I did some searching but did not find the answer..

the temp gauge on a 76, other than the ticks that are labled, 100, 200, etc... what are the temp of the non marked ones between 100 and 200, I assume ~150 and then between 200 and 280 I assume 240.. but we all know what happens when you assume :-)

Thanks!!!

 

i think the only way you will get a correct answer is if someone takes a IR gun and measures engine temperature at those marks. I know on my 69 which has a mark of 100 and 210, the center mark is about 160 since I have a 160 thermostat and it runs just about at that mark. On your guage 150 and 250 look right.

 

Great idea!!! I have even have one of those.

 

The actual temperature readings supplied by the C3 temp gauge are unimportant. The way a temp gauge is used for a "street" vehicle is to simply monitor it for any significant change in the normal reading during running operation. Other 'behaviors' of the temp gauge can be useful; ie, watching the needle as the car warms up to determine if it is warming slower or faster than normal; seing a lack of stability in the needle position as compared to past operation; etc.

Basically, you really don't care what the actual reading is; you are watching it to see if the temp is behaving as expected or not. The C3 temp gauge/sender system is NOT accurate...but it is consistent and repeatable, thus, useful to 'monitor' the engine's cooling system. For detailed and accurate temp readings, you would need to hook up a calibrated temp gauge/sender unit. But, if you car is not overheating, nor exhibiting any odd manner of operation, that would be unnecessary.

If you really want to know the actual values at each of those tick marks, you would need to remove the temp sender and place it into a pan of water on a hot-plate in the garage. Connect the sender wire to the sender and also run a temporary line connecting the [metal] body of the sender with the car's chassis ground (perhaps the ground lug on the alternator {NOT the red power lug}. Now stick a calibrated temp indicator/gauge in the water and turn the hot-plate on. The car's ignition system would need to be turned ON, also...but engine not started. Someone would need to be in the car and calling out when the needle is centered on each tick-mark; another person could be reading the calibrated gauge and recording the "actual" temperature reached as those tick-marks are called out. Once you reach a boiling condition, you will not be able to read any higher temperature using this method. It would be interesting at that point to turn off the hot-plate and then re-check the temp at each tick-mark as the water [and gauge readings] cool back down to ambient temperature.