Finally got my gauges totally connected with the installation yesterday of the BD manifold.
Took the truck out and there was initially no movement of the EGT until I started up a small incline street about 300 yards from the house. EGT immediately pegged to 1600 degrees. Coasting down the next hill it dropped to 800 degrees, only to immediately go back to 1600 once on the highway, where it stayed the rest of the drive.
Thinking maybe I installed the Pyrometer too deep and against the back side of the manifold, I pulled it back about an inch this morning. Started the truck in the garage and ran it for about 2 miutes but only got a rise to about 150 when revving it up.
I'll go for a drive in a while, but I'm wondering if this is normal, or what to look for.

Seems abnormal to me.

I can see the EGT move when I turn the ignition on and electricity is sent to the gauge. Start the truck and the gauge starts moving up to 380 - 400 *F at idle.

Around town, no load -- 600 - 850

Towing trailer -- 900 - 1300 (1300 on grades > 6%)

DuratotheMax says 1375* max constant duty.

Banks says:

Thanks for that link, didn't think to search the banks site. Good info.
Seems somethings not right.
Just got done driving around town and never saw the EGT go above 500. At idle it's sitting around 150, and cruising at 45 MPH 1700 RPM was about 200. On the Highway at 60 MPH it was around 300 on level ground and as I'd coast would drop to 200. While going up hills and accellerating at half throttle is when I'd see 500
Outside air temp is around 20 right now. I was alone in the truck with nothing in the bed or being towed.

the probe could be bad too

you got a problem with a connection or a bad thermo couple. cruise at 60 should be around 700-900 idle probably 350-450 depends on tune

Finally got my gauges totally connected with the installation yesterday of the BD manifold.
Took the truck out and there was initially no movement of the EGT until I started up a small incline street about 300 yards from the house. EGT immediately pegged to 1600 degrees. Coasting down the next hill it dropped to 800 degrees, only to immediately go back to 1600 once on the highway, where it stayed the rest of the drive.
Thinking maybe I installed the Pyrometer too deep and against the back side of the manifold, I pulled it back about an inch this morning. Started the truck in the garage and ran it for about 2 miutes but only got a rise to about 150 when revving it up.
I'll go for a drive in a while, but I'm wondering if this is normal, or what to look for.

this is not normal...1600 degrees while just cruising down the highway and for the rest of the drive? if the EGTs were really that high, you would have melted the motor.

Just got off the phone with Autometer.
They think I probably have a bad probe. A new one is on the way.
I hope this fixes it, since it means tearing the dash and pillar apart..... AGAIN.

I don't know how you guys do this stuff for a living. Everything is taking me twice as long as y'all say it will and needing to do it over two or three times.
I'm seriously rethinking blocking my EGR and doing the Downpipe, even though parts are in due to the frustration I'm having.

You don't have to tear the dash apart to change the probe.

Then how do I connect the probe to the gauge?
With the Cobalt gauge it is one harness that plugs into the back of the gauge with four wires leading to it, Pyro, Light, power, and Ground.
To get to the dimmer switch where I connected the light wire you've got to pull the light switch assembly off, which means tearing the dash apart. To keep from scratching the dash while removing and replacing the pillar I pulled the upper dash toward the back of the truck.
Do you have some better hints for me? I used to think I was a pretty good shade tree mechanic, but the mods I've done so far are making me question my abilities. So far the only one that went easy and about the right amount of time was the Cat Back exhaust replacement.