Lamco Gauge packs are cool, functional, and an OEM piece, but suffer from people ripping them out of cars. Typically, if you find them, the wiring will be chopped up, you'll be missing sensor(s), and just, well, screwed.
But fear no more, as I have noodled most of it out!
Basics:
Lamco gauge packs came in multiple different offerings:
White Face = GC/GF
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Black Face = GD or newer
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Info on gauge packs and their respective part numbers can be seen here: Page #12
The gauge pack itself is a single DIN size, so it can fit where ever single DIN space is available. It has all the associated mounting wholes and wait not to accommodate too. Originally, it was designed to mount to the top of the dash, as seen above.
All readings on the gauges will come in Metric: Celsius, MPa, KgCM^2
Determinig Origin:
USDM v. EDM/JDM will depend on the gauges in the gauge pack.
A typical USDM pack will consist of:
Vacuum (gc/gf) or Boost (gd+), Volts, Oil Temp.
A typical EDM/JDM pack will consist of:
Oil Pressure, Volt, Oil Temp.
For EDM/JDM gauges, the gauge pack does not include the boost gauge, as it originally came with a seperate Lamco boost gauge pod, designed to mount off to the side of the clamshell, thusly:
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Senors:
From what I've seen seen nearly worldwide, most gauge packs will come san sensors. Most will be cut, or the sensor(s) went bad.
Upon searching for the OEM oil and pressure sensors, information was coming back that the sensors are NLA and, if you're able to find one NOS or used, upwards to $150 for the temperature sensor :eek: I couldn't even begin to find anything about the pressure sensor.
As a substitute, many forums rumored the Defi Link sensor fit the bill, but particular ones. To allow OEM installation, these corresponding part numbers will work*:
Oil Pressure Sensor (Metric) - PDF00713SS
Oil Temperature Sensor - PDF00908SS
All sensors from Defi should be 1/8PT thread, and thread into the stock oil pressure sensor block adapter. Make sure to get the Metric temperature sensor as the Imperial is rumored to be 1/8NPT thread.
Downside is true Defi sensor are $$$. So.....yeah.
*Now these sensors are rumored to work, and fit the bill for the temp sensor (50-100*c 5v sensor, two wire), but are only just that, rumored. Testing on my end will follow suit soon.
Wiring:
A quick google search will turn up a this diagram*:
Boost, Volt, Temp GD+
![]()
*Substitute boost for vacuum and you have the GC/GF gauge pack
With EDM/JDM gauge packs, there is a "black box" which the wiring for the oil pressure runs into, then runs to the sensor. This black box is a bit of a mystery to many who received gauge packs with chopped wiring. I've chased many forums and threads with dead ends...until
Lots of digging later, found on a New Zealand subaru forums, in the archives:
![]()
The basis of the design is the pressure sensor wiring is fed into the black box, where four (red, white, black, blue) wires go out to the sensor itself, as well as to the blue wire connected to the stock pressure sensor. The stock pressure sensor is removed and replaced by the Lamco pressure sensor, and a blue wire connects to the stock pressure sensor wire. This will tell the ECU it has pressure, turning the light off on the dash. Not so complicated after all.
The temperature gauge will have two wires, a black and a white, sending out to the sensor. These don't matter as to which wire goes where, as the sensors works off of resistance.
The pressure sensor wires have three wires, a black, a white, and a red. The red and black feed power to the sensor itself, where the white wire acts as a signal wire.
The wiring is relatively self explanatory, matching alike colors. There are a number of wire joints that will go from 2 -> 1, especially for the power, ground, and illumination. Read the diagram carefully to be sure.
If using Defi sensor, match alike colors as well. Defi sensor use the same color coding, leading me to believe Lamco gauges are an off shoot, or a predecessor for Defi.
The boost and vacuum gauges will be wired according to the first diagram above, but to get the boost/vacuum reading, will need to be plumbed as well. Typical though processes is to tap into the brake booster line or similar vacuum line. It's adviced that a check valve will likely need to be plumbed in to reduce any issues with vacuum leaks.
Similarly to all Subaru accessories (i.e. under seat subwoofer, compass pack, etc) the gauge pack is designed to be powered by tapping the radio harness. It does this by means of going in between the radio, and the radio harness for the body. This will consist of a male and female plug, one into the radio, one into the body harness*. It can be seen here:
![]()
*This is usually chopped off, so I advise building a harness to allow plug an play operation. Plugs can run ~$10 for both off of Ebay shipped
But fear no more, as I have noodled most of it out!
Basics:
Lamco gauge packs came in multiple different offerings:
White Face = GC/GF
Black Face = GD or newer
Info on gauge packs and their respective part numbers can be seen here: Page #12
The gauge pack itself is a single DIN size, so it can fit where ever single DIN space is available. It has all the associated mounting wholes and wait not to accommodate too. Originally, it was designed to mount to the top of the dash, as seen above.
All readings on the gauges will come in Metric: Celsius, MPa, KgCM^2
Determinig Origin:
USDM v. EDM/JDM will depend on the gauges in the gauge pack.
A typical USDM pack will consist of:
Vacuum (gc/gf) or Boost (gd+), Volts, Oil Temp.
A typical EDM/JDM pack will consist of:
Oil Pressure, Volt, Oil Temp.
For EDM/JDM gauges, the gauge pack does not include the boost gauge, as it originally came with a seperate Lamco boost gauge pod, designed to mount off to the side of the clamshell, thusly:
Senors:
From what I've seen seen nearly worldwide, most gauge packs will come san sensors. Most will be cut, or the sensor(s) went bad.
Upon searching for the OEM oil and pressure sensors, information was coming back that the sensors are NLA and, if you're able to find one NOS or used, upwards to $150 for the temperature sensor :eek: I couldn't even begin to find anything about the pressure sensor.
As a substitute, many forums rumored the Defi Link sensor fit the bill, but particular ones. To allow OEM installation, these corresponding part numbers will work*:
Oil Pressure Sensor (Metric) - PDF00713SS
Oil Temperature Sensor - PDF00908SS
All sensors from Defi should be 1/8PT thread, and thread into the stock oil pressure sensor block adapter. Make sure to get the Metric temperature sensor as the Imperial is rumored to be 1/8NPT thread.
Downside is true Defi sensor are $$$. So.....yeah.
*Now these sensors are rumored to work, and fit the bill for the temp sensor (50-100*c 5v sensor, two wire), but are only just that, rumored. Testing on my end will follow suit soon.
Wiring:
A quick google search will turn up a this diagram*:
Boost, Volt, Temp GD+
*Substitute boost for vacuum and you have the GC/GF gauge pack
With EDM/JDM gauge packs, there is a "black box" which the wiring for the oil pressure runs into, then runs to the sensor. This black box is a bit of a mystery to many who received gauge packs with chopped wiring. I've chased many forums and threads with dead ends...until
Lots of digging later, found on a New Zealand subaru forums, in the archives:
The basis of the design is the pressure sensor wiring is fed into the black box, where four (red, white, black, blue) wires go out to the sensor itself, as well as to the blue wire connected to the stock pressure sensor. The stock pressure sensor is removed and replaced by the Lamco pressure sensor, and a blue wire connects to the stock pressure sensor wire. This will tell the ECU it has pressure, turning the light off on the dash. Not so complicated after all.
The temperature gauge will have two wires, a black and a white, sending out to the sensor. These don't matter as to which wire goes where, as the sensors works off of resistance.
The pressure sensor wires have three wires, a black, a white, and a red. The red and black feed power to the sensor itself, where the white wire acts as a signal wire.
The wiring is relatively self explanatory, matching alike colors. There are a number of wire joints that will go from 2 -> 1, especially for the power, ground, and illumination. Read the diagram carefully to be sure.
If using Defi sensor, match alike colors as well. Defi sensor use the same color coding, leading me to believe Lamco gauges are an off shoot, or a predecessor for Defi.
The boost and vacuum gauges will be wired according to the first diagram above, but to get the boost/vacuum reading, will need to be plumbed as well. Typical though processes is to tap into the brake booster line or similar vacuum line. It's adviced that a check valve will likely need to be plumbed in to reduce any issues with vacuum leaks.
Similarly to all Subaru accessories (i.e. under seat subwoofer, compass pack, etc) the gauge pack is designed to be powered by tapping the radio harness. It does this by means of going in between the radio, and the radio harness for the body. This will consist of a male and female plug, one into the radio, one into the body harness*. It can be seen here:
*This is usually chopped off, so I advise building a harness to allow plug an play operation. Plugs can run ~$10 for both off of Ebay shipped