Trans Temp Gauge

[GilroyRacing]

I am looking at putting in a trans temp gauge. I noticed that autometer has a weld in bung that works on the trans pan.

Is there any other way to hook the trans temp gauge to the trans pan besides welding the bung to it?


What all did you do?



Here is the gauge I plan on using:
Auto Meter Sport-Comp Series #3451

2-5/8" Mechanical Transmission Temperature Gauge

Range: 140°-280° F






Also, here is the weld in bung:

[gadget73]

You could replace the pan with an aftermarket one that already has the bunghole. Might also not be a bad idea to get a 4x4 pan from the junkyard to use for this. They have extra fluid capacity, and if you burn a hole in the pan, the one on the car is still in place. You will need the 4x4 filter with the 4x4 pan tho.

[JD's Toy]

when i installed a trans temp gauge in my 4x4 i cut into the transmission cooler line going to the in-radiator cooler. My thought was that this would be the max temp of the trans fluid, and i wanted to know what it was getting to at the peak.

Cut the tube in half, and then built my own T fitting out of compression fittings from ACE hardware and the supplied temperature sensor included with the gauge. Worked like a charm, and no issues in 3+ years.

Also used that opportunity to add an aux trans cooler. Someday I plan the same mods for the wagon.

[P72Ford]

I have seen people tap into the line that runs out of the trans, to the cooler. It is a good place to take the temp, but I was too afraid the lines would end up leaking. This also requires compression fittings, etc, which are included in some trans temp gauge kits that I have found.

When I was planning on installing a trans temp gauge, I planned on mounting the sender in the pan via a drain plug kit. B&M sells a kit that allows you to put a drain plug in a pan that doesn't have one. The kit is like $7 (http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku).

Unfortunately, the sender for the mechanical gauge wouldn't fit in the 1/8" NPT opening in the drain plug. But, the electrical trans temp gauge (Autometer PN 3552) comes with an 1/8" NPT sender, that would fit right into that drain plug kit. Not sure how well those drain plug kits work though, or whether they seal well.

But, I like the full sweep mechanical gauge more than the electric one. It really isn't any more work to weld the bung in, than it is to mount the drain plug kit, so you might as well go with the bung. I had a hard time finding a trans. pan for the AOD with a bung already in it, and the ones I did find were $$$. More often than not, they just have the drain plug hole, which could be used for a sender, I guess.

[DuceAnAHalf]

i added a tee a few inches out of the tranny, on the hot side of the cooler line. i used braided stainless line out of the tranny into a -6 AN fitting in the tee that goes into a -6 compression fitting. no leaks