Installing a boost gauge, but I'm an idiot.

[usnsc]

I know this is probobly a stupid question. But I've not dont too much to my car. I bought an autometer phantom boost gauge and want to install it myself. I can't afford to have someone else do it, and if i did want them to, i would litterally have to drive 2 and 1/2 hours away. My question is, I think I pretty much understand what I need to do, but...do I need to put a vaccum line around the plactic line that came with the gauge? or not? I read some where that I needed to do this, but I'm not sure if i need to or not. Any tips that would help would be appreciated. thanks

 

[Attack Eagle]

I was also anxious when I went to do my first "mod".

Not having an autometer or even any line or t just the guage itself I was even more anxious but this faq set my mind at ease and walked me right through it.


IF you want the light to dim and turn off and on with the illumination (i did my sparco is pretty bright, suggest you connect the wires and see at night with the guages on if it is too bright straight connected) easiest is to pick up the illumination POWEr AND ground from behind the "mirror pad". Of course if you have an electronic I think you have to use chassis ground and ignition... so forget dimming...
i ahd posted the colors up a long time ago in a thread... but I don't know where on here it was.

I got hose that would fit at LOWEs clear vinyl tubing (it think was originally intended for an icemaker or something). So far no issues after many months and I did use the tiny zip ties to secure all the connections. my guage had a barbed fitting already installed.

I apologize for not having firsthand knowledge of your specific gauge.

http://www.jumptronix.com/2g_go_faster/Faqs/BoostGaugeFAQ.htm

from this site

http://www.jumptronix.com/2g_go_faster/index.htm

 

[2gPressure]

Just installed a boost gauge and its pretty easy. other than powering it you only need to run the rubber line from the back of the gauge through the steering boot/firewall and up to a vacuum/boost line that you must cut and T to the boost line.
or go here, these are the best instructions
http://www.roadraceengineering.com/instructions/vdoboostgaugeinstructions.htm
good luck

 

[Thomas91169]

the plastic line should be fine as long as you dont put any big kinks in it, or the tube will settle and bend at the kink and cut off the pressure to the gauge.

you could go get some rubber vacuum hose at autozone if you want, and use one of the barbed fittings that "should" come with the gauge, emphasis on should, cause not all gauges come with the same fittings.

as long as you do the compression fitting correct and dont stress the plastic tubing you will be set.

 

[Attack Eagle]

I found it on another list i was on...


here you go

"I even figured out how to connect it so it will dim with the dash lights... if anyone wants to change theirs to dimming i tapped the illumination power and floating ground for the mirror adjuster... power was green with white stripe all the way on the end of the connector and the floating ground was next to it, gray with ?black? or really dark gray stripe."


best of luck to ya

I also had refered to the RRE where to tap picture... but I like where I did the lighting better as it doesn't string wires across the drivers footwell but instead they can be run along with the boost guage between the door seal and dash edge.

 

[dave99gst]

if your this new to mechanics i have to ask... do you know how compretion fittings work ?
if not i sugjest you ask somone at a hardwere store. All though the instructions
that come with the gauge should help you out alot.
http://vfaq.com/mods/gaugelit.html
http://vfaq.com/mods/wayback/BradBauer/gauges/boost.html
http://www.prostreetonline.com/pso/pages/howto/dsmboostgauge.asp

 

[usnsc]

Thanks for all your guy's help. The instalation went pretty easy. A lot easier than I thought it would. Everything works right. The lights come on with my head lights and dim with my dimmer. I'm pretty pleased with myself, considering ive never tried anything like this. But I couldnt have done it without your help. thanks alot.