Important gauges

[FordGuy100]

I'm buying up some ISSPRO oil pressure and volt gauges from a member here
Im wanting to know of some other important gauges I might be missing. List any gauge that cones to mind.

So far I have boost, pyro, water temp. Oil temp gauge doesn't work, but that's my fault. Soon to come voltage and oil pressure. Plan on getting a vacuum gauge as well. Anything I'm missing?

 

[Rot Box]

That should be plenty really Although its pretty easy to tell when you loose vacuum I like having the gauge. Hopefully it will help catch a weak pump before it fails. You might want to consider an engine oil temp gauge. I plan to install one soon and I'm betting I will have wished I did a long time ago. I wouldn't worry about trans temp with the T-19.

 

[Worstenemy453]

Maybe if you dont trust your stock ones and just like gauges you can get some fuel levels. Other than that, it seems like you have it covered.

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

The factory gauges, while not hardly so accurate as a good set of mechanicals, are plenty sufficient to for-warn you of impending doom in the areas that they monitor.

Thus, the absolute most necessary gauge that will help you keep the truck running and get you home is a mechanical FUEL-PRESSURE GAUGE.

Next on my list would be a VOLTAGE GAUGE.

Then, a VACUUM GAUGE. ( I have to have TWO, one for truck, one for trailer. )

A PRE-TURBO PYROMETER is good to scare you on every hill when loaded.

Although it's to talk about pushing X-many PSI of boost, a BOOST GAUGE is far more important to make you aware of turbo health and well-being; the needles spontaneity or sluggishness will let you know when something is amiss, hopefully before all the shrapnel gets in with the pistons.


Once all that is covered, a dash-mounted clock is nice.


Then, a mechanical oil-pressure and water-temperature gauge.

If you haul heavy, a mechanical transmission temperature gauge submerged below the oil-level is in order.


Three remote sensor "outside" temperature gauges are nice; one actually measuring outside temperatures, one under the hood, and one stuck in an A/C vent that lets you know that yes the A/C is actually cooling, although it may not feel like it.

I have many more.

 

[gatorman21218]

I have two fuel pressure gauges. So I know if my lift pump is dying or just trying to pump fuel through a completely clogged filter

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

I have two fuel pressure gauges. So I know if my lift pump is dying or just trying to pump fuel through a completely clogged filter

^^^ That is the best set-up. ^^^

 

[Chevyboy_0]

The factory gauges, while not hardly so accurate as a good set of mechanicals, are plenty sufficient to for-warn you of impending doom in the areas that they monitor.

Thus, the absolute most necessary gauge that will help you keep the truck running and get you home is a mechanical FUEL-PRESSURE GAUGE.

Next on my list would be a VOLTAGE GAUGE.

Then, a VACUUM GAUGE. ( I have to have TWO, one for truck, one for trailer. )

A PRE-TURBO PYROMETER is good to scare you on every hill when loaded.

Although it's to talk about pushing X-many PSI of boost, a BOOST GAUGE is far more important to make you aware of turbo health and well-being; the needles spontaneity or sluggishness will let you know when something is amiss, hopefully before all the shrapnel gets in with the pistons.


Once all that is covered, a dash-mounted clock is nice.


Then, a mechanical oil-pressure and water-temperature gauge.

If you haul heavy, a mechanical transmission temperature gauge submerged below the oil-level is in order.


Three remote sensor "outside" temperature gauges are nice; one actually measuring outside temperatures, one under the hood, and one stuck in an A/C vent that lets you know that yes the A/C is actually cooling, although it may not feel like it.

I have many more.

x2 I couldnt have said it better then this

 

[1994IDI]

Where are the best places to put fuel pressure gauges? I apologize for the hijack Justin.

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

Where are the best places to put fuel pressure gauges? I apologize for the hijack Justin.

If you mean where to access the measuring point(s), the first gauge should get plumbed in at the fuel-filter OUTLET; the second gauge should be at the fuel-filter INLET.

Like gatorman said, plumbed like so, one can monitor the pressure differential of both sides of the filter.

 

[gatorman21218]

What i did is take off the two hard lines going in and out of the fuel filter and put a TEE in both the input and output. 3/8 NPT iirc. I then put a ball valve on the 3rd leg of the Tee and ran the copper tubing to my gauge. I am a big fan of the ball valve because if for some reason the tubing or gauge fails, then I can shut off the fuel pumping into the cab.

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

I then put a ball valve on the 3rd leg of the Tee and ran the copper tubing to my gauge. I am a big fan of the ball valve because if for some reason the tubing or gauge fails, then I can shut off the fuel pumping into the cab.

I always do likewise with the ball-valves, also on the oil-pressure line.


This embicile that works for my father went to lunch one day and came back soaked with used oil.

He thinks he's this hotshot mechanic, but he screwed up on his gauge install.

The line blew off the back of the gauge and pumped the floor-board full of hot oil.

Of course, he never had the fore-sight to add a cut-off.

 

[FordGuy100]

Alright, looks like after I get the Oil pressure, voltage, and vacuum gauges in order....I should look into a fuel pressure gauge.

Now, where to mount them.....

I'm thinking about pulling the clock out, and cutting three holes in the trim and mounting three gauges there.

 

[Rot Box]

Anyone know where to find an in cab fuel pressure gauge that doesn't cost a fortune?

 

[1994IDI]

Anyone know where to find an in cab fuel pressure gauge that doesn't cost a fortune?

http://www.summitracing.com/search/?keyword=fuel pressure gauge&dds=1

 

[subway]

http://www.summitracing.com/search/?keyword=fuel pressure gauge&dds=1

yea those are cheap but you cant use the mechanical ones in the cab without an isolator and they add 80-100 to that bill.

i have been tinkering with building an isolator with some pipe fittings but its one of those things i havent gottten back to yet........might have to now that i fixed my drill press.