LS-1st-Gen

Ok Ive got her running, but now I have no idea what going on inside the engine!!! I need oil pressure, water temp, and voltage at least. Im planning on using autometer electric gauges for the oil pressure and watertemp, because my harness has leads for pretty much everything. Ive been told the Autometer sport comp tach (PN 3990) and speedo (PN3989) will not work without calibration. What kind of gauges are you guys using?? Any suggestions? Part numbers I should look for? Any help is appreciated guyS!! Im afraid run my engine anymore without knowing anythign about it, it was dumb enough to start it without guages and the last thing i want to do is blow it up.

-Gordon

68LSS1

Did your gauges come with sending units? I tell you how/what I'm doing and maybe it will help. First, I'm using Dakota Digital gauges. I can use the factory oil pressure sending unit. I'm pretty sure that the oil pressure unit does not go through the PCM, so just wire it uo to your gauge (you will have to check with Autometer as a lot of electronic/digital gauges won't work on factory sending units). The stock temp sending unit won't work for my gauge but keep in mind you still have to run the original for the PCM. So, I'll leave the stock temp unit/wiring alone for the PCM. And then if you look on the right hand head, towards the back, on the exhaust manifold side, you'll see a allen head bolt. This is where I'll be installing the temp sending unit for the Dakota setup. I'll have to turn the sending unit and thread it for the metric threads though (I'm assuming the sending unit holes in the block are metric). And as for the voltage I'm not sure. I just got my Helms books today! As far as the tach, with the Dakota setup I can use the original tach output signal from the PCM. And for the speedometer I can use the VSS signal from the PCM for it. (Dakota speedo's are a breeze to calibrate.) Hope this was some help <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />

LS-1st-Gen

Thanks 68, you've at least given me some insight as far as a direction to go in. So is anyone using Autometer guages?

-Gordon <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />

Lesrace82

iTrader: (8)

I heard you can use the autometer Tachs, but you have to have it set up for the four cylinder mode.

88SS LS1

iTrader: (9)

I heard the same thing as Lesrace did from autometer that you must hook it up as a for cylinder, and that you can not use the factory sensor but use the one autometer supplied to you for the oil pressure. I am mounting it on the piece that mounts to the oil pan with two bolts. All I had to do was drill and tap it for the sensor. Because i am getting rid of all my factory gauges and going with autometer gauges.
<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

Lesrace82

iTrader: (8)

I also did the same as 88 ss ls1 for the oil presure guage. I drilled and tapped the piece coming out above the oil filter.

LS-1st-Gen

Drilling and tapping for mechanical gauges seems to be the way to go. What about water temp, Autometer told me that the signal for thier temp gauge wont match GMs. What are you guys doing about that?

70 LS1

iTrader: (1)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by LS-1st-Gen:
<strong>Drilling and tapping for mechanical gauges seems to be the way to go. What about water temp, Autometer told me that the signal for thier temp gauge wont match GMs. What are you guys doing about that?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">On the passengers side head near the #8 cylinder (same place as the water temp sensor on the other side) is a plug M12x1.5 that can be removed. Pick up an adapter for 1/8 NPT to M12x1.5 and use the Autometer sending unit there.

LS-1st-Gen

ahh, sounds like a plan to me jeff, where does one find such an adaptor?

70 LS1

iTrader: (1)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by LS-1st-Gen:
<strong>ahh, sounds like a plan to me jeff, where does one find such an adaptor?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Can't remember where I saw them. All I did was take out the plug and drill it out and tap it for 1/8 NPT.

LS-1st-Gen

jeff-

So the actual hole that is currently in the head will only need to be tapped for american threads, right?

-Gordon

70 LS1

iTrader: (1)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by LS-1st-Gen:
<strong>jeff-

So the actual hole that is currently in the head will only need to be tapped for american threads, right?

-Gordon</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No, M12 is larger than 1/8 NPT. I drilled out and tapped the plug. Basically I made my own adapter.

LS-1st-Gen

OHHHHH I get it, so the sensor goes right through then the old plug then. I'll see if I can get that to work, if not its only a plug.

-gordon