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1982 Knock Sensor

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Old Feb 2, 2024 | 02:57 AM
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Default 1982 Knock Sensor

I have an 82 corvette and ofcourse can't find a knock sensor. The one i have on the car has the stud that the plug connects to broken off. Has anyone tried repairing theres? Like maybe drill and tap and put a small all threaded stud?
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Old Feb 2, 2024 | 08:33 AM
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Contact member buccaneer for that solution.
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Old Feb 2, 2024 | 01:28 PM
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The stud is potted and very small.......I do not see how you would repair it without damaging the potting.......if there is any of the stud sticking out...maybe you could sodler a non-insulated butt connector on it.....
The sensor is unobtainium too.....N/A anywhere....out of production......I sold the one I had off my Ex-CFI Z/28 to Buccaneer..LOL.....
Not sure if he has figured out a solution yet but wouldn't hurt to contact him.....

Jebby
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Old Feb 2, 2024 | 02:51 PM
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Yikes.... but here is one...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/115691558805

60
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Old Feb 2, 2024 | 03:37 PM
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Originally Posted by 1860army
Yikes.... but here is one...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/115691558805

60
I had a perfectly good one that I broke when I pulled the engine for my TPI swap. Oh well

From what I've read, all ESC modules work the same. It's just that the knock sensor is tuned to the particular engine along with the corresponding ESC module. I never tried this but I bet if you got a knock sensor, ESC module, and the harness from a junkyard from 350 TBI truck and wired it in it would probably work.
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Old Feb 2, 2024 | 05:09 PM
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They make a wide variety of different Knock sensors for the different frequency noises that come from the engine. If you can get the specs of the knock sensor you might be able to track one down. If you can get the factory Part number as well you might track one down for less than that EBAY joke for $500

I still have a MSD Knock Indicator that uses a standard $25 knock sensor.
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Old Feb 2, 2024 | 06:31 PM
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Originally Posted by ctmccloskey
They make a wide variety of different Knock sensors for the different frequency noises that come from the engine. If you can get the specs of the knock sensor you might be able to track one down.
One thing to keep in mind is the early 82 knock sensor was a "microphone" type. Later knock sensors were a piezoelectric type. That's why you can't just swap a later knock sensor into the early cars ESC.
One thing I would like to add I used a 92 ECM with a early 82 knock sensor/ESC with out issues.
​​​​​
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Old Feb 2, 2024 | 09:53 PM
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$498.99 !!


I can do better than that at $495.00 LOL, jus kiddin', hit me up.
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Old Feb 2, 2024 | 10:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Fly skids up!
I had a perfectly good one that I broke when I pulled the engine for my TPI swap. Oh well

From what I've read, all ESC modules work the same. It's just that the knock sensor is tuned to the particular engine along with the corresponding ESC module. I never tried this but I bet if you got a knock sensor, ESC module, and the harness from a junkyard from 350 TBI truck and wired it in it would probably work.
The knock sensors are built/tuned to more readily detect certain frequencies associated with knock/cylinder-wall-ringing. Once the knock frequency of a particular engine is identified, then a sensor near that frequency is selected for that engine. The ESC electronics are then tuned to that frequency, and additional filtering is calibrated in the ESC to mask out mechanical noises such as piston slap or valvetrain clatter.

You're on the right track regarding the possibility of a separate/new harness using later parts to replace some obsolete hardware. IIRC some of the later truck ESC parts are the same calibration as used in the L83 and L98 engines. I have a standalone ESC harness with this calibration (and others) that I wired up to detect knock on carbureted engines. (Instead of the ESC module sending a signal to an ECM, I just have some circuitry that will drive a bright LED that is visible to the driver.)
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Old Feb 2, 2024 | 10:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Fly skids up!
One thing to keep in mind is the early 82 knock sensor was a "microphone" type. Later knock sensors were a piezoelectric type. That's why you can't just swap a later knock sensor into the early cars ESC.
One thing I would like to add I used a 92 ECM with a early 82 knock sensor/ESC with out issues.
​​​​​
Just engineering curiosity. I've been trying to find some technical information/specs on the early knock sensor, but it's darn near a state secret. Do you have some reliable information on the specs of that sensor?
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Old Feb 3, 2024 | 09:09 AM
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Originally Posted by 69427
I have a standalone ESC harness with this calibration (and others) that I wired up to detect knock on carbureted engines. (Instead of the ESC module sending a signal to an ECM, I just have some circuitry that will drive a bright LED that is visible to the driver.)
That's very cool!

Originally Posted by 69427
Just engineering curiosity. I've been trying to find some technical information/specs on the early knock sensor, but it's darn near a state secret. Do you have some reliable information on the specs of that sensor?
I do not have any specifications. Although I did see the specifications published somewhere years ago.
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Old Feb 6, 2024 | 11:27 AM
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I was wondering if the sensor in the 82 detects a knock, what happens next, does the ECM compensate to protect the engine and does it trigger the CEL?
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Old Feb 6, 2024 | 02:24 PM
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Originally Posted by DarrellD23
I was wondering if the sensor in the 82 detects a knock, what happens next, does the ECM compensate to protect the engine and does it trigger the CEL?
It keeps retarding the timing until knock is no longer present.
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Old Feb 6, 2024 | 02:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Fly skids up!
It keeps retarding the timing until knock is no longer present.
Thanks Marc.
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