correct temp sender
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 353
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correct temp sender
The temp gauge on my 67 big block car only moves up to about 100 degrees and the laser gun shows 180 at the thermostat housing, so what is recommended by you guys for an accurate temp sender, I am considering corvette centrals unit but thought i would get some opinions/ recommendations, thanks.
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The temp gauge on my 67 big block car only moves up to about 100 degrees and the laser gun shows 180 at the thermostat housing, so what is recommended by you guys for an accurate temp sender, I am considering corvette centrals unit but thought i would get some opinions/ recommendations, thanks.
At the end of the day this fact remains: After 62 or more years the original sender is gone, the wiring is old (or new) and the dash instrument is old, (or new) such that none of it is likely the same as it was when it was a new car, and that is why this has become the issue it is. 90% of our cars run at 180F +/- but our temp gauges read anywhere between 100 & 180. It's a plain old ohm mismatch between sender (actually a varistor) and dash gauge aided and abetted by old wiring or munged up bulkhead connector.
In my 63 Galaxie I was sufficiently frustrated to purchase every sender part number that would screw into the hole. When I found one that put the unnumbered indicator in the middle between H & C I returned the rest of them. Similarly with my 396, I bought 3 and kept the one that puts the needle at 170 F, as close as I can get. 170 is now 180 in my head. You may never get spot on. Get as close as you can and that is the new normal.
Dan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2014
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Both Dan and Scott have given you good answers. I have used, both, the Auto Zone TU5 (what Dan meant to type) and the Lectric Limited sending units with success. It is still a bit of a crap shoot.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
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The Lectric Limited sender is the one to get. It is accurate. I installed one on my 65 and it is correct in the reading. I tried 3 or 4 from all the parts stores and none of them were correct. And the LL was only about $28 too.
