I've been searching this forum and others for a place to connect the boost gauge. The threads that I found all have broken links and no pictures. I have no idea where to tee-in the tubing...

 

Here is where I tapped mine in and the type of tee I used. Pics included. :smile:

 

I saw those pics, but I can't really see where that is. The pics seem too close...

The first one said the pic was taken from under the intercooler elbow. What is that?

 

When I installed my vacum lines to my fuel pressure regulator I took the IC off of the car. It made the job alot easier then trying to work around it.

 

The intercooler elbow it the large aluminum piece to the left of the intercooler when viewed from the front of the car. Look under the intercooler where this elbow piece wraps around the intake manifold. You will see a small plastic vacuum line. This connects the fuel pressure regulator to the intake manifold so it can sense thevacuum and boost pressure and aadjust the fuel delivery accordingly. This is the best place to tap into for a boost gauge, though it's a little tight. It's easiest to remove the intercooler itself so you can make the connection.

 

I am resurrecting this thread to ask a stupid question. I think I have read every post about installing a boost gauge and I think I will be able to find the vacuum line to "tap into". My question is, what exactly is meant by "tapping into" the line? I realize it means attaching the T-thingy somehow so the line to the gauge can be attached, but does "tapping" mean drilling into the line, cutting into it, or just removing some rubber connector thingy and sticking the T-thingy in its place and then reconnecting...or what? Someone please explain it to me like I'm 2 years old.

Thanks!

 

Actually in this case "tapping into the vacuum line" means "just removing some rubber connector thingy and sticking the T-thingy in its place and then reconnecting". No drilling, tapping or anything else needed. You simply pull off the hose from it's existing fitting, attach a short piece of rubber hose to the fitting, then add the tee to the hose, then plug the original line onto the tee. The remaining port (nipple) on the tee is where you connect the line to your boost gauge.

 

Perfect, thanks Greatbear!

One more question: do I need to get any other parts to make sure that there is an air-tight seal between the new piece of rubber hose and the fitting, and the new piece of hose and the T, and the T and the vacuum hose for the gauge? Or are those parts all made to seal air-tight on their own? Thanks again.

 

They are all self-sealing. Unlike things like radiator hoses, small vacuum tubing like this simply presses onto their respective fittings without clamps. Instead of being all long lengths of rubber tubing these days however, the lines are often smaller diameter plastic tubing. This tubing usually has a rubber fitting on the ends which press onto the fittings. This makes for a neater installation and one that potentially lasts longer. The plastic does not deteriorate over time like rubber hoses do. The small rubber fittings are usually made of neoprene, silicone or buna-n, which lasts a long time.

 

I attached zip-ties to each connection point just to be double safe personally (even though it is just air).

 

Ok a couple more questions, and heck I may as well just reserve the right to ask a few more later on.

1) Greatbear, I found a "y" splitter thing that looks like the one from your pics. Is yours a 1/8" size or 3/16"? (Or, anyone using a "tee", is it 1/8"?)

2) I have looked at a few places and I can't find the "adaptor" that connects the y splitter to the nylon hose that came with the Autometer gauge. Can anyone tell me what the part is, maybe a brand name and size or part number?

Thanks!

 

I would recommend everone to use clamps on the hoses. Pressure-or vacuum leaks are the most common problems with turbocars and I don't see a big difference to a compressor building up boost here.

 

The T and the vacuum hose need to be 5/32.

CarfanaticI would recommend everone to use clamps on the hoses. Pressure-or vacuum leaks are the most common problems with turbocars and I don't see a big difference to a compressor building up boost here.


I would not recommend using clamps on this application because they may distort the tubing and cause a leak. My MCS has been running with no clamps for 7,000 + miles, no problems/leaks

 

:smile: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...8&page=1&pp=25

While your in there do the VGS Mod, it's nice

 

mine mod. failed untill i used 2 part epoxy to seal the joints






doug

 

Seal what joints? for which Mod?

 

when you tee into the fuel pressor reg. mine blew off twice untill i did it right

doug

 

sorry---mod boost gauge.

 

You must mean the plastic tubing from the boost gage into the 5/32 rubber vacuum hose. Yes I was concerned with that also. My solution was to put the T at the intercooler duct nipple, connect the FPR there then run a vacuum line to the BPV area where I placed another T to a line almost beside the air box for the boost gage and one for the BPV. I pushed about 4" of the boost gage plastic tube into the vacuum hose at that point. I did consider putting some RTV on the plastic tube about 2" back from the end before pushing it in but didn't. No problems yet!