ls1owner4life

iTrader: (17)

I am buying an Autometer Sport-Comp II Water Temp 2-1/16" mechanical Gauge for my 02 SS LS1. It will be installed into the dash cubby infront of the shifter. I am wondering if the mechanic tempature sending wire is long enough to reach the bottom of the block from the dash. Also are there any good places to run the cable through the firewall? Thanks

ls1owner4life

iTrader: (17)

p.s. If I do go eletric Is it worth the extra $70 for a full sweep gauge than a short sweep?

LS69TA

iTrader: (30)

I'd just go electric with the regular sweep gauge. I put one in my WS6. If you aren't sure where you want to mount it, I can show you how I did mine and a TB bypass at the same time. Most guys put them in the head with an adapter fitting.

ls1owner4life

iTrader: (17)

Yea if you could show me that would be great. I was planing on using some plug on the passanger side of the block. TB bypass? Is the short sweep gauge stil useful?

LS69TA

iTrader: (30)

Yea the regular gauge works fine. The TB bypass is where you bypass the coolant hose going into the tb to keep the hot coolant coming from the engine from heating up the TB. Its purpose is to keep the TB from freezing up in really cold weather. Let me track down the pics of how I did mine.

LS69TA

iTrader: (30)

LS69TA

iTrader: (30)

I used a 3/8? "T" fitting and 2 barbed hose ends to do the TB bypass, and put the water temp. sending unit in the other hole. I used a self-tapping screw on the back side of the "T" with some tefon pipe sealant to ground the sending unit. I ran the ground wire to one of the steam crossover lines on the head I think. I figure the coolant coming out of the heads is about as hot as it gets.

ls1owner4life

iTrader: (17)

LS69 TA, is there any benifit to using the TB bypass instead of the bottom of the block? Do they give the same readings? Where did you find a hole in the firewall to pass the line through? Thanks!

LS69TA

iTrader: (30)

No, you'll get the same reading. I just did mine there so as to do 2 mods at the same time. I ran my wire through the grommet below the PCM on the pass. side and ran the wire over behind the dash to my a-pillar pod.

ls1owner4life

iTrader: (17)

That’s awesome. I saw the garmmet you are speaking of tonight. I will buy the mechanical gauge tonight. How is it so you get the same reading as the bottom of the block after the coolant has left the radiator? Also how much perfrormance will I see from the TB bypass mod?

LS69TA

iTrader: (30)

You'd probably get a different reading if you put the sending unit in the block instead of the heads. You'll probably only get like .5 or maybe 1 hp from the tb bypass mod. It does keep the tb cooler, which allows cooler air into the engine. That topic has been debated numerous times. Mainly it makes it alot simpler to remove the TB when needed.

ls1owner4life

iTrader: (17)

It would be alot easier to install it at the head is why I ask. How far off?