Temperature sending unit
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Madison NJ
Temperature sending unit
I just had a new 383 crate motor installed. The garage installed the temp unit in the intake manifold. The original 1970 motor was in the block.
They told me that that it has to go in the intake because it is a newer style block and my unit will not fit to this block.
I do not like the look of the wire going to the intake. Is there a way to make it work in the block like the original 1970 350
They told me that that it has to go in the intake because it is a newer style block and my unit will not fit to this block.
I do not like the look of the wire going to the intake. Is there a way to make it work in the block like the original 1970 350
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
The stock sending units are in the head, not the block, and the new heads are drilled for a smaller/modern unit, but that will not do with the old meter/electricals.....so you are basically stuck with in the manifold or no temp gauge....unless you want to change gauges for more modern units....like I did, pix on my sites....
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I did find another sending unit from a later car that worked in my heads. I did this years ago and can't remember which one it was. I think the one from a later 80 or 81 Vette has the smaller threads and will fit the newer heads. I just went through this on another forum members car. We tried all different types of things from turning down the big sender to adding resistors. Nothing worked. I put my sender in his head and it worked great. I am putting newer gauges in mine so I just left it there. Work with your parts guy, a good one and the yshould be able to find a sender that will work with the old gauges.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,417
Likes: 336
From: Texas
i think its a niehoff #TU66 sender, smaller pipe threat size, 3/8" autozone.
or WT359 orielly auto , had to buy one for new dart heads on my 79. i believe this is the one we got. i remember it fit an 82 vette
or WT359 orielly auto , had to buy one for new dart heads on my 79. i believe this is the one we got. i remember it fit an 82 vette
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 15,161
Likes: 17
From: coffee
My '81 has a smaller sensor. The crate motor that I bought had the heads with the large port, so I had the opposite issue. Fortunately for me, there is an adapter fitting that chokes it down, going the other way would not be so easy.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
This might help you out. I don't know if it will work or not as I bought one from a boat parts house. I had the same problem with my performance heads on my original '73 SB. Keep in mind that the sensor will not be entirely into the coolant stream so you might get a slightly inaccurate reading. I was also wondering if the plug in the top of the water plug could be used with the OEM sensor. If I can remember the boat supply house that I got mine from I will post.
Last edited by 08vycpe; Feb 12, 2010 at 04:32 PM. Reason: Added Sunpro part number
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Madison NJ
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,086
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From: Michigan
Please post if this WT359 sending unit works for you. I have Corvette senders that fit in the 3/8" NPT tap in the head but none of them are compatable with the guage itself so I get temps that are way off in my '73. That's why I went with the correct sending unit and an adapter.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Madison NJ
Please post if this WT359 sending unit works for you. I have Corvette senders that fit in the 3/8" NPT tap in the head but none of them are compatable with the guage itself so I get temps that are way off in my '73. That's why I went with the correct sending unit and an adapter.
Le Mans Master
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From: mount holly NC
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This is the best answer! It is very hard to get a new sender that is accurate, if your old one still works get the adapter.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
Please post if this WT359 sending unit works for you. I have Corvette senders that fit in the 3/8" NPT tap in the head but none of them are compatable with the guage itself so I get temps that are way off in my '73. That's why I went with the correct sending unit and an adapter.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Madison NJ
I got it from a boating supply store that I can't remember. You can get one for $10 from my earlier post. It is is Sunpro p/n zx528921w. Why make one when you can buy one for $10. The guage and the sender are a matched pair. A different sender may not be calibrated to the guage.
I went to the Sunpro web site and could not find a part with that #
Could this be it http://www.sunpro.com/product_detail.php?pid=16336
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 957
Likes: 6
From: Burlington wisconsin
I tried to find one that would work the stock gage to no avail. I also have a 383 and what I ended up doing was having the stock sending unit turned down & threaded at work, screwed it in & works great. There is enough meat on the OEM unit to turn it down. Hope this helps as an option.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
I went to the Sunpro web site and could not find a part with that #
Could this be it http://www.sunpro.com/product_detail.php?pid=16336
Could this be it http://www.sunpro.com/product_detail.php?pid=16336
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
I tried this too but it took 3 brass parts (adapter-nipple-adapter) to get from 3/8 male to 1/2 female and the sensor stuck out of the block at least 3". Readings were way off and the guage never raised above the first tick.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
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