Where do I connect the boost gauge. pics?

[Be4u]

I know its a line behind the plenum but which one? I'm not good at working on cars or knowing the who's who of car parts. Gotta link or a pic?

tia!

[scottyb]

There are several lines that come off the black vac block on tip of the plenum. One of them goes straight back toward the firewall then makes a left and passes in front of the AV/Heater box. It connects to a sensor on the passenger fender that electronically feeds the dash boost gauge. I tapped it under/beside the ignition module that sits behind the intake plenum. You can't even see it unless you dig.

That's the general way to do it, but not the only place that it can be done.

[Slow T]

Thats the way I tapped into mine also.
easy to do, just make sure you don't bump the line off the heater valve while your digging aruond in there.
I'm sure you'll have no problem
Good luck:Bill :top:

[scottyb]

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/under.pressure/CIMG0009.JPG

Sorry for the awful picture, cheezy camera and she aint no show car. You can see the white vac "t" just left of the trans dipstick. To the right of the dipstick you can see the connectoin to the hard line that comes from the vac block.

[Be4u]

Thanx guys! That pic is perfect. It's dark out now...gonna have to work on that tomorrow.

[Mistascott]

It's the second line from the back of the vac block.

First, run the boost gauge line through the firewall and into the driver's compartment. Then take three 2" long pieces of rubber vac hose, 1/8 inch diameter. (Advance Auto sells them individually if you can't find it sold by the foot.) Put one on each end of a 1/8" plastic tee. Cut the stock boost gauge line just past the coil pack area. Then hook the stock boost gauge line on either side of the tee and the new gauge line in the center of the tee. Make sure you are careful with the old line; mine was brittle and snapped.

Use http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/engine/vacdiags/vac_federal.jpg

Try to tuck the line away near the firewall so it doesn't get too hot. Use zip ties. Connect the electrical wire to something that will go off with your lights and you are set.

[mase]

Any vaccum source thats sucks when you put your finger on the line is good.

[scottyb]

Any vaccum source thats sucks when you put your finger on the line is good.

...as long as there is no check valve between that source and the vac block.

[fishin lure]

I drilled & tapped my plentum. My personnal preference, since I believe it gives a more accurate reading closer to cylinders than TB & doesn't have to travel through all that vacuum line.

[Be4u]

Thanx for the help, big detailed pic and links!!!

I did it scottyb's and mistascott's way...looks just like the pic and it works!

I connected the ground to the stereo ground and the positive to the stereo dimmer wire...the light didnt work. Reconnected the positive to the 12v and it still didnt work. Then I realized that the light housing needed to be in contact with the gauge to get a ground. DUH!

I'm not good enough to drill my plenum...serious rookie here.

[fishin lure]

I can understand you not wanting to drill the plentum, I was just letting ya know how I did it so you could know options.

[Be4u]

I can understand you not wanting to drill the plentum, I was just letting ya know how I did it so you could know options.
I got 'ya fishin lure. I'm glad you posted that, I learned something. In the future (when someone like me) searches for "how to hook up a boost gauge", this post outta do it. Anyone else can chime in too.

BTW, at idle I have 18inches of vacuum. Thats good right?

I "tested" my new SW GNX boost gauge...it has 30"vacuum and ONLY 15#'s of boost on the face plate. ARRGGHH! I need a bigger boost gauge. Anyways, my stock gauge read the exact same thing as my new gauge. I guess my stocker is ok. No?

[scottyb]

I got 'ya fishin lure. I'm glad you posted that, I learned something. In the future (when someone like me) searches for "how to hook up a boost gauge", this post outta do it. Anyone else can chime in too.

BTW, at idle I have 18inches of vacuum. Thats good right?

I "tested" my new SW GNX boost gauge...it has 30"vacuum and ONLY 15#'s of boost on the face plate. ARRGGHH! I need a bigger boost gauge. Anyways, my stock gauge read the exact same thing as my new gauge. I guess my stocker is ok. No?

Ladies and Gentlemen, the only stock boost gauge in existance that is correct. (oooooooo, aaaaahhhh). :anbet:

Ship that cluster to the Smithsonian!

18 in. at idle is damn good, a 15# boost gauge is worthless, a year from now that link won't work cause I'll forget why it's on my ISP site and delete it. Some newbe will be going :kopfkratz

[Be4u]

I'm rich!!! :thrashi:

[Be4u]

I was thinking about drilling and tappin' my plenum like we talked about. Whereabouts on the plenum is the best spot? Any tips? Suggestions? Pics???

tia!

[1badTTA]

Any vaccum source thats sucks when you put your finger on the line is good.
Yup, mine is Tee'd off of the EGR vacuum line before the check valve, works fine for me and less line to run since it is on the drivers side. :top:

[Be4u]

Yeah, I have my current line t'd like the pics above. I have a ported tb&p now that I'm going to swap with my original. I was going to drill and tap before I get it put on though. I just need to know the best spot.

[Snorman]

Why drill and tap?
Just T- off the factory lines. It's easy and cheap and you don't have to worry about leaky fitting at 25psi of boost.
S.

[DCEPTCN]

Uh, I just followed the directions that came with my VDO.....you'll see where the metal boost line 'steps down' to a plastic vacuum line and that is where you T in. I had no problem knowing exactly where it was because I had busted that selfsame line weeks before while putting in the new turbo. Gosh, if you've still got any of the factory vacuum lines....they are incredibly brittle!

[Be4u]

I was going to plug it into the plenum for more acurate boost readings. I was worried about leaking too. After running to about 5 different places I couldnt find a 1/4 pipe tap. Lowes didnt even carry it. WTF??? I hate shoppin' in Mississippi. Everything is limited and out of date. Screw it!!! :as: I'm going to stick to the easy way!