CarolinaOBS
ZIP TIES AND PB BLASTER
The purpose of this thread is for basic install, fit /finish, and glow shift product review for those of us who want/need aftermarket gauges and can't afford to be Autometer fanboys. Granted i wanted colored backlit gauges as well.
Alright guys, i recently had the need for some gauges in my truck, Voltage and coolant gauges on the dash were quite inaccurate as well as me just spending over $2000 to rebuild a transmission i wanted to add a trans temp gauge. That being in mind i wanted to make this a semi budget project, i could have easily gone with the el-cheapo 10 dollar amazon special gauges but i wanted them to last a little while and look decent.
Parts list:
Glow-shift Trans temp gauge P#: GS-T712-SM --> $53
Glow-shift water temp gauge P#: GS-T706-SM --> $53
Glow-Shift volt gauge P#: GS-T705-SM --> $48
Glow-Shift Triple Pillar Pod P#: GS-330 --> $37
Dewael 36mm inline water temp adapter P#: MG36BK --> $10
Random brass hardware to install tans temp sensor --> $10
Stuff i already had: wire, transmission line, trans cooler, split loom, etc.etc.
Total cost for this project to me was only $211
INSTALL:
Sensors) When in installed the trans cooler in the front i put the trans temp gauge before the cooler as to pick up the temp of the fluid coming out of the pump flowing to the cooler. This will show me the hottest temp the fluid is. I know most suggest putting it in the transmission test port, you could also do that but i opted for a simpler install and it will still give me an idea of any trouble going down. Also note if installing in the transmission, you may need a test port extender to keep the sensor from bottoming out in the shallow test port, and in my case it wouldn't fit behind the gear selector attached to the side of my 4l80e. For the water temp sensor i just used a neat little inline sensor adapter and spliced it into the upper radiator hose to get the temp of the coolant flowing out of the block. Put plenty of teflon tape on sensor threads and i didn't have a single leak. Note: all sensors were threaded in 1/8 pipe thread.
Pillar Pod) The pod had the general form and shape of the a pillar trim but you will definitely need a heat gun when trying to install a glow shift pod as well as be prepared to do trimming. At first i didn't want to damage my original pillar, so i tried running the wires under the trim and using adhesive backed velcro to mount the pod, WILL NOT WORK haha. Drill a small hole in the a pillar trim to run your wires in and use the included thick cap screws and black screw caps to drill into the pillar trim and the pod snugs right up (with allot of heat gun and trimming adjustment). I will probably color match the pod to my red interior later down the line.
Wiring) The gauges come with decent instructions for how to wire these. Basically, you ground the sensor to the frame and run the other wire off the sensor to the gauge. Each gauge had a specific wiring harness that plugged into the back with a pigtail to wire in. The harness does come with a provision for a dimming function, to use this, splice into your headlight switch or the dimmer function wire going into your radio head unit (most likely an orange wire). You will definitely have to run a ground, a switched 12v positive (ignition), a fused 12v positive, and the sender wire from the sensor. For best results solder every splice connection and shrink wrap etc. blah blah blah. I ran all wires inside of split loom as well to prevent rubbing anywhere.
Review: After all was said in done it took me a Saturday to install working on and off. So far i am very pleased with the glow shift product. I heard off the horror stories about glow shifts dying and all that good stuff but i wasn't going to fork up $400 for gauges. For the price its really hard to beat because the gauges and sensors seemed very well made. Only issue i had was getting the pod to fit right. Ive been running them for a while now and they work flawlessly and decently accurate. I think these gauges are the best bang for your buck if you want a killer look for not the killer price. IF I HAVE ANY ISSUES I WILL UPDATE THE THREAD.
Alright guys, i recently had the need for some gauges in my truck, Voltage and coolant gauges on the dash were quite inaccurate as well as me just spending over $2000 to rebuild a transmission i wanted to add a trans temp gauge. That being in mind i wanted to make this a semi budget project, i could have easily gone with the el-cheapo 10 dollar amazon special gauges but i wanted them to last a little while and look decent.
Parts list:
Glow-shift Trans temp gauge P#: GS-T712-SM --> $53
Glow-shift water temp gauge P#: GS-T706-SM --> $53
Glow-Shift volt gauge P#: GS-T705-SM --> $48
Glow-Shift Triple Pillar Pod P#: GS-330 --> $37
Dewael 36mm inline water temp adapter P#: MG36BK --> $10
Random brass hardware to install tans temp sensor --> $10
Stuff i already had: wire, transmission line, trans cooler, split loom, etc.etc.
Total cost for this project to me was only $211
INSTALL:
Sensors) When in installed the trans cooler in the front i put the trans temp gauge before the cooler as to pick up the temp of the fluid coming out of the pump flowing to the cooler. This will show me the hottest temp the fluid is. I know most suggest putting it in the transmission test port, you could also do that but i opted for a simpler install and it will still give me an idea of any trouble going down. Also note if installing in the transmission, you may need a test port extender to keep the sensor from bottoming out in the shallow test port, and in my case it wouldn't fit behind the gear selector attached to the side of my 4l80e. For the water temp sensor i just used a neat little inline sensor adapter and spliced it into the upper radiator hose to get the temp of the coolant flowing out of the block. Put plenty of teflon tape on sensor threads and i didn't have a single leak. Note: all sensors were threaded in 1/8 pipe thread.
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
Pillar Pod) The pod had the general form and shape of the a pillar trim but you will definitely need a heat gun when trying to install a glow shift pod as well as be prepared to do trimming. At first i didn't want to damage my original pillar, so i tried running the wires under the trim and using adhesive backed velcro to mount the pod, WILL NOT WORK haha. Drill a small hole in the a pillar trim to run your wires in and use the included thick cap screws and black screw caps to drill into the pillar trim and the pod snugs right up (with allot of heat gun and trimming adjustment). I will probably color match the pod to my red interior later down the line.
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
Wiring) The gauges come with decent instructions for how to wire these. Basically, you ground the sensor to the frame and run the other wire off the sensor to the gauge. Each gauge had a specific wiring harness that plugged into the back with a pigtail to wire in. The harness does come with a provision for a dimming function, to use this, splice into your headlight switch or the dimmer function wire going into your radio head unit (most likely an orange wire). You will definitely have to run a ground, a switched 12v positive (ignition), a fused 12v positive, and the sender wire from the sensor. For best results solder every splice connection and shrink wrap etc. blah blah blah. I ran all wires inside of split loom as well to prevent rubbing anywhere.
Review: After all was said in done it took me a Saturday to install working on and off. So far i am very pleased with the glow shift product. I heard off the horror stories about glow shifts dying and all that good stuff but i wasn't going to fork up $400 for gauges. For the price its really hard to beat because the gauges and sensors seemed very well made. Only issue i had was getting the pod to fit right. Ive been running them for a while now and they work flawlessly and decently accurate. I think these gauges are the best bang for your buck if you want a killer look for not the killer price. IF I HAVE ANY ISSUES I WILL UPDATE THE THREAD.