temp gauge
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Forrest City Ar
temp gauge
how did the temp gauge work on a 78 I have installed a new engine not really running yet so I don;t know if I have a working gauge. don't remember pulling any wires off old engine that would have gone to temp gauge
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,911
Likes: 2
From: gold coast queensland
im not 100 % sure but maybe this connection here above the oil filter(this might be oil temp). if not on the side of your block. might be left or right there is a sensor with connections for 2 wires( that may be water temp).
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
On my 77 there is a green wire that connects to my temp sensor. On my engine it is mounted into the left head below the exhaut manifold kind of between the #1 and #3 spark plugs. Your application may be differant though. What does your gauge indicate when the engine is at operating temp?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Forrest City Ar
That would be it. I thought that the green wire was the lead but could not read what I had written on tape about where it came from. There should be simular port on new block to relacate sensor correct.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
There probably is a plug in the head port that the sending unit goes into. I hav never had much luck removing those plugs. In fact when I put my new heads on my engine it was plugged. The engine shop had to heat up the head around the plug to get it to come out. An alternative would be to relocate the temp sending unit into a port in the intake manifold or you could replace the thermostat housing with a unit that has an opening for a sending unit. All would be easier than removing a head to get the plug out.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Forrest City Ar
found plug , bought sending unit, pulled plug, got coolent bath
since I have a dewitts rad w\ fans and it has a temp sending unit to control fans I am going to run the wire to it and see if that works other wise I will have to drain coolent. Thanks
since I have a dewitts rad w\ fans and it has a temp sending unit to control fans I am going to run the wire to it and see if that works other wise I will have to drain coolent. Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
You might be alright. Both sending units should operate on resistance I am just not sure if the fan temp sensor might not be calibrated for the corvette gauge. Try your luck and see what happens.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
The Dewits switch you are referring to is likely open at low temps and closed when the engine temp gets up to 190 or so. That switch will not work for your gauge. The gauge requires a sender that varies the resistance to ground as the engine temp increases. the sensors are matched to the gauge, it would be best to drain the coolant and use the original sender at the original location.
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