Water temp sensor ?

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Sep 2, 2001 | 09:20 PM

2nspire

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Racer

Joined: May 2001

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Water temp sensor ?

Does it matter if the sensor gets put in the head or if it gets put in the intake (right beside the thermostat). The reason I ask is because if I have to put it in the head then I have to go out and buy a 15/16 thin wall socket. If I put it in the manifold, it would be done faster than I can type this. Thanks

Sep 2, 2001 | 09:31 PM

gearheadz

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jan 2001

Posts: 1,004

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From: Gainesville, Florida

Re: Water temp sensor ? (2nspire)

The sensor will work fine mounted in the intake. It measures the temp of same coolant that flows through the heads. Some may assert that the head location would provide a more accurate reading but even if so, the difference in temp IMHO would be negligible. I think most prefer the head location because it removes a line (or wire) from on top of the engine providing a "cleaner" less cluttered look (which I agree with).

Mark

[Modified by mdsmith, 8:32 PM 9/2/2001]

Sep 2, 2001 | 09:53 PM

fugale

Advanced

Joined: Aug 2000

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Re: Water temp sensor ? (2nspire)

2nspire, I just completed the installation of a ZZ4 in my '73. One of the issues was the temp sensor. The ideal location would have been in the head same as the old motor. But, because of the size of the plug in the head, I had to look for another location. I agree with mdsmith, in that the head location is ok, plus its a plug that I can remove. I don't have a tool for the plug in the ZZ4 head. Another issue is that the original plug is bigger than the plug in the head of the ZZ4. Hope this helps you in your decision. :seeya

Sep 2, 2001 | 10:15 PM

JeffReed

Instructor

Joined: Aug 2000

Posts: 163

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From: Lewisberry PA

Re: Water temp sensor ? (fugale)

I put a 385 FastBurn in my 68 and changed the temp sensor to the one that came with the 385 for the same reason... they were different sizes. I've only run the car for a break-in period and a little road test before going back in for more work. I noticed the temp never reached 180 degree's, it seemed to hang around 100-125. Is this because I used the wrong sensor? I was hoping maybe I forgot to put a thermostat in or something like that??

Thanks!!

JR

Sep 2, 2001 | 10:27 PM

2nspire

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: May 2001

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Re: Water temp sensor ? (JeffReed)

Both of my holes are the same size so I have an easy choice to make. The only company I know of that makes thin wall deep sockets is snap-on and to buy 1 socket seems like a waste to me.

Jeffreed Seems to me like a while back that this post was addressed but I can't access it. I think the consencus was that there might be a slight temp difference between the placement of the sensor. This is what I was trying to confirm.

Sep 3, 2001 | 12:06 AM

theandies

Team Owner

Joined: Jun 2001

Posts: 23,367

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From: Virginia USA

Re: Water temp sensor ? (2nspire)

Quote:

The only company I know of that makes thin wall deep sockets is snap-on and to buy 1 socket seems like a waste to me.

Do you have a bench grinder? If so the get a really cheap deep socket and grind away. I have done this to spark plug sockets for small aircraft maintenance and it works great. It is funny you posted this problem, I have been messing around with my temp snsor most of the day. I have a ZZ4 installed in my 71 convertible and have been without a temp guage since I installed it. I have been using one of those Rayteck IR temp guns to monitor (kinda a hassle and I was getting sick of worrying). I bought a temp sensor for the head when I installed my engine and it never worked properly. I too wanted the sensor in the head but I have yet found a sensor that is calibrated to my guage. The ZZ4's head hole is the small diameter and the old temp sensor is the large diameter. I removed the plug in the intake maifold right near the thermostat and installed my old temp sensor there. I warmed up the engine and used the Rayteck to verify my temp on the guage. It reads about 5 to 10 degrees cooler on the intake. I can live with that.
John

[Modified by theandies, 10:07 PM 9/2/2001]

Sep 3, 2001 | 12:37 AM

GTR1999

Tech Contributor

Joined: Aug 1999

Posts: 15,154

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From: Connecticut, USA

Re: Water temp sensor ? (2nspire)

I ran into this problem first with my 67 coupe years ago after I instaled a new motor. I ran the sender in the Streetmaster intake and the car ran hot. checked the fan, clutch, radiator,etc turned out to be the intake. Switched the same sender to the head and it stayed right on 180.
Same on thing on my 69, ran it on the intake because the new crate motor had a differant thread size then the old original sender. It ran ok for years them this summer it started to run hot-210. This time I suspected the sender in the intake but used a digital thermometer to test the gauge and it was right on the money-210. Problem this time was the carb was jetted too lean.
So I would check the temp against the gauge to see if you're ok at the intake and take it from there.
gary

Sep 3, 2001 | 01:10 AM

adam

Drifting

Joined: Jul 2000

Posts: 1,266

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From: Allen, TX, USA

Re: Water temp sensor ? (2nspire)

Funny you asked.

I was trying to remove my coolant sensor in the intake on my 81. The thing wouldn't budge! I was afraid that if I torqued
it too much, it would break off!

The 81 has a sensor in both places, the intake is for the computer, the head is for the temp gauge.
My sensor used a 3/4 deep socket - guess they changed that size too.