Looking for Inexpensive transmission temperature sensor and gauge kit

[RedneckExpress]

Well, not too long ago, I ordered a Derale 14210 Deep Transmission pan and pickup extension for my truck to replace the stock transmission pan as part of my boosted transmission cooling project. 

One of the benefits to the new pan besides the extra 5 qts of capacity, was the fact that it came with both a drain plug and a bung for connecting a transmission temp sensor. 

The transmission temp sensor bung is a standard 1/8" NPT threaded connection, so now I am in the market for a simple tranny temp gauge and sensor kit that won't set me back big bucks.

So, I turn to you all for suggestions since many of you have already done these things before .

[Stripe]

Was that a 518 tranny? If so, will a sensor from the original fit the new?

CMM500

[RedneckExpress]

It is the A518 (46RH hydraulic version vs the 46RE), however, it never had a a temperature sensor of any kind. 

So far, from what I've gathered, one I'm looking at is the GlowShift Black 7 color kit which comes with the mount hardware and sensor and so on.

Black 7 Color Transmission Temperature Gauge

[Stripe]

Nice, that also includes the sensor! I'd say that was a good price as my next question to you was what do you define as big bucks?  Do you think you may need the extended harness?

CMM500

P.S. What color do you think you'll use?   Hm?

[RedneckExpress]

I'm going to go with the extended harness due to the routing I will need to take to run the wires for the sensor out of the cab, through the firewall and then along the frame to keep it away from heat sources. 

I'll likely go with white so that it matches the gauges in the dash, though I won't settle till I get it installed.

This is the transmission pan I bought, along with the pickup extender.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004XONSYE/ref=oh_details_o00_s01_i00

The kit includes the sensor, and a basic U shaped mounting bracket for the gauge as well.  Big bucks is when I start having to peel off Benjamins, something I'm already doing a lot of to get the truck ready to go.

[Stripe]

Nice pan.  The price seems reasonable as well, although I haven't looked at that for my rig yet. Is the extra cooling a good payoff?

CMM500

[RedneckExpress]

For the workout my transmission gets moving 4000lbs of camper down the road and over the grades here in the PNW, the extra cooling is my way of ensuring the 518 doesn't grenade on me.

The pan is only part of the equation, as one also needs a far bigger tranny cooler to go with it to really maximize the benefit of the extra fluid.   I don't know if I'll get the latter part done before my big transcontinental journey, but I need to drain the tranny again and change the fluid, so upgrading to a pan that has a drain was a requirement and since I planned to eventually do the upgrade, I figured now as as good a time as any to get the big pan.

I picked the derale, because it's Steel and won't crack or shatter like the aluminum pans will if it gets hit by something.   Also, one has to ask, how do you keep the magnet in place in an aluminum pan?

My stock pan is steel, her replacement will also be steel .

[Stripe]

I may just look into that myself, I have the same tranny and also live in PNW (Seattle).  And as I plan on having a Toad, that may just be what the doctor ordered..


CMM500

[Oz]

I added a separate transmission cooler to my 24' Indian.  It was a huge plus on cooling the transmission since I towed an open bow boat and traveled over mountains.  Did I need a larger capacity pan?  Nah, the stock one holds plenty.