Need help figuring out complete AutoMeter Gauge Setup
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 13
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Need help figuring out complete AutoMeter Gauge Setup This is for a 1994 Camaro V6--->LS1 Project. I don't really want the new style dash - so I am going to shoot for using an all AutoMeter gauge setup.
I have gathered bits of information from Magnus' site, and another site, but I am having a hard time putting everything together.
Two things...
1. I am wondering if this Painless harness would pretty much take care of my gauge hookups - and then I would just have to get some programming done or something to get the computer to be compatible with these gauges??? And also figure out how to hook everything up to a harness like that...'cause it couldn't be just as simple plug and play as it should.
2. Will I just have to totally engineer everything to work myself - and use the stock parts "pretty much" unmodified to send the right info to the new gauges.
Any and all help is appreciated.
I have gathered bits of information from Magnus' site, and another site, but I am having a hard time putting everything together.
Two things...
1. I am wondering if this Painless harness would pretty much take care of my gauge hookups - and then I would just have to get some programming done or something to get the computer to be compatible with these gauges??? And also figure out how to hook everything up to a harness like that...'cause it couldn't be just as simple plug and play as it should.
2. Will I just have to totally engineer everything to work myself - and use the stock parts "pretty much" unmodified to send the right info to the new gauges.
Any and all help is appreciated.
Last edited by LS1; Mar 19, 2004 at 08:13 AM.
Launching!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 259
Likes: 1
From: Durham, NC
There is more info available here on guages. That harness is nice, but it won't really solve your gauge problems. You need the adapter fitting kit that many places sell. Converts SAE Autometer senders to the correct metric LS1 holes.
Water sender replaces plug in pass head. Oil can go by filter if you wanna tap your motor. Too scary for me, I made the fat AM sender fit in stock loc using some fittings (space is tight there). Fuel, you have to work out - your sender may be 0-90 already which is supported by AM. Tach is simple, run it as a 4cyl. Speedo, tap into the wire that goes to PCM.
Water sender replaces plug in pass head. Oil can go by filter if you wanna tap your motor. Too scary for me, I made the fat AM sender fit in stock loc using some fittings (space is tight there). Fuel, you have to work out - your sender may be 0-90 already which is supported by AM. Tach is simple, run it as a 4cyl. Speedo, tap into the wire that goes to PCM.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 13
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Originally Posted by jeromio
There is more info available here on guages. That harness is nice, but it won't really solve your gauge problems. You need the adapter fitting kit that many places sell. Converts SAE Autometer senders to the correct metric LS1 holes.
Water sender replaces plug in pass head. Oil can go by filter if you wanna tap your motor. Too scary for me, I made the fat AM sender fit in stock loc using some fittings (space is tight there). Fuel, you have to work out - your sender may be 0-90 already which is supported by AM. Tach is simple, run it as a 4cyl. Speedo, tap into the wire that goes to PCM.
Water sender replaces plug in pass head. Oil can go by filter if you wanna tap your motor. Too scary for me, I made the fat AM sender fit in stock loc using some fittings (space is tight there). Fuel, you have to work out - your sender may be 0-90 already which is supported by AM. Tach is simple, run it as a 4cyl. Speedo, tap into the wire that goes to PCM.
I read a site about what someone did to get the water temperature gauge to work - about how he installed the sending unit to the plug in the passenger head. Here is his page...he mentions about how there isn't any good apapters, so I will probably just have one machine here at work. I sort of have a 75,000 sq. ft. state of the art machine shop at my disposal, so that will make this easier I suppose.
Oil I will probably do exactly what you did - just use the stock location, and come up with an adapter to go from AutoMeter to stock.
Fuel I know that Magnus has quite a bit about on his page, so I will have to study it and find out more about it.
Tach will be great - I didn't realize that I could do it without going through the PCM.
Speedo will be great - didn't realize I could just tap into the PCM without any problems.
What about the voltmeter? I want to retain it as well. It isn't handy all the time like other gauges - but if you have had as many altenator's go out as me, you like having one around.
Thank You very much jeromio - I appreciate your help.
Any other information you can link me to I would appreciate..or tell what to search for if you remember some thread titles or something...I tried, no results with my terms though.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
From: NH
Originally Posted by LS1
OK - so that harness would create more problems than it would fix basically? The adapter fitting kit - I have not heard of nor seen one of these I don't think - could you enlighten perhaps a little more? I have seen individual adapters here and there - but nothing special just for the LS1. I also can probably make them if I know what to make.
I read a site about what someone did to get the water temperature gauge to work - about how he installed the sending unit to the plug in the passenger head. Here is his page...he mentions about how there isn't any good apapters, so I will probably just have one machine here at work. I sort of have a 75,000 sq. ft. state of the art machine shop at my disposal, so that will make this easier I suppose.
Oil I will probably do exactly what you did - just use the stock location, and come up with an adapter to go from AutoMeter to stock.
Fuel I know that Magnus has quite a bit about on his page, so I will have to study it and find out more about it.
Tach will be great - I didn't realize that I could do it without going through the PCM.
Speedo will be great - didn't realize I could just tap into the PCM without any problems.
What about the voltmeter? I want to retain it as well. It isn't handy all the time like other gauges - but if you have had as many altenator's go out as me, you like having one around.
Thank You very much jeromio - I appreciate your help.
Any other information you can link me to I would appreciate..or tell what to search for if you remember some thread titles or something...I tried, no results with my terms though.
I read a site about what someone did to get the water temperature gauge to work - about how he installed the sending unit to the plug in the passenger head. Here is his page...he mentions about how there isn't any good apapters, so I will probably just have one machine here at work. I sort of have a 75,000 sq. ft. state of the art machine shop at my disposal, so that will make this easier I suppose.
Oil I will probably do exactly what you did - just use the stock location, and come up with an adapter to go from AutoMeter to stock.
Fuel I know that Magnus has quite a bit about on his page, so I will have to study it and find out more about it.
Tach will be great - I didn't realize that I could do it without going through the PCM.
Speedo will be great - didn't realize I could just tap into the PCM without any problems.
What about the voltmeter? I want to retain it as well. It isn't handy all the time like other gauges - but if you have had as many altenator's go out as me, you like having one around.
Thank You very much jeromio - I appreciate your help.
Any other information you can link me to I would appreciate..or tell what to search for if you remember some thread titles or something...I tried, no results with my terms though.
You need to splice into the VSS signal going to the PCM from the VSS on the tranny. The unbuffered signal.
A voltmeter???? Just wire 12 volts + and - to your gauge. If you don't know this....
I would worry about you doing the other electrical stuff. Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by 67ls1CamaroProject
The adapter fitting kit is the Equs one listed on his page. I too made my own just like he describes on his page. The Equs one had too much of a hex shoulder on it and the sensor couldn't extend into the water stream. You could machine the hex part down a little. But, with a machine shop, you should be able to fabricate one. Simple 1/8" NPT to M12X1.5 threads.
You need to splice into the VSS signal going to the PCM from the VSS on the tranny. The unbuffered signal.
A voltmeter???? Just wire 12 volts + and - to your gauge. If you don't know this.... I would worry about you doing the other electrical stuff.
You need to splice into the VSS signal going to the PCM from the VSS on the tranny. The unbuffered signal.
A voltmeter???? Just wire 12 volts + and - to your gauge. If you don't know this....
I would worry about you doing the other electrical stuff.I will just make my own then - just wanted to be sure that the "kit" wasn't anything more than an adapter. Thank you for the info.
The only reason I asked about the voltmeter is because I didn't know if there was anything specific I needed to do/watch out for with an LS1. This isn't my first rodeo - I have built a few cars in the past - just never an LS1, so I think I can probably handle it. Just from everything I have read - these cars engine/computers are very tempermental when it comes to stuff like that, didn't know if that was one of its temperments too.
