Pressure gauge question

[BKBridges]

DG,
That's s good idea! That's really all you need for regular use, a fuel pressure idiot light!
BKB

[TheSilverBuick]

And a link to this ebay transducer??

[SuperBuickGuy]

DG, there are several problems with that idea (all kind of funny, but real nonetheless)
1) Yes, I am a HAM - the one that makes all the real HAMs mad because I use highly technical terms like "it's broke" and "dunno why" when they ask what's wrong with my radio; and who has 4 radios in my car when my Kenwood TH 6A would work for all of them if I were willing to break into the radio and remove a transistor or two (one radio to rule them all)
2) Yes, there is an inner geek that, when I was in high school (mid 80s), I made my own video board* - including creating my own circuit board.... that was a long, long time ago (it did work, though, so I guess I've got that)... but wiring just isn't something I look forward to doing.
3) I'd have to hook the alarm to a police siren or train air horn to hear it over the noise of the motor and side pipes


*this should give you a laugh - I went to a boarding school that forbid radios and TVs, but I wanted to bring my TRS-80 Color Computer to school... so I made a video board so I could attach an amber screen monitor to it.... I honestly suspect that I'm the only person who ever did that...


That said, a fuel pressure idiot light for the 50 Buick I'm building would actually be a very smart addition to the electronics package going into the car

[CDMBill]

I killed a couple of cheap small fuel pressure guages (Summit, Jegs) like the one you showed before paying a bit more for an Aeromotive branded one which has been good for six or seven years now. Its directly attached to the pressure regulator under the hood which is mounted to the fender well. Handy for setting running pressure. I also have an Autometer electric gauge on the cowl so I avoid the pressurized gas lines and I tapped into the 5v output so I could datalog it in the MS3X. The sender is t'eed into the same brass fitting as the small mechanical gauge so they see the same source pressure. They read about 1 psi different.

[TheSilverBuick]

You can see mine mounted the same on the regulator tucked under the air filter housing and haven't had any issues.

[SuperBuickGuy]

My gauge is on the heater box - so no engine, frame, or fuel pump vibrations.

I got the replacement gauge from EZ EFI.... I don't trust it - I put an American (allegedly because I found a label inside that said made in Taiwan... probably the label was made in taiwan, but who knows) the gauge itself says LA.... don't know, if it burns down; at least I've tried to solve the problem and the car is insured.

[Scott Liggett]

I've been told that those fuel pressure gauges do not stand up to the constant heat under hood. Carb ones always fail after a few months. Well, not a total failure, but they become less accurate over time.

I was told to put mine new one on the regulator, set the pressure, then remove it.

[oldschoolcamaro]

not a EFI set up but a Carbed and this is how i run my Fuel Press gauge







small 3AN line at back of regulator feed the fuel press gauge

[MR P-BODY]

If you cant read the gauge from the drivers seat you dont need the
gauge... if you have a problem and you want to see the pressure
screw the gauge in.... do you see a gauge on a production car...
also dont ever believe a filled gauge if its in the under hood heat..
the oil heats up and pushes back and reduces the reading

[Bob Holmes]

if its in the under hood heat..
the oil heats up and pushes back and reduces the reading

Learn something new every day. Makes sense.

Thanks.

[SuperBuickGuy]

When I fire a motor in a car for the first time, I put an oil pressure, needle gauge in the sender hole so I can watch all the important stuff from the engine compartment... saved a motor because of that. I had a 472 Cadillac that the machine shop had knocked the galley plugs out of the middle of the cam bloc... no oil pressure (not priority oiling). Had it been just the gauge in the car, by the time I'd have run around to see if there was oil pressure, it'd been too late.

For the same reason, the gauge is back in the pressure regulator - if the car stops running, I know immediately whether or not it's fuel or spark...

[TheSilverBuick]

also dont ever believe a filled gauge if its in the under hood heat..
the oil heats up and pushes back and reduces the reading

True. I only consider the reading good when the engine is completely cold. However, even if it's off, it can tell you something as the pressure reading drop is around 10psi on my car, so if it's suddenly not starting or reading lean and I'm only seeing 15psi on the gauge, I know it's not really 15psi, but it's definitely low.

[MR P-BODY]

When I fire a motor in a car for the first time, I put an oil pressure, needle gauge in the sender hole so I can watch all the important stuff from the engine compartment... saved a motor because of that. I had a 472 Cadillac that the machine shop had knocked the galley plugs out of the middle of the cam bloc... no oil pressure (not priority oiling). Had it been just the gauge in the car, by the time I'd have run around to see if there was oil pressure, it'd been too late.

For the same reason, the gauge is back in the pressure regulator - if the car stops running, I know immediately whether or not it's fuel or spark...

I do the same thing on a fresh fire up... but when its set I pull my gauges...
on my race car I run all mech gauges.. on my street rod they are all elec...
I T them in with my good gauges the first time around to check their accuracy
then pull my good gauges and put them away