Basics for installing electric Fuel Pressure gauge / sender (updated)

[grayman]

just trying to get the basics down for this before I buy a Fuel Pressure gauge.
It will be electric with sender for mounting in a pillar pod. (or heater vent...if i can find that mod info again) Where does the sender go? I know this may be a silly question...but 'universal' is not my favorite term from a manufacturer.
I understand the gauge itself will have a recommeded sender to buy (or come with it in some cases) and that the gauge will have it's own ground and power for display...but where on the 2001 L36 will the sender be located/mounted?

Is there any thing to look out for/be aware of when picking out an F/P gauge.

I am thinking about something like this....
http://www.nordskogperformance.net/p...tail/m8034.htm

because it matches well with this....
http://www.nordskogperformance.net/p...tail/m9200.htm

I don't plan on spending 400 bucks for single gauge...just something affordable that will show FMU working correctly...and also to show basicaly if car is lean or rich.

TIA

[ December 21, 2004, 05:20 PM: Message edited by: grayman ]

[viper98885]

The sender will mount on the fuel rail where the fuel pressure schrader valve is. You will want to remove the schrader valve and hook up a union of the threaded fitting and then install the sending unit.

[Wicked 3800 V6]

Right. Be careful of the clearance to the cowl --- some people have had to mount a little fuel line, and set the sender on the shock tower or so.

[grayman]

Fuel rail test port is located on passenger side near front on engine on fuel rail. It has a black cap. Under cap is a shcrader valve. (to test fuel rail system and also to relieve pressure...usefule when when you run out of gas and need to get fuel moving again.)

The housing for the schrader valve is -4AN male

[ December 19, 2004, 03:32 PM: Message edited by: grayman ]

[grayman]

I think this will do nicely (but aluminum? maybe brass or steel is preffered) to splice into the main rubber 3/8" fuel hose just before the fuel rail rather than trackin down -4 AN female to 1/8 NPT female for use of shcrader valve port.
http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...part=SUM-G1710

[ December 19, 2004, 03:36 PM: Message edited by: grayman ]

[grayman]

Still searching for -4AN female to 1/8" female fiiting(s) adapter(s) for using test port.

[ December 19, 2004, 03:39 PM: Message edited by: grayman ]

[grayman]

This is one of the best..."all in one" solutions I have come across for installing the Fuel Pressure sender in the full rail test port. It is typically $29 and is supposed to come as a kit with one end of hose having a female -4 AN fitting on a stainless steel braided fuel hose (3 ft.) with different adapters/fittings for the other end...one of which should fit the 1/8" NPT male sender. It is intended for routing mechanical fuel pressure gauge...but will work for a 1/8" sender as well. I don't like having to deal with placement of a 3 foot fuel line in the engine bay however. Any suggestions or info for 'cutting' and resizing such a fuel line would be appreciated. (never done such a thing myself.)
The sender adapter hose kit can be found here...
http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...3227&x=10&y=10
part number ATM-3227

(would like to use this hose kit...trim down size if possible and suspend sender from passenger side cowl....sorta symmetrical with FMU on driver side)

TIA for any info on cutting/resizeng such a hose...would like to know more about subject before I buy it.

[ December 19, 2004, 03:54 PM: Message edited by: grayman ]

[grayman]

Organizing and evaluating fitting part numbers for direct placement of sender to fuel rail test port or fittings for creating custom length (1 foot or so) 1/4" ID FI hose with different fittings it would require. Will update this thread with solution and part numbers.

[ December 20, 2004, 04:08 PM: Message edited by: grayman ]

[grayman]

Well, I have decided not to mount the sender on the fuel rail test port. It can be done...but with the limited clearance under the cowl several connections/adapters would have to be made. The more connections I have on the high pressure fuel injection system the more nervous I get. So, I am going with the $5 3/8 barbed fitting that has a 1/8 NPT female connection built right in. http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...part=SUM-G1710 It is alluminum, not my first choice, but the threads seem good on test fit with sender. This will require 2 clamped rubber hose conections as well as the threaded sender connection (with thread sealer) itself for a total of three. To create a hose assembly that plumbed into the shrader valve would require those three connections as well as a few extra adapters/convertors for AN to NPT as well as female to male converters which will in many configurations terminate in barbed hose ends anyway.
My plan is to leave the stock parts intact for possible de-modding of car in distant future. With that in mind...I will be picking up about 1.5 feet of 3/8" fuel injection hose, a few Fuel Injection approved 3/8" clamps and two female GM Quick Disconect fittings. This rig will have the presure sender T spliced into it and the entire section will replace the stock 3/8 fuel feed rubber section. (one GM quick connetor to the fuel rail and the other end to the chassis mounted hard tubing on inside drivers side fenderwell. I have already plumbed in the FMU in a similar fashion with two female quick connectors so I can just remove both of those stock fuel lines and save them for de-modding car. Only the EVAP fuel line will still be stock and present on car. The cost for this rig will be about $30...similar to most other options when you get done with all the assorted connectors, etc. The cheaper is obviously to just slice into the stock 3/8 rubber portion of feed line.
Next thing to track down is some of that flame/heat retardant metalized fuel line wrap...to be on the safe side.

Here are some links to AN adapters and assorted NPT fittngs for custom work concering the fuel rail test port schrader valve fitting and 1/8 male fuel pressure senders.

You can use a # 3227 stainless hose kit which is a #4 line kit which is 3 foot long. One end will thread onto your factory schraeder valve on the fuel rail and the fuel sender will thread into the other end with one of the hose kits supplied adapters.
Part number ATM-3227 Braided Stainless Steel Hose, 3ft. #4, 3/16" ID Fittings. For use with mechanical pressure gauges. Recommended for use with fuel pressure gauges. From Auto Meter. $30
http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...3227&x=10&y=10
--------------------------------------
EAR-916104ERL Fitting, Straight, -4 AN Female to 1/8 in. NPT Male, Aluminum, Blue, Swivel, $7
http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...6104+&x=16&y=8

WITH THIS:
EAR-991001ERL 1/8 NPT female -> 1/8 NPT female $3
http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...1001+&x=13&y=8
Will not fit under cowl with a 4" tall sender.
-------------------------------------------
EAR-915104ERL Fitting, Coupler, Straight, Female -4 AN to Female -4 AN, Aluminum, Blue, swivel, $5.25
http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...RL+++&x=21&y=8
------------------------------------
Not sure about this type of brass 'AN' fitting...
AER-FBM1201 Fitting, Hose End, Straight -4AN, 1/4 NPT, Brass, Natural Color, $3
http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...h&Ntt=npt+barb
-----------------------------------------
AER-FBM1231 Fitting, Hose End, Straight, -4 AN barbed , -4 AN female Adapter, Brass, $3
http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...&Ntt=4+an+barb
--------------------------------------------
EAR-982204ERL Fitting, 90 Degree, -4 AN Male to 1/8 in. NPT Male, Aluminum, Blue, NO SWIVEL, $7
http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...82204&x=13&y=7
------------------------------------------

I have no personal experience with the above aluminum/brass fittings for use in a high pressure fuel injection system. Most official literature states that steel (red) and brass are for fuel connections and the aluminum fittings are for NOS or non high pressure fuel systems. Also, be aware of possible fitting incompatibilities between aluminum and steel/brass. (aluminum can crack) Others personal experiences asside, I just don't want to give bad / untested advice. Please research this topic further before attempting to utilize any of the above listed parts or methods on your particular fuel system.

[Turbo V6 Camaro]

EAR-923104 -4 FEMALE TO 1/8 NPT SWIVEL $22.69 Today

EAR-991001 1/8 NPT COUPLING $2.95 Today

that all you need for the test port to sending unit

i know it works with this sender for a fact
NRD-S8434 Sending Unit, Fuel Pressure, Each $59.95

[ December 22, 2004, 09:10 AM: Message edited by: viper04af ]

[grayman]

Thanks Viper, I did forget about the 90 degree swivel.

Follow up to trimming down the ATM hose kit ATM-3227 Summit recommeded this fitting for a -4 AN diameter stainless hose. AER-FBM1101 Fitting, Hose End, Straight, -4 AN, -4 AN Adapter, Steel, Natural Color, $7
http://store.summitracing.com/defaul...=aer%2Dfbm1101

Good luck, G.