nmaier88

After finding that my stock electronic water temperature gauge was about 30 degrees off, I decided to intall a mechanical gauge. I wanted to keep all the stock gauges working, so instead of using the port in the drivers side head, I planned on using the port near the thermostat on the intake manifold. There was a plug in the hole as it was not being used. Well it took quite a bit to get the plug out, and when I finally did get it out, I realized whoever put it in there had badly cross threaded it. I tried for awhile but the threads are just too messed up to get the bulb end of the mechanical temp gauge to screw into. Anyone have any suggestions on this one? I would really like to not have to replace my whole intake manifold. And would also like to not have to remove the intake manifold to repair this. I thought about a helicoil, but is there any way to do this with the intake manifold still on the engine and not get too much metal shavings in the coolant system? Thanks guys.

thegazman

Nathan....Have you tried using a tap to straighten out the existing threads? Maybe you can accomplish that and have thhreads still usable. If not, there are probably a lot of ways to fix it. I don't think a helicoil would be that water tight. If it came down to it, I would buy a tap the next size bigger, drill it, and retap it so it would be water tight.
Had you considered buying a new sending unit for your temperature gauge. A new sender may bring the original gauge reading into acceptable levels.

69Vett

retap it and use, use a fitting you never will have to remove.
and use JB Weld inplace of thread sealant.
let it set up, it hold just fine.
69VETT

nmaier88

If I retap it, I will have to remove the intake manifold from the engine right? If not won't a lot of metal shavings get into the coolant system and cause some problems? Also the JB WELD will probably only work on a dry surface as well right. Thanks for the help guys.

69Vett

Drain your coolant, use the same size tap,
grease the tap and the hole, retap.
(the grease will hold all the shaving right there inplace.)
wipe out grease and shavings real good.
then install the new fitting. 69VETT

thegazman

That's a good suggestion from 69Vett. I would give that a try and save a lot of work. Makes sense to me.

nmaier88

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I went to Lowes this morning to get a tap, and they didnt have one nearly big enough. Neither did any of the auto parts stores in town. It seems a 3/4 inch tap is hard to find. Anyone have any ideas on where I can find one? Thanks,

Nathan

ctgene

try this link http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...70_13409_13409

dstaley

Make sure you're shopping for a NPT tap.

If all else fails, McMaster-Carr would have them. So would Grainger and Fastenal.

You should have a plug in the opposite cylinder head, and the temp gauge should be in the cylinder head if possible.

nmaier88

What exactly does the NPT mean? Would something like this work

http://www.toolking.com/products/490...ooglebase=1906

Thanks,

Nathan

dstaley

Yes, perfect. National Pipe-Tapered.