Temperature sender issue/problem
Thread Starter
TheCorvetteBen
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,987
Likes: 144
From: Van Alstyne, TX
Temperature sender issue/problem
Here is the background on the 1974 Corvette I am working on. It has a 350 v8 with center bolt valve covers in it (1987 and newer from my research). The temp gauge never moves. It has 12v, a good ground, and the sender wire is complete, and will peg the gauge when grounded out. This leads me to believe that the issue is with the sending unit itself, not wiring, and not the gauge.
I have read that in the mid 80s and 90s, some chevy trucks came with just a water temp light and not an actual gauge. This meant that the sender really only sent any kind of resistance when your engine was over heating (aka 230 plus degrees). I believe that I have that type of sender in my cylinder head.
The issue that I have, is the senders that will fit my 1987+ cylinder heads are a different diameter than the ones that came in the c3s originally. I can't just order a sender for a 1974 corvette and expect it to fit. Does anyone know of where I can find a sender that will fit the engine that ALSO sends the correct resistance to run a gauge? Thanks!
I have read that in the mid 80s and 90s, some chevy trucks came with just a water temp light and not an actual gauge. This meant that the sender really only sent any kind of resistance when your engine was over heating (aka 230 plus degrees). I believe that I have that type of sender in my cylinder head.
The issue that I have, is the senders that will fit my 1987+ cylinder heads are a different diameter than the ones that came in the c3s originally. I can't just order a sender for a 1974 corvette and expect it to fit. Does anyone know of where I can find a sender that will fit the engine that ALSO sends the correct resistance to run a gauge? Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 10,628
Likes: 132
From: Duvall, WA
Willcox has this.
https://willcoxcorvette.com/corvette...79-3-8-npt-new
I don't know if it's accurate with your gauge but they also have this adjustable resistor that will let you dial it in.
https://willcoxcorvette.com/corvette...resistor-68-76
https://willcoxcorvette.com/corvette...79-3-8-npt-new
I don't know if it's accurate with your gauge but they also have this adjustable resistor that will let you dial it in.
https://willcoxcorvette.com/corvette...resistor-68-76
Last edited by rcread; Aug 4, 2017 at 07:24 PM.
Thread Starter
TheCorvetteBen
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,987
Likes: 144
From: Van Alstyne, TX
Thanks for the link! Looks like they just machined down the old style sender to the right size. Wonder if this is a new sender that wont read right or if it is one of the good ones.
