Econometer/Vacuum Gauge Installation Guide

[Noel]

Decided to go install one on my Metro...

MAYBE 10 minutes (have not hooked up bulb yet) -- MULLET!!! What am I missing on removing the heater control panel? 2 Screws from under at radio, 1 screw for the tiny dash piece.......... do I have to take the main cover from under the column?

The gauge mount clipped under the plastic behind the column like it was meant to go there. No screws required. Have it offset to the right of center... I like to see the spedo,,, but I only need the left. My vision is only impared of 70mph and above.


---Gauge was very fluttery, I pinched off the line to give it a buffer, and now it's as smooth as can be. Hovers around 23 at idle, normal but conservative driving up the road, looks like 10 is the goal. Higher rev shift points means less load on the engine.....

Shifting too soon makes the engine work very hard.

[Johnny Mullet]

My car had no radio or cover. I pulled all four buttons straight off the heater controls and the top cover came right out! In there you will find how to wire in the bulb.

Here are what normal vacuum readings should be on a properly working gauge and a properly running engine.............

IDLE - 18-22
DECEL - 22-30
ECONOMY - 10-18
POWER - 0-10

The goal to saving fuel is to monitor it while at cruising speed. Keeping a constant reading like 10-12 will net the best results. While getting up to speed, but never accel hard so it drops below 5 because that is just a waste. Watching it at idle will tell you if the engine is running properly. The gauge should really not fluctuate at idle more than 2, but some gauges are not as accurate as others.

[Noel]

My pinched off line wasn't so effective after it got warm....

I went into my local NAPA, and they sell a inline "vacuume arrestor" it has about a 26gauge hole in the middle, works GREAT for leveling out the readings.

Originally Posted by Noel

---Gauge was very fluttery, I pinched off the line to give it a buffer, and now it's as smooth as can be.

Shifting too soon makes the engine work very hard.

[getnpsi]

Tooting my own horn i have a brand new boost/vacuum gauge for sale in the FS area.

[Noel]

Vacuum Gauge at Idle with the ac OFF:


Vacuum Gauge at Idle with AC ON


Youtube Video of 0-50 acceleration through the gears... held camera with left hand. Couldn't see the gauge while doing it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05xvvXrc40s

[Stormin' Norman]

Some time ago, I was looking at modifying my gauge array into one of those Flat Screen displays, like this:

Nordskog Performance Products

My Fairmont Squire wagon just got back on the road, after 2 years of ground up restoration and swapping to an economical Inline 3.3L Six from the original 302-V8. Outstanding difference in fuel economy. A tankful lasts me 2 weeks! But I can do better, with a couple other easy DIY mods.

Well anyway, I went on a Search tear, and found some really excellent sites about Reading Vacuum Gauges. One of those is from one of Henry Ford's Early V8 models, and is a great great graphic of the different activities of the gauge with small notations below each:
efv8 - Tech Tips

If you click the combo box, you'll see a companion text to go with it.

Next was a more detailed and logical explanation on its functionality and how to troubleshoot your car's systems:
Using a vacuum gauge

If you right-click the purple check-box icon, you can download it as a PDF.

I'm in a home renovation mode for the next few weeks, so I don't have time to do the Car-tweaking that I want to, but it runs perfectly. I never moved the distributor during the whole time I was working on the body, and I'm not sure that I have the vacuum lines set up right, but the Original plugs were in excellent shape, since it was rebuilt 6 months before the donor car was totalled, at which time I got it.

Hope that vacuum picture helps someone. At least it makes a nice framed picture for the garage!

[Johnny Mullet]

Noel, that is a perfect example of how to drive with a vacuum gauge and save fuel! Good job on the video!

[Vince-HX]

I always accel between 0-1 inches. Seems to work alright for me and my little 1.6

[Roman]

I also just get me a cheap vacuum gauge, but i don't know were to install it. There's a T-splitter within the package but i don't know were to place it.

There is no manual whit it (bought it on the internet for 10 euro/15 dollar).

[Noel]

Here are pictures of mine:

T Splitter, under the air cleaner, I used the vacuum line that is on it's way to a sensor.




Here is the Vacuum Arrestor that I got at NAPA to take the jiggle out of my gauge


Here is where I went through the firewall, that boot was pretty tough to get through, so I just went above it. There isn't much strain on the plastic, not too worried about it rubbing through. Might still add a piece of rubber fuel line over it to prevent eventual abrasion