intake/inlet manifold pressure gauge

[steve_k]

afternoon folk's.

right then, i've installed a set of extra gauges into the cubby hole in front of the ashtray in my sport & after finding a oil pressure/oil temp gauage & fitting that along with a volt meter i am left with an empty hole in the mounting plate.

after reading this thread VVVVVVVV

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 49#2530449

i noticed that the alpina gauge uses a inlet/intake manifold pressure gauge, & i was wondering would it be possible to use one of these in my install?

if so what would be the pro's? & con's?? also what type of gauge??

save's me trying to figure out which other gauge to mount there as i'm thinking of ditching the voltmeter & replacing that with a diff oil temp gauge.

so, inlet/intake pressure gauge, yes? no? which gauge?

[kam-325i]

A gauge in the Intake/Inlet would be measuring a Vacuum, unless you have a charged intake (Turbo or supercharger), then you would have a postive pressure....

[jmc330i]

If you're thinking of doing the diff oil temp, you could also do the gearbox oil temp.

[steve_k]

If you're thinking of doing the diff oil temp, you could also do the gearbox oil temp.

been thinking about that just got to find a twin oil temp gauge to do both.

@kam-325i, is positive pressure a good thing? just trying to find out as much as possible.

[steve_k]

If you're thinking of doing the diff oil temp, you could also do the gearbox oil temp.

might have to take the centre air vents out if i end up getting any more gauges

or i could go all jap crap & put them up the A pillar

[kam-325i]

@kam-325i, is positive pressure a good thing? just trying to find out as much as possible.

Not on a N/A engine !!!!

The intake charge (air) on a N/A engine is sucked into the fannymould by the downward stroke of the pistons, this cause's a vacuum (negative pressure) in the intake system. On a turbo/Suprecharged system, the charge(air) is pushed into the fannymould, causeing a posititve pressure....

[steve_k]

@kam-325i if you skip to simon13's post at the bottom in link above you will see i am thinking of fitting the end of the vacum pipe to the other side of the plate on the front of the intake manifold (pipe from fuel pressure regulator on the other side) same as si is doing with his alpina/vdo gauge.

i take it then i'll be needing a vacum gauge like this one? VVVVVV

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performan ... cuum-gauge

[kam-325i]

thats right.....

My dad used to have one fitted to his Hillman Hunter, but the gauge had "Power" where that one shows poor......

[steve_k]

thats right.....

My dad used to have one fitted to his Hillman Hunter, but the gauge had "Power" where that one shows poor......

cheers dude

looks like i know what i'll be doing in the next few days

[steve_k]

right thought i'd better update this,

bought a vacuum gauge to use, thing is the advert stated it could also be used as a boost gauge,

not a problem, but one of the wires on the back is for a "boost sensor", now i know this is of no use to me byt wwould i be able to ground it out? if so would it cause any problems??

would i still be able to use the gauge for it's vacuum function??

[steve_k]

what i'm trying to say is would it be possible to ground the sensor wire & still use it as a vacuum gauge??