

[Ramafid]

Don,

Great looking setup. One more thing to monitor. Is line pressure more important than TC pressure? I just may have to install at least one guage also. What brass fitting did you use for the line pressure? You said you are going to have westach make some custom pressure guages. Does anyone else make 0-150 pressure gauges ( Autometer) or you just want to stick with Westach? With the number of gauges increasing every day can we say information overload

 

[**ICEMAN**]

tony,

if i were installing just one gauge i would go with line press.

the question i had asked bill k was,( i want to monitor trans press. continuosly and where would be the best sources to get readings ?) line and t/c if you can find a way to tap the cooler line for the t/c press. sender.

the brass fitting for line press is called a T-adapter 1/8 NPT part# 240-855 from www.egauges.com

i saw some 0-100psi oil press gauges and the vdo's i used were the only ones labeled trans oil but only came 0-400.

the reason i'm going with westach is because they will custom letter them(trans press),(t/c press) and custom dial them 0- whatever you need as long as they have a sender that will match.

 

[98rammer]

ahhh, great, i've been wanting to put a transmission line pressure guage on mine for a little while now. hmm, any problems with the electrical sender? i was thinking about doing it mechanical, but i guess it wouldn't be too bad.



good pics ICEMAN!

Tom

 

[LLiddell]

Very nice job! Thanks for all the info. I looked at my trans today and I have the same lousy 90 degree bend where you tapped the t/c pressure. That bend almost looks flat! Maybe time for a flare kit and a nice 90 degree bend. Again, thanks for the info.