Finally Finished my Autometer Gauges Installation

Well, it was certainly a *****...............but it is finally installed and everything is working as it should. The installation of the gauges themselves inside the console was not too hard (just like installing VDO gauges........and there is plenty of DIY threads on VDO install). But my problem was installing the pressure and temperature senders.

Autometer fittings are 1/8 NPT and they do not fit in our car. VDO pressure sender has 2 terminals so that you can connect your stock pressure switch connection. Autometer sender does not have this so you have to figure out a way to keep the stock switch yourself. And no, you cannot mix and match the VDO senders with the autometer gauges (I looked into that) because the VDO senders have different resistance and voltage signals. Also tried a variety of metric adapter bushings but that only works for the pressure sender without keeping the stock pressure connection. There is extremely little room at the base of the oil filter where your stock switch is to fit any type of adapter that you can purchase. I tried that too. I bought the $100 BMP adapter that is suppose to allow all the senders to be installed in one location...............but of course this adapter uses metric threads and so you are back to square one...........it doesnt fit properly anyway even if they had the right fittings because of the tight location in the engine.

So............I broke down and made my own custom adapter manifold and drilled and tapped for the 1/8 NPT and 12mx1.5 metric fittings. The demensions are just right to allow the pressure sender, stock switch and temperature sender to be installed at the same location (where the stock switch is behind the oil filter). PM me if you want the demensions or more info.

pictures aren't that great...........sorry

another

tight squeeze.... You can see why it needs to be custom.............

another picture of aluminum manifold

NICE WORK!!! Glad you finally got it too work! Now I need to get me one of those...that is exactly what I was thinking of having made.

Tim

awesome mod! i need it

Great job!
Alot of people would have given up. I was wondering why you went with Autometer, then I saw your dash. They look like a nice match. Again, great job.

awesome job man. i like it.

looks great!

very very very nice, great job!!!

whats the adapter on the far right?

I have an unistalled VDO oil temp gauge and figured I can install it in my BMW when I finally get it along with other gauges. Here's the Q though, which gauges???? I see everyone here doing oil pressure, but wouldn't the "idiot light" go off before you even noticed what the pressure was on the gauge? Not trying to flame anyone, just asking a question... by the way, install looks great man

So I guess other than oil temp, what would be good, EGT volt??? A/F I feel is more show and no need for boost since it will never be FI. Thanks all, and again, install looks damn good.

Originally posted by GUINNESS
I have an unistalled VDO oil temp gauge and figured I can install it in my BMW when I finally get it along with other gauges. Here's the Q though, which gauges???? I see everyone here doing oil pressure, but wouldn't the "idiot light" go off before you even noticed what the pressure was on the gauge? Not trying to flame anyone, just asking a question... by the way, install looks great man

So I guess other than oil temp, what would be good, EGT volt??? A/F I feel is more show and no need for boost since it will never be FI. Thanks all, and again, install looks damn good.

The idiot pressure light only comes on when the oil pressure drops below 5 psi. The pressure gauge lets you know what the pressure is all the time and you can monitor its health (at idle, when WOT, or just cruising). Thats why the stock switch is just an "idiot light", because by the time you see it, it is probably too late......the damage is already happening.

As far as guages go, its really up to you. If you have FI then a boost gauge for sure. A/F is just ball park lean/rich indication and it looks cool, voltage IMO is the last option. EGT is usefull as well.

Thanks for all the compliments guys.

Originally posted by CSHFLW
whats the adapter on the far right?

The components from left to right (top to bottom) are the following:

Pressure sender

Temperature sender

Manifold passage plug

Stock pressure switch

Banjo Bolt (this is what holds the manifold to the back of the oil filter where the stock switch is normally screwed into). It is hollow to allow oil to pass through the bolt and into the adapter manifold.

Thanks for the nice words guys...........I will bump this one more time to let everyone know that you don't have to go with VDO (although, if VDO made some gauges with aluminum faces I would have gone with them ........... it would have been a lot easier).)

That looks f'n sweet

So I can't use the stock banjo bolt right? And where do you think I could one...also is the plug at the end a standard piece? 1/8 right?

Looks GREAT! good job!

Originally posted by CSHFLW
So I can't use the stock banjo bolt right? And where do you think I could one...also is the plug at the end a standard piece? 1/8 right?

There is no stock banjo bolt, there is only the stock pressure switch. The banjo bolt is screwed into the stock pressure switch hole and is what allows the oil to get into the manifold for all the senders (and stock switch). The one I used came with the BMP adapter kit I bought which didn't fit. I do not know if they will just sell the bolt? It is a 12m x 1.5 metric bolt. Yes the plug at the end is just a 26 cents 1/8 npt plug.