Coolant Sensor
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 51
From: Wichita Kansas
Coolant Sensor
While hooking things up to my new engine in my 78 I have found the original coolant temp sensor that's mounted in the left head is too big for my new heads.
Looking at catalogs I see the 78 and later have the larger sender.
I know there are smaller sensors however I'm concerned with compatibility with the 78's gage.
Does anyone know what one I can use or from what year?
Looking at catalogs I see the 78 and later have the larger sender.
I know there are smaller sensors however I'm concerned with compatibility with the 78's gage.
Does anyone know what one I can use or from what year?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
While hooking things up to my new engine in my 78 I have found the original coolant temp sensor that's mounted in the left head is too big for my new heads.
Looking at catalogs I see the 78 and later have the larger sender.
I know there are smaller sensors however I'm concerned with compatibility with the 78's gage.
Does anyone know what one I can use or from what year?
Looking at catalogs I see the 78 and later have the larger sender.
I know there are smaller sensors however I'm concerned with compatibility with the 78's gage.
Does anyone know what one I can use or from what year?
Does your intake manifold have a place to screw the larger temperature sender in?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 51
From: Wichita Kansas
I'm not the best electrician...lol
Re checked and yes it does have the large hole in the intake. I installed the sensor snd later I will get one from Wilcox for going back into the head.
Last edited by Aggitated Monkey; Jul 18, 2015 at 10:00 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 51
From: Wichita Kansas
I purchased the sender for an 82 as it is the size I needd. I think it should be ok as the gages appear to be interchangae between 78 and 82.
I'm just going to do an ohm check impairision. I think its going to be good unless someone knows.
I'm just going to do an ohm check impairision. I think its going to be good unless someone knows.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 206
From: Pearland Texas
St. Jude Donor '09
machined down.
While hooking things up to my new engine in my 78 I have found the original coolant temp sensor that's mounted in the left head is too big for my new heads.
Looking at catalogs I see the 78 and later have the larger sender.
I know there are smaller sensors however I'm concerned with compatibility with the 78's gage.
Does anyone know what one I can use or from what year?
Looking at catalogs I see the 78 and later have the larger sender.
I know there are smaller sensors however I'm concerned with compatibility with the 78's gage.
Does anyone know what one I can use or from what year?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 206
From: Pearland Texas
St. Jude Donor '09
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 206
From: Pearland Texas
St. Jude Donor '09
So you would have a 1/2 to 3/8 reducer that the sensor probe would actually be outside the water jacket?.. I tried that, I got inaccurate temp readings and on top of that it was a very unpleasant sight in my opinion. It stuck out like a sore thumb.. I didn't like it. It was well worth paying $40.00 to a machine shop to reduce the sensor to 3/8 NPT. It fits and performs like it was meant to.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,572
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From: Wichita Kansas
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,847
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Nice.. there is a trick to it too... You can't just cut and chase it, you have to cut it on an angle, if you don't you'll twist up the sender.
If I was having these done in China or some other god forsaken country I'm sure they'd be way cheaper, but we do them right here three at a time which really shoves the cost per part up.
And.. even if you get a sender that's not spot on, I've got the adjustable resistor for the back of the gauge that will cure that issue too!
Willcox
If I was having these done in China or some other god forsaken country I'm sure they'd be way cheaper, but we do them right here three at a time which really shoves the cost per part up.
And.. even if you get a sender that's not spot on, I've got the adjustable resistor for the back of the gauge that will cure that issue too!
Willcox
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 51
From: Wichita Kansas
Nice.. there is a trick to it too... You can't just cut and chase it, you have to cut it on an angle, if you don't you'll twist up the sender.
If I was having these done in China or some other god forsaken country I'm sure they'd be way cheaper, but we do them right here three at a time which really shoves the cost per part up.
And.. even if you get a sender that's not spot on, I've got the adjustable resistor for the back of the gauge that will cure that issue too!
Willcox
If I was having these done in China or some other god forsaken country I'm sure they'd be way cheaper, but we do them right here three at a time which really shoves the cost per part up.
And.. even if you get a sender that's not spot on, I've got the adjustable resistor for the back of the gauge that will cure that issue too!
Willcox
I rechecked my manifold and it does in fact have the large hole.
I installed my sensor for now.
I will purchas the modified from Wilcox later and put it back to the left front or right rear for a cleaner look.