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Oil temp sensor location

Old Mar 5, 2021 | 01:08 PM
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Default Oil temp sensor location

Hi guys,

I have a 1981 C3 but with what seems to be a 1972 C20 350 block and i am looking to connect the oil temp gauge to the sender but there appears to be none in the block right now. After searching this site i think i have found the location but would like to get it confirmed before i buy a sender. They look to be expensive.



Would it be possible to put the sender in this highlighted location? Any suggestion on which sender to use? I see one on RockAuto for over $50?
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...41174&jsn=7711

Thanks!
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Old Mar 5, 2021 | 01:14 PM
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That is the sensor location and the RockAuto sensor is the one I got for my 81 as well. Works great.
My car has an aftermarket block and the previous owner never cared to hook up the sensor.
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Old Mar 5, 2021 | 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by austx
That is the sensor location and the RockAuto sensor is the one I got for my 81 as well. Works great.
My car has an aftermarket block and the previous owner never cared to hook up the sensor.
Thanks for confirming! Just do not understand why the water temp sensor is only $7 and the oil temp sensor $50?

Also, i am guessing oil will pour out once i remove that plug in order to replace it with the sender?

Last edited by aalmans; Mar 5, 2021 at 02:02 PM.
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Old Mar 5, 2021 | 02:41 PM
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Originally Posted by aalmans
Thanks for confirming! Just do not understand why the water temp sensor is only $7 and the oil temp sensor $50?

Also, i am guessing oil will pour out once i remove that plug in order to replace it with the sender?
Oil will NOT pour out unless the engine is running. Good luck.
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Old Mar 5, 2021 | 02:51 PM
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Originally Posted by cheapta
Oil will NOT pour out unless the engine is running. Good luck.
Wonderful thanks!
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Old Mar 5, 2021 | 02:57 PM
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That's not a temp sensor for a guage. It's an on/off switch for a fan setup.
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Old Mar 5, 2021 | 03:02 PM
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That is the location for the oil sensor from the 81/82 C3's. My 78 has had an oil temp sensor and gauge (in place of the dumb mechanical clock on my car) since 1985 when I installed it myself. I had to remove the oil pressure sending unit from the location above the oil filter (relocated to behind the distributor) to do the install.

The oil sensor is so expensive probably due to the fact that NO GM car back in 1981/82 had an oil temp gauge and that part is only for the C3 in those 2 years most likely.........

Last edited by jb78L-82; Mar 6, 2021 at 06:58 AM.
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Old Mar 5, 2021 | 03:26 PM
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Originally Posted by resdoggie
That's not a temp sensor for a guage. It's an on/off switch for a fan setup.
Sure? Can you point me to the correct one?
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Old Mar 5, 2021 | 05:08 PM
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Here is the gauge with the sending unit, not sure why you wouldn’t be able to buy just the sending unit.


https://www.zip-corvette.com/81-82-o...MaAi4REALw_wcB
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Old Mar 5, 2021 | 05:19 PM
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This is a sending unit, not a switch. Maybe the description in your link to Rock Auto is misleading. But here is one that is a temp sending sensor to gauge. They look the same but......

https://www.mamotorworks.com/corvett...ng-unit-617506
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Old Mar 5, 2021 | 06:33 PM
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Originally Posted by resdoggie
This is a sending unit, not a switch. Maybe the description in your link to Rock Auto is misleading. But here is one that is a temp sending sensor to gauge. They look the same but......

https://www.mamotorworks.com/corvett...ng-unit-617506
I'll take my chances with the RockAuto one. Must be an incorrect description!
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Old Mar 5, 2021 | 07:18 PM
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That is most certainly the switch i bought and installed late last year. Works fine on my car.
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Old Mar 6, 2021 | 03:54 AM
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Originally Posted by austx
That is most certainly the switch i bought and installed late last year. Works fine on my car.
Thanks, that was indeed the one i was going to order!
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