Next instal was the boost gauge. Looking ahead I was planing to get a chip, and that throws out the readings that the scangauge gives, so wanted something to monitor what the turbo was doing. Plus, they look
and if I instal it myself makes me look a combination between
and
(not that my worth is founded in my appearance, mind you).
Ended up going with a GlowShift 52mm, mechanical operated jobbie. Came with 7 different LED backlight colours that can be scrolled through and selected by the user, or can even automatically scroll through the 7 colours at random, if you were after that party room type of feel in the cabin
.
After having installed the T-piece in the MAP line for the one way valve, the instal of the vac line wasn't a concern for me. However, wiring up the electricals was another matter completely, as my total electrical experience equated to wiring up some home theatre speakers and that was about it!
So, as I tend to do, lots of reading and asking questions on the instal process, including where to mount the thing, how to mount it, how to get access to it etc.
As you can see from the pic below, ended up mounting down low on the A pillar. After learning (from irwazza - thanks) how to pull off the A pillar (gee things are simple and non-threatening when you actually know how to do something!) I mounted the the gauge cup first, then fed the vac line through the grommet high up on drivers side (along with a 4mm twin core cable that were both carrying power, ie one wasn't being used as an earth - this power run was going to be for the boost gauge and anticipated EGT gauge on one cable, and the other to power up a planned UHF), behind the fuses then up and out just at the base of where the A pillar meets the top of the dash. There was just enough room for it to squeeze through in that location without squashing it.
Thinking long term down the track, with UV rays etc, I also put some heat shrink (without actually heat shrinking it) over both the vac line and the four cables of the boost gauge. Has made it look neater, and as I said, was about protecting especially the vac line from going brittle etc from UV ray exposure.
I had the gauge running for a couple of weeks without having it wired up, as I plucked up the courage to T into wires in the brand new bus, as well as have half the dash hanging apart. Figured out what to do re relays too, as while I was wiring up for the boost gauge I was going to be wiring up my new UHF (that will be the next edition - stay tuned).
For the boost gauge I needed to wire into constant power (from the new power run I'd fed through), T into accessories so that it would power up when the key was turned to ACC, then also tap into the lights circuit, as the gauge dims the LED backlighting when the lights are on (very cool), plus the earth. Had to firstly (prior to installing) solder on more length of cable, and then triple checked to make sure I had the right colour going into the right wire.
Man oh man, did I feel edgy as I T-eed into the factory wiring .....
Good news though - IT ALL WORKED - just as it should! Yippee!
I think it looks nice and neat, and better still, all of the wiring was the right way around - I don't know how many times I turned ACC on and off, then lights on and off to see the backlight dim and then go to full brightness, amazed that my first foray into 12v wiring went faultlessly!