Does anyone know of an "off the shelf" part number, that will fit my Dart heads and be compatible with the gauge on my '73? I'd just as soon not have to spend $80.00 & wait weeks for the one Wilcox sells.

 

find one that fits and use the water temp gauge adjustable resistor that he sells. IT works very well and you woont have to find the "perfect" sender.
https://willcoxcorvette.com/catalogs...ature+Resistor

 

I moved the stock sender to one of the ports on my intake (the one near the thermostat) when I went with my iron eagles... works well for me. I did add a second digital water temp gauge in a set of pods under my high rise hood and use the 3/8 adapter in the dart head for that and the temps are always comparable between the two.. honestly I will likely be swapping the digital gauge with a trans temp gauge once I install my cooler and 2004r.

 

But is it compatible with the stock gauge? According to Wilcox, none of them are. I've been through three so far and they all read low.

 

It was accurate until I swapped heads and sending units. Wish I'd kept the old one.

 

I couldn't find one circa 2014 so I bought the wilcox potentiometer to adjust the ohms for the factory gauge. Works perfectly so far.

r

 

Don't you have to remove the entire gauge panel to do that? That's the only reason I haven't done it yet. Seems like an excellent way to break something.

 

Willcox sells a cutdown sensor to fit the 3/8" NPT threads. https://willcoxcorvette.com/corvette...79-3-8-npt-new

 

thanks

 

Thank you, I will give this one a try.

I had a feeling someone would recommend this one.

 

No it's not, Willcox uses the correct working larger sender and then machines it down to 3/8" and re-threads it.

 

My stock sender was a blade connector.

 

my 74 also has a blade type

 

No they are not the same, the resistance is different. Thats why you have to use the original style. If you dont want to pay for a machinists time and labor, then buy a 1/2 inch drill bit, tap and die and for NPT and re thread the head. But thats going to more expensive if you havent priced a NPT tap. If you have an issue with Willcox and his pricing you should call him and talk to him about it. You will find that you can actually talk to the owner of the company that has been in business with GM products since his Dad had a Gm dealership and garage. Try that with Corvette Central, or Ecklers or Zip.

Then go to those companies and look at their tech sections or their videos...oh wait, you cant because they dont have any.....maybe you should actually think about who you are disparaging in our community and what they have taken the time to do for it. Instead of bitching about a product that actually fits and works and whining about the price, you should actually do some investigating before opening you mouth. People like you voted for Biden and have no reasonable explanation why,

 

No they are not the same, the resistance is different. Thats why you have to use the original part numbered piece, not some chinese look alike. If you dont want to pay for a machinists time and labor, then buy a 1/2 inch drill bit, tap and die and for NPT and re thread the head. But thats going to more expensive if you havent priced a NPT tap. If you have an issue with Willcox and his pricing you should call him and talk to him about it. You will find that you can actually talk to the owner of the company that has been in business with GM products since his Dad had a Gm dealership and garage. Try that with Corvette Central, or Ecklers or Zip.

A third option is the Willcox variable resistor that HIS company invented to make those chines senders actually come close to working. But that involves taking the dash apart. The OP said he didnt want to do that and that is time consuming. Remember you time is money whether its actually paid time at work or existential "time" that you spend working on your own vehicle. If you dont want to do it your self, check a mechanics rates. Most locally here are about $150 an hour for shop labor

Then go to those companies and look at their tech sections or their videos...oh wait, you cant because they dont have any.....maybe you should actually think about who you are disparaging in our community and what they have taken the time to do for it. Instead of bitching about a product that actually fits and works and whining about the price, you should actually do some investigating before opening you mouth. People like you voted for Biden and have no reasonable explanation why, and wont stand up for the consequences

 

Again, 4th option is to just use one of the appropriate sized holes on the intake or WP if there is one. Like I mentioned before I have one sensor for an aftermarket gauge in my head and one for oem gauge in the intake and the temp reading between the two are consistent.

 

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Wow, I’m just trying to help and I hate Corvette tax. I actually did research this, but I could be wrong. You are correct about not slamming a vendor and I’ll fix that, but completely wrong about my voting preferences.

I apologize to Wilcox for my inappropriate comment.

 

I also deleted my earlier posts as I do not have first hand experience using this sender. I did the research and listened to what others I trust told me worked. That said, I do not want to take a stand on something where I do not have first hand experience. You can still read some of my comments quoted by others in this thread, but do your own research.

 

I ordered the Wilcox part. Apparently it's a new part. Report will be forthcoming.

 

None of us like the corvette tax, but some items are corvette only and tend to be more expensive since they arent produced in significant quantities like being on camaros, novas, any pontiacs and GM trucks would help with. Somethings are reused and finding those little items are like having an extra birthday. Doorgunner found out that 68 door push buttons were actually used on trucks. So there is a few things. Sorry about the Biden thing, but it does get peoples attention