Adding Gauges

[pearldrumbum]

Ok, so I want to add some gauges... Oil pressure, water temp, and volt meter for sure, maybe vacuum as well if i can find a place for it...

I've only ever done this kind of stuff on really old cars (50's and 60's) where all the gauges are mechanical and theres no computers or idiot lights to worry about. Frankly, I'm scared of computers and idiot lights because I dont even know how they work.

I want to use mechanical gauges wherever applicable, so I'm just wondering where would i tap into the motor for the water and oil gauges (are there any extra holes that are just plugged? Or do i have to remove the stock senders, and if so, how will that affect the computer?) Vaccuum is easy enough, theres a couple extra vacuum ports that i've already found. And for the volt meter, I'm assuming the truck alraedy has a "battery" or "alternator" idiot light, could I use these wires for that? Or should i just run another series out to the battery?

Oh yeah, this is an 88 ranger 4x4 2.9 5sp

 

[yodaman1151]

i think for water temp you could just buy some brass fittings (a tee) and just add the gauge in the same port and both would work.

not sure on oil pressure

voltage probable just run it to the battery unless you want to tear into your dash

vacuum you already figured out.

 

[pearldrumbum]

actually i think a tee would be a better idea for the oil pressure than water temp... pressure is just pressure and expands evenly in all directions.

with the water temp i would be afraid of it not being very accurate because its not sticking in the block with water running by it. Instead it would just be a small pocket of water hanging out in the tee which would probably be slightly cooler than the water circulating in the block.

The other option is to not use mechanical gauges.... in which case i just tap into the signal wires before they get to the dummy light right? Or do they go straight to the computer, then to the dash? If i did that, would it give me an accurate reading? or is the signal coming from a sender to a dummy light not "interpretable" by a gauge?