OK so I finally got some gauges .

I am VERY VERY nervous about installing the thermocouple. I am going to install it pre-turbo in the exhaust manifold.

I found these instructions to be the most helpful:

http://www.tstproducts.com/pdffiles/instpy25b.pdf

So my questions are...

Should I do it with the engine running or not?

Taking the turbo off does not seem to be an option, as that is a real pain and seems (as far as I can tell) really unnecessary.

I guess if worst comes to worst, the only thing that would get damaged if, by some chance some shavings got through would be my turbo would get damaged, right? But not the rest of the motor? (Which makes sense as far as I can tell... ).

For someone like me, who is nervous about installing, and has never done this before, I would really appreciate some advice on whether to do this with the engine running, or not, and any other tips and tricks you all might have. My 3 ISSPRO gauges came from Vulcan performance, and included with the kit was a drill bit and a tap.

I have read about every thread I can find about installing gauges, so I'm sure to most of you this is YET ANOTHER one... but I'd really appreciate some advice!

Thanks!

Dennis

 

a number of people including me have taped up the exhaust pipe completely and then run the engine and drill the exhaust manifold , BE SURE to wear safety shield and gloves, it will shoot shavings back toward you. you will not have any damage.

 

Those were the same instructions I used and everything was/is just fine. I center punched the hole, used a 1/16" bit as a pilot and then the 5/16" (? I think) bit heavily lubed with axle grease to collect the shavings. I then used a retractable pen magnet to fish shavings from the manifold, didn't get much of anything THEN I fired up the truck for about 10 seconds to clean everything out, I was more worried about buggering up the tap threads than drilling the hole. Oops, shouldn't have said that

It's not a bad job at all. Like you I was very nervous but in all it was about 15 minutes start to finish on the probe.

Good luck.

 

i never had the engine running while drilling/tapping mine. i never unbolted the turbo from the manifold. all i did was run the shop vac while drilling to suck up most of the chips. installed the pyro and started it up. no problem for me.

at a minimum for comfort, you could unbolt the turbo from the manifold. without the engine running, drill and tap. then start it to blow out any chunks. then bolt turbo back up. i wouldnt worry about running the engine while drilling/tapping....that seems overkill.

ive done it 3 times now and never had an issue.

 

and....if you want place a piece of cardboard inbetween the exhaust and tubo housing, use a magnet to grab metal shavings then start motor and let run for 5-10sec which should blow any metal out and not into the turbo. The cardboard worked and no worries. Bolted all back up and no probs since. Who wants to be drilling over a hot exhaust/turbo?

 

the thumbs down was for drilling over a hot turbo and exhaust...unless you're cooking an egg on it.

 

Drill+Shop Vac
Tap+Lots O Grease
Truck Not Running
Brandon

 

No dude don't run the engine. I think every one is a little nervous tapping a perfectly good exhaust manifold for the first time. When you drill keep wiping the shavings off and right when your bit is about to go through make sure you wipe it one last time. Then put some grease on the tap and work it through. Afterwards... Pencil magnet + Vacuum + lint free cloth and you're good to go. Don't forget to put anti-seize on the threads of the thermocouple and don't tighten it down too much to where you strip the threads.

When I did mine, even though I was planning on it, I didn't use a vacuum. I used a magnet and realized there was really no shavings in the manifold so I got as much as I could and called it good. A little bit of shavings won't hurt your turbo. Whatever is left in there after you clean it up is just dust. It'll go right through the turbine wheel.

 

I second the lube on the tap when tapping the hole, and the antisieze on the thermocouple . Also most of the swarf stays out of the hole, very little drops down inside. What does seems to be a non issue and blows through on engine start.

 

i second the shop vac