so my 242 gt idled horribly, failed emissions, high HC only at idle. had to take it to a garage so that i could get a 'conditional pass' and they said i was running too lean. ok $180 later car failed emissions again, high CO, too rich. anyway got conditional pass so that's good. but now the car wont start without some serious peddle work. long story short, i want to install an oxygen sensor (my '79 doesnt have one) and hook it up to the ipd air-fuel mixture gauge so i can monitor it and adjust it myself. anyone know if you can just install an O2 sensor in the exhaust manifold, run a lead and a ground and hook it up to a gauge? does the O2 sensor operate independently of the computer and other electronics? i see from a wiring diagram that O2 is attached to an electronic module attached to the thermostat and frequency valve. i'm presuming that those connections are more so that the sensor can make adjustments to the mixture. all i need it to do is send a signal that the gauge can read. i read online that there is chemical reaction in the O2 sensor that results in varying voltage depending on levels of exhaust gasses, so it seems like it should be okay without the computer. any guesses? suggestion? opinions? thanks for any help
sp