Sunpro Sport ST Electric Oil Pressure Gauge Install

[KZOO3800]

Noob electric OP gauge install questions.
This is a '97 SE N/A 3800. I'm trying to one-up the stock Buick gauge cluster. I want oil pressure and battery gauges damnit. Possibly even a trans temp or pressure gauge to boot. Electric, not mechanical. Engine health is all I care about at 180K miles.
So, either I'll hook this OP gauge up on its own or buy a multi gauge housing and expand into it soon. Depends on what is recommended.

1. I'm interested in the best mounting solutions for both single and multi gauge installs. Suggestions?
2. Will I need an adapter to plug this sender into or will it screw right into the OEM sender's threads?
3. 12 volt wiring from fuse box: I'll need to splice into a +12 volt for the dimmer on the gauge, splice into a +12 volt for the gauge itself itself, and provide -12 volt grounds for both. Which wires in the drivers side fuse box can accomplish this?
4. Sender wire type: What gauge and what type of insulation should the sender wire be?
5. Through firewall location: Where can I run the sender wire through the firewall? Where will it come out inside the car?

Thanks for advice. I'll make a how-to while I'm at it. And, here's the literature I've checked out researching this including some pics I took.

Sunpro Manual
http://www.sunpro.com/publish/2007/09/27/pdf_english_16426.pdf

Install Tips
Oil Gauge Installation

Lighting Tips
Lighting Your Gauges

 

[BillBoost37]

First off... look at the instructions for the gauge. They probably suggest wire etc. Any reasonable (stranded) 16-18 gauge should work though.

-12V is different than ground. Ground is simply the negative post on the battery, a clean piece of metal on the car (because battery post is connected to body of car) etc. -12V is not a ground. Your gauge should only require +12V (ignition source), ground, and illumination. I'd suggest using an add a fuse piece to get your +12V switched aka ignition from the fuse box. Then hook the ground to any clean metal surface that isn't painted and lastly, the illumination circuit is a gray wire leading from the headlight switch, radio etc etc. tap into any of them.

On screwing the sender in.. I believe the threads in teh oil filter adapter are 1/8NPT. Depending on your sender will determine if it fits or needs an adapter.

 

[KZOO3800]

Thanks Bill. You're the reason this thing still runs I swear. I found ZZP has a sweet dual and triple gauge mount. Gonna order the dual. My euro-expert buddy is going to help me wire this bad boy up. In return Im helping him remove/reinstall his trans to replace all 3 trans seals in a 1982 AWD Mercedes turbo diesel. Both jobs sound like good fun to me.

 

[BillBoost37]

I thik you are getting screwed on the deal as far as fair trade. However you will learn a ton in knowledge and he could use a hand with that.

 

[KZOO3800]

This Sunpro sender has a metric thread size,
M10x1.0. This wont fit the threads in the block.

Oem sender thread size is 9/16"x18.

I checked 3 auto parts stores ... No luck lol.

Anyone know where I might order an adapter for this? I have everything else I need just waitin on the adapter.

 

[FordMan77]

Maybe check home depot or lower for npt adapters. Other than that the manufacturer comes to mind.

 

[KZOO3800]

Hahaha. Local industrial supply company was the 6th place I tried in town and gave it their best shot. It's impractical but at this point I bought them just for the heck of it. My family runs a huge machine shop so my father and I are looking into just machining something. I may just take the gauge back and find one that comes with a standard-thread sender.

Also, there's a metal power steering line right behind where I'd install the sender.

 

[outonthetiles]

When I ran mine, I used an 18" section of -4an line from the OFA to a t on the firewall where I mounted both an aftermarket pressure sender and the factory one. Mounting it to the firewall isolates it from more vibrations. You don't want that sender failing, causing you to lose oil pressure.