In reponse to numerous questions on gauge installation, these are pictures of how the wires, lines and sending units were installed for oil pressure, water temperature and boost pressure. Ask away. This package is available on our website under Sales-Mini-Misc. http://www.perfectpowerinc.com

PerfPow







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<IMG SRC="https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...humb.jpg" IMG> SPUD

 

Nifty! Where does the oil pressure sender connect?

Also, did you remove the IC before drilling the outlet pipe for the boost gauge?

 

Hey Andy,
I installed a fitting on the oil filter housing. I can loosen the line and change the filter, then reconnect. I always remote mount those senders. Standard race car practice. Of course I removed the intercooler, to avoid having drill shavings enter the intake, having been born at night...but not last night!

PerfPow

 

Hehe, good man! What's the reason for remote-mounting the sender?

 

Andy,
High RPM vibrations seem to be the culprit. Especially on Porsche 911 engines where sustained 8000 RPM running seems to be the wrong frequency for these sending units. Usually a remote mount with some rubber isolation and the unit will never fail. Screwed into the engine block, senders failed every 4-6 race weekends.
In this case, the Mini did not have an easily accesed port from which to take pressurized oil, other than the filter housing. Mounting the sender to the filter housing seemed goofy and a hassle at oil change time. This is much easier to deal with when you need to replace your oil filter element.
PerfPow

 

Can you go into a little more detail about the water temp sender install?

 

But where is the stock oil pressure sender if any?? Also, the optional sender location on the filter housing is in the center. Spin on types has this area the filtered oil or return. Does anyone know for sure if the center is the return?

Thanks!!

 

The center is definitely the (post-filtering) return.

 

good filter plumbing design would intake through the outer surface and exit from the interior to present a greater surface area to the dirty flow.

 

>>But where is the stock oil pressure sender if any?? Also, the optional sender location on the filter housing is in the center. Spin on types has this area the filtered oil or return. Does anyone know for sure if the center is the return?
>>
>>Thanks!!

Okay, between putting the trans I rebuilt into my truck these past few days I took some time to check out the car this afternoon, specifically where the o/p sensor is located, among other things. The sender (MCS) is adjacent to the oil filter mounting closer to the center of the engine. It has a big green connector housing that can barely be made out looking down from above. The sender iis not very easy to get to from below, and it's a by-feel ordeal from above. There is a heat shield that also partially obstructs it, but I venture that there is enough room to sneak a tee between it and the block, and run a line to a remote gauge sender. The sender has a pretty beefy threaded end.

I also took care of my missing frame bolts (see the thread around here by the same name) myself and installed, but not yet wired my foglights. Next chance I get I will locate the temp sender (it's on or near the water pump from what I have gathered) and see if there is a way to avoid installing a tee in the hose to mount the aftermarket sender (I am not averse to drilling and tapping a housing). Boost pressure can be had from the fuel pressure regulator signal, or the elbow from the intercooler can be drilled and tapped for one.

I figure I can squeeze three 2 inch gauges in the space under the switch panel. I'll fabricate an aluminum panel to fit the space and still allow the use of the cupholders if possible.

I'll keep y'all posted on my progress!

 

Greatbear, I'm planning on doing something similar with an alum panel beneath the switches. You might be interested to know that AutoMeter sells a set of angled guage rings that allow you to tilt the guage faces roughly 10-15 degrees toward the driver--to make them a bit more readable, which is clearly an issue with the guages sitting that low. I bought mine from Jegs but I'm sure you can get them through Summit or whomever your prefered vendor is. They sell both 2 1/16" and 2 5/8" rings to match most guages out there--ie, not just AutoMeter.

Keep us posted on how it goes.