Post by eporter123 on Jan 8, 2009 0:58:21 GMT -5
So, I did this a few months back. Real simple, took a couple hours, and a great addition to the Justy, given the oil pump oil pressure problems. It's kind of scary knowing that the stock warning light comes on at only 3psi, and that normal pressure can/should be 10x as much!
Anyways, I got this mechanical kit cheap at a flea market, and figured, why not! The kit came with a bunch of fittings for the block. I used the SAE fitting that was closest. As has been said often on here, it's not perfect, but it works!
**All photos are from a 1990 EFI 4WD Justy**
SO, first step is to find the stock oil pressure gauge. It's on the back of the block, between the engine and firewall, near the oil filter.
Disconnect the rubber boot and wire from the electrical oil pressure sender. Unscrew the oil pressure sender.
**Ideally, you would put a "T" fitting in, so as to have an oil pressure gauge, and a nice low oil pressure warning light on the dash. Maybe someday. People have discussed the difficulties of finding appropriately threaded T's with the issues of SAE and metric threads. I believe SAE will distort to fit, and seal, metric threads, but not the other way around.**
Figure out how your oil pressure fitting works. This one is really simple. Basically the oil pressure forces air through a tube, and registers against a gauge in your car. An electrical unit would measure pressure within the unit, then send a signal to your electric gauge. Nice, but $pendy.
This pic shows the new unit screwed in, and the old electric unit in my hand:
This mechanical unit threads into the block. You put a plastic tube into the compression fitting on the end of the unit. Tighten the nut down and compress the tube into the fitting. Use the included teflon tape on these threads.
Now, I cut some lengths of fuel hose to protect the fragile plastic oil pressure gauge line. If this line gets cut, your oil will pump out through the hole! SO, route your line carefully!
I found a grommet in the firewall that was unused. I believe this is an AC pass-through?
Either way, it's unused, so I used it. I cut an
"X" in the middle of the grommet, pushed the hose through, and popped the grommet back into the firewall. Zip-tie the line to something. I used the brake lines. Leave some slack in the line for engine movement.
Here it is coming into the car. I believe the vinyl had a cut pre-made in it, I just poked the tube through. The white tape is where I joined two smaller pieces of fuel line together. I removed the heater ducting for the exploratory portion of this process. Now that you know what to do, you could probably just poke the hose through!
I mounted the oil pressure gauge under the stereo. I think the previous owner of this Justy had a CB or ham radio mounted under the stereo. He hacked out the ashtray. That's ok for me, I'm just out a change holder. There are microphone mount holes on the dash, and a hole in the roof where I think the big whip antenna went. I think the Justy would look like an RC car with a big antenna!
Trim the small oil pressure line to length, put into the compression fitting on the back of the oil pressure gauge, attach the oil pressure gauge to the bracket, and start up & check for leaks!
HEY! I've got decent pressure! Good news!
The random wires in the bracket photo go to a switch the PO mounted in the dash. One day I'll hook up the gauge to the dash lights for night time driving. I may hook the gauge into this switch so I can turn it's light on/off for whatever random reason.
It would be great to find a gauge with a 0 to 50PSI sweep. I haven't seen any though.
I think my next step would be to keep an eye out for a decent 3-gauge setup with oil pressure, amp output, and water temp.
Having an oil pressure gauge will help you keep an eye on the weak point of your Justy. I think they should be required on all forum members' Justys!
Also, chick's dig gauges. Your car always needs more. I think I gained 10hp with this mod.
Anyways, I got this mechanical kit cheap at a flea market, and figured, why not! The kit came with a bunch of fittings for the block. I used the SAE fitting that was closest. As has been said often on here, it's not perfect, but it works!
**All photos are from a 1990 EFI 4WD Justy**
SO, first step is to find the stock oil pressure gauge. It's on the back of the block, between the engine and firewall, near the oil filter.
Disconnect the rubber boot and wire from the electrical oil pressure sender. Unscrew the oil pressure sender.
**Ideally, you would put a "T" fitting in, so as to have an oil pressure gauge, and a nice low oil pressure warning light on the dash. Maybe someday. People have discussed the difficulties of finding appropriately threaded T's with the issues of SAE and metric threads. I believe SAE will distort to fit, and seal, metric threads, but not the other way around.**
Figure out how your oil pressure fitting works. This one is really simple. Basically the oil pressure forces air through a tube, and registers against a gauge in your car. An electrical unit would measure pressure within the unit, then send a signal to your electric gauge. Nice, but $pendy.
This pic shows the new unit screwed in, and the old electric unit in my hand:
This mechanical unit threads into the block. You put a plastic tube into the compression fitting on the end of the unit. Tighten the nut down and compress the tube into the fitting. Use the included teflon tape on these threads.
Now, I cut some lengths of fuel hose to protect the fragile plastic oil pressure gauge line. If this line gets cut, your oil will pump out through the hole! SO, route your line carefully!
I found a grommet in the firewall that was unused. I believe this is an AC pass-through?
Either way, it's unused, so I used it. I cut an
"X" in the middle of the grommet, pushed the hose through, and popped the grommet back into the firewall. Zip-tie the line to something. I used the brake lines. Leave some slack in the line for engine movement.
Here it is coming into the car. I believe the vinyl had a cut pre-made in it, I just poked the tube through. The white tape is where I joined two smaller pieces of fuel line together. I removed the heater ducting for the exploratory portion of this process. Now that you know what to do, you could probably just poke the hose through!
I mounted the oil pressure gauge under the stereo. I think the previous owner of this Justy had a CB or ham radio mounted under the stereo. He hacked out the ashtray. That's ok for me, I'm just out a change holder. There are microphone mount holes on the dash, and a hole in the roof where I think the big whip antenna went. I think the Justy would look like an RC car with a big antenna!
Trim the small oil pressure line to length, put into the compression fitting on the back of the oil pressure gauge, attach the oil pressure gauge to the bracket, and start up & check for leaks!
HEY! I've got decent pressure! Good news!
The random wires in the bracket photo go to a switch the PO mounted in the dash. One day I'll hook up the gauge to the dash lights for night time driving. I may hook the gauge into this switch so I can turn it's light on/off for whatever random reason.
It would be great to find a gauge with a 0 to 50PSI sweep. I haven't seen any though.
I think my next step would be to keep an eye out for a decent 3-gauge setup with oil pressure, amp output, and water temp.
Having an oil pressure gauge will help you keep an eye on the weak point of your Justy. I think they should be required on all forum members' Justys!
Also, chick's dig gauges. Your car always needs more. I think I gained 10hp with this mod.