I decided to get some more accurate gauges. The factory gauges just have a bunch of letters that don't tell me very much. First I am doing a tri pillar with Water temp, voltmeter, and a Vac gauge. Next will be oil temp, and oil pressure in a dash mounted unit, the on to the big stuff. Check back to see what happens.
First came the issue of mounting the temp sensor. I wanted to retain the factory gauges, so I needed to find a location which would allow this. I thought about using the FRPP chrome water neck, but it puts the sender right on top. If I had a GT this would be acceptable, however, on the Cobras, the oil cooler lines run directly over the water neck. I had a local shop - Total Performance - make it happen.
I also picked up some water wetter, and a 180* high flow thermostat to compiment the 184* superchip fan switch. I then heat painted the water neck to make it look just a little nicer. I like things to be perty.
I ran the Temp sensor wire through a piece of vacuum hose. Most people use split loom, but you can only have so much of that stuff under the hood. The vac line was a lot easier to hide under to hood. As for the Vacuum gauge, I just used a T fitting right to the A/C vac line. Right to the point, and hardly noticable.
Here it is all finished up. First two pics lights off, second two lights on. I hooked the lights up to the factory dimmer so I could dim them if needed. I ordered some blue leds to take place of the lights. I hope they come soon.
Here is a glimpse of things to come. Getting an oil pressure gauge to work with the factory gauge is very difficult in the Cobra. Again because of the oil cooler. The hard lines run directly in the path of the factory sender. The only way to make this happen is to get a part made. Again, I had Total Performance make me a part that will retain the factory unit. It was machined to fit a 4an stainless line from the spliter to the sender. Good stuff. Here is the part they made, I'll get some pics up when I install the line and gauge. Check back soon.
As promised, the oil pressure splitter, line, and sender are in. The splitter I had made worked perfect. I relocated the sender to the firewall area where I can hide it. Better yet, the factory gauge still works as normal.
Here is the new Aeromotive Fuel Pressure Regulator. Only real reason I bought this now instead of later was to add the Fuel pressure gauge(correctly). If you look close, you can see the sender off the back. It will be nice to have control over fuel pressure too though.
All the gauges are installed and functional now. Everything went very well. Oil pressure, oil temp, and fuel pressure. I will post picks of the location of the oil temp sensor as soon as I have the car back on the lift. The triple pod is from Florida 5.0, and not many people are using it. I though it would be a little different, so I picked it up. It houses 3 2 5/8" gauges, and is a great fit.
Again, car is not finished yet. Night pics will come soon.
PAGE 1 - TINA AKA:Obsession
PAGE 2 - Calipers and Exhaust
PAGE 3 - Suspension
PAGE 4 - You Are Here
PAGE 5 - Corbeau Seats and Delete
PAGE 6 - Engine Parts Beautification
PAGE 7 - Electrical System
PAGE 8 - Friends Rides
