Bullnose Enthusiasts Forum

Adding guages

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jdavidsmi

Re: Adding guages

Yes I put the new temperature gauge in the thermostat housing, but having the truck in the garage I did not let it run long enough to watch the thermostat open. It was just too hot to stay out there for long even with the doors open and a fan running. Plus I have to get something set up the route the exhaust outside. Makes me nervous running the motor inside, even with the doors open.

I did not think about the voltage draw when the truck is off. Going to revisit a better connection point.

I have a new set of bolts for the bed, they been in a cabinet since before my heart attack. Plus I have the bed from the 86, may just change it out.

David,
1984 F150 LX, 4x4 117 wheel base, Engine Code "F" = 302, 5.0 2/B,
Transmission code "A" = 4sp manual New Process model 435
Axle code "19" = 3.55 (ford 8.8) manf. 08/1983, in Norfolk
DSO code "21" AtlantaFactory Air Conditioner, Dash with Gauges
1990 Goldwing 1500
1986 F150 XLT, short bed, 5.0 automatic
2004 F53 Fleetwood Terra motor home
2017 Chevrolet Traverse
Home town Viola Tennessee

Gary Lewis

Re: Adding guages

Administrator

Be careful running it in the garage!

Anyway, as the engine warms you should be able to watch the temp in the engine come up with the stock gauge and yet the aftermarket gauge won't come up much. Then when the thermostat opens you should see the aftermarket gauge take off very rapidly and then stabilize at operating temp.

To me that seems like a neat way to know that your 'stat is working. Unfortunately the thermostat housing for Big Blue doesn't have a port in which to put the aftermarket gauge, so I didn't get to do that.

On the volt meter, if you connect to a circuit in the cab you will be "seeing" the voltage after the drop caused by the current of all of the various devices you have on at the time dropping the voltage across the resistance of the small factory wiring. That will vary as you turn on the A/C, change the fan speed, open the door so the interior lights come on, etc. A way around that is to put a relay in the wiring run from the battery to the volt meter and trigger the relay with key-on power.

But, I hope you also put a fuse near the battery in your feed to the volt meter. Otherwise a short in that wiring could catch the truck on fire.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

jdavidsmi

Re: Adding guages

I think a relay is the way to go. When I was at the u-pull last week I was looking at the under hood fuse box from a 96. It had about 10 fuse spots, and 5 relays, I’m going to get it. I like the idea of having all the under hood fuses and relays in one spot.

Gary Lewis

Re: Adding guages

Administrator

I agree that a power distribution box is the way to go. I used what is probably the same box, although mine was from a '95 F-Series, and it worked out nicely. If you want I have the wiring diagram I worked up for that box that I could share.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

ArdWrknTrk

Re: Adding guages

Administrator

In reply to this post by jdavidsmi

I'll second the idea of a PDC.
I've added a compact distribution center underhood and it has worked out really well for me.

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

jdavidsmi

Re: Adding guages

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Gary, the diagram would be great, thanks in advance.

I do have a question about the oil pressure sensor. A little background. I had to pull the power steering pump and mount off to get to the sensor. When I installed the T and the sensor, I had to back the mount off a bit so the sensor would fit under the AC compressed mount.

The question is, does the oil pressure sensor need to be straight up and down,or will it work at an angle? Say 35 to 40 degrees towards the front of the truck.

I now cannot remount the power steering mount with the sensor as it is, the long bolt will not align.

Gary Lewis

Re: Adding guages

Administrator

David - Check out this post in Big Blue's Transformation thread and see if that diagram works for you.

On the oil pressure sender, it doesn't care how you point it. The Windsors had it down and at an angle. The 460's had it sideways. Don't remember on the 300's. But it just doesn't care.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

jdavidsmi

Re: Adding guages

Thanks for the quick response, need to get out to the garage before the heat sets in. The weather man says it should reach 97 today with very high humidity. I won’t be able to stay out long in that.

1986F150Six

Re: Adding guages

Administrator

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Gary Lewis wrote

On the oil pressure sender, it doesn't care how you point it. The Windsors had it down and at an angle. The 460's had it sideways. Don't remember on the 300's. But it just doesn't care.

On the 300 / 4.9L engine, the sending unit screws directly into the "verticle" surface of the block on the driver's side to the rear of the distributor... very conveniently located.

ArdWrknTrk

Re: Adding guages

Administrator

Hydraulics are the same in all directions, all the time.

There is never a need to worry about orientation, unless you have trapped air.

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

jdavidsmi

Re: Adding guages

I got both oil pressure sensors on and working, hope I don’t have to pull the fuel pump anytime soon.

As you can see it’s fairly close.

This is the new temperature sensor

This is the dash temperature sensor

With my son leaving on Monday, going to spend the last few days they are here with them.

I temporarily installed the wires for the volt meter under the dash, here are the gauges

Gary Lewis

Re: Adding guages

Administrator

Looks good! Looking forward to a report on how the temp gauges work. But, spend time with your son. Been there, done that with our daughter, and a week later we REALLY miss them.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

jdavidsmi

Re: Adding guages

Drove down to the transfer station, About 5 miles total this morning. The interesting thing is both gauges moved together. I was expecting the dash gauge to move as the motor warmed up and once the temperature was up to operation temperature the new gauge would move when the thermostat opened.
Am I thinking about this wrong?

I’m wondering if it even has a thermostat, or if it does is it even working. I have never noticed any issues with them motor staying cold, once in a while the temperature would be high, when the coolant had leaked down.

Something to check next week.

Gary Lewis

Re: Adding guages

Administrator

It looks like either you don't have a thermostat or it is stuck open. I think you should be able to tell by pulling the radiator cap when the engine is cold and then starting it. You shouldn't see circulation in the radiator until the thermostat opens.

But your sending unit is in the thermostat housing, right? The "gooseneck"?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

jdavidsmi

Re: Adding guages

Yes , the new one is, the dash gauge sender is in port next to the distributor, on top of the intake manifold.

Gary Lewis

Re: Adding guages

Administrator

That being the case, the only way I can see the new one responding quickly is if your 'stat is open or not even there.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile