I replaced my with one from Zip that is "calibrated" for our engines. My gauge is now very accurate and steady.
Temp sending unit question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: McLouth Kansas
Temp sending unit question
76 350 with auto trani.
This winter I completely went thru the front suspension and when I removed the driver side headers ( hookers) to get the steering gear off the car,In doing so I broke off the electrical connector on the sending unit. At the time I thought no big deal I will just get a new one later.
I got one from o'rileys and put it in and took off for a test run to ck out the steering. BTW it steers like a charm,,,anyway the temp guage would ride at 200 before, but now the temp guage rides at 250. I bought another sending unit and it does the same thing. I looked under the hood and it did not seem any hotter than it ever has.
Why is it like this?? Over the winter I did nothing to the engine at all,,the car just sat for 3 months on my lift.
Do I need to get a sending unit from a dealer or one of our specialty venders. Iam thinking the voltage the sending unit puts out is different for the newer cars,,Maybe ??? any ideas
Thanks
This winter I completely went thru the front suspension and when I removed the driver side headers ( hookers) to get the steering gear off the car,In doing so I broke off the electrical connector on the sending unit. At the time I thought no big deal I will just get a new one later.
I got one from o'rileys and put it in and took off for a test run to ck out the steering. BTW it steers like a charm,,,anyway the temp guage would ride at 200 before, but now the temp guage rides at 250. I bought another sending unit and it does the same thing. I looked under the hood and it did not seem any hotter than it ever has.
Why is it like this?? Over the winter I did nothing to the engine at all,,the car just sat for 3 months on my lift.
Do I need to get a sending unit from a dealer or one of our specialty venders. Iam thinking the voltage the sending unit puts out is different for the newer cars,,Maybe ??? any ideas
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,039
Likes: 668
From: FL
The gauge reading is based on the resistance. The parts stores now sell a generic replacement that does not work well.
Lectric Limited as senders for our cars with the right resistance. I did exactly the same thing on my '75 and their sender worked perfectly.
Lectric Limited as senders for our cars with the right resistance. I did exactly the same thing on my '75 and their sender worked perfectly.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 0
From: Moon Township PA
Borrow or buy an IR gun and "shoot" the rad hose and radiator. It will tell you much more accurately what the real temps are. These IR guns are now below $60 and I wouldn't trouble shoot a cooling system without one.
Gary
Gary
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 5
From: Fayetteville Arkansas
I did the same thing with my 72 and yes the generic ones from the parts stores like Napa and autozone are not calibrated correctly for the guage to read accurate. Mine didn't read at all when I replaced it with the one from autozone. So either go to Zip or to Lectric Limited and they can send you the correct one for your car. Good luck
Sully
Sully
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 14,345
Likes: 4
From: Hartselle AL
St. Jude Donor '09
I don't know of one that will give an accurate reading but, I used a bushing in my thermostat housing to fit the 3/8" e-fan thermostat switch. It gets deep enough to work.
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 434
Likes: 3
From: Cleveland Ohio
Got mine from NAPA. There are a few available from them. The correct one is not the first one that the guy at the store will try to sell you. Go on the napa web site and do a little searching. Worst case you buy two or three sending units and fine the correct one. A IR gun will help the process along. Or check the resistance of the old one to one of the new ones 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 764
Likes: 2
From: THE OLDER I GET THE BETTER I WAS! NORTHERN ONTARIO
Just did a replacement on a 79 & got the sending unit form napa...it sits at around 220 where as the old one before failure ran around 200 205 on the gauge...not quite the same resistance but still lots of warning before overheat.
