Conversions & Swaps LSX Engines in Non-LSX Vehicles
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

ls1 temp sending unit

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 7, 2018 | 07:04 PM
  #1  
ben a's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Default ls1 temp sending unit

i have ls1 from an 04 GTO in a 73 datsun 240z it is a project for the wife and she wants to keep the original gauges. so i got fuel and oil pressure and have a few options on water temp. There is not a lot of good info on this topic there is a lot of misinformation for example people say the three pin sending unit will send to an old gauge made to read ohms. the two and three pin units are on and off like a switch which is great for computers and idiot lights but not an analog gauge. i took the original 240z sender it checked it at 70 degrees and got 700 ohms and watched the DMM as the sender got to 200 degrees the resistance went down to 240 ohms. then i tried to find a sender that fits the ls1 passenger side threads with the same characteristics 700 ohms to 240 ohms. I found a few sites that list specs but so far no match maybe someone here has an idea. i can make a way to install the old sender in the water pump or drill and tap elsewhere but would rather just find a sender that fits. thanks
Reply
Old Mar 7, 2018 | 07:33 PM
  #2  
B52bombardier1's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,467
Likes: 265
From: Bossier City, Louisiana
Default

Autometer may have an adapter that should work for you. Have you looked at:

www.autometer.com

Rick
Reply
Old Mar 7, 2018 | 07:35 PM
  #3  
G Atsma's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,291
Likes: 3,615
From: Central Cal.
Default

No way to adapt the Datsun temp sender to the LS with a brass fitting?
Reply
Old Mar 7, 2018 | 07:47 PM
  #4  
ben a's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by G Atsma
No way to adapt the Datsun temp sender to the LS with a brass fitting?
that is correct Datsun unit is to big. I found some senders the right size with varying resistance now i need to find a good match with decreasing ohms as it heats up.
Reply
Old Mar 7, 2018 | 08:36 PM
  #5  
blackhawkMC's Avatar
Teching In
5 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 48
Likes: 6
From: Central MN
Default

Originally Posted by ben a
that is correct Datsun unit is to big. I found some senders the right size with varying resistance now i need to find a good match with decreasing ohms as it heats up.
Do you have large brass screw-in plugs on the sides of the block? They use those for the block heater, at least on some models. It's large enough to fit most senders.
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2018 | 06:25 AM
  #6  
Michael Yount's Avatar
TECH Junkie
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 3,125
Likes: 501
Default

Perhaps beyond the scope of your course right now -- but, I simply had fittings attached to the radiator - and screwed my stock Volvo/VDO sender in where the return rad hose attaches. Voila -- stock coolant gauge works like a champ. Similarly for oil pressure, oil pressure idiot light and oil temp senders -- found homes for all the stock ones so the stock gauges function normally with LS3.
ls1 temp sending unit-opl28ab.jpg
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2018 | 10:34 AM
  #7  
ben a's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Michael Yount
Perhaps beyond the scope of your course right now -- but, I simply had fittings attached to the radiator - and screwed my stock Volvo/VDO sender in where the return rad hose attaches. Voila -- stock coolant gauge works like a champ. Similarly for oil pressure, oil pressure idiot light and oil temp senders -- found homes for all the stock ones so the stock gauges function normally with LS3.
nice car and yea I did use the stock oil pressure sender and the ls1 sender on a tee that I made so I could use the stock gauge. I can do the same with water temp sender. I will drill and tap someplace if I have to. there must be at least 20 pages of bad info I have read on this topic so far LOL people don't get that a gauge reads from cold too hot or low too high and ls1 senders don't send anything but off and on. a gauge needs a wax motor sender that read ohms from one point to another. factory gauges also ran through a voltage regulator that dropped them to about 8 or nine volts which helped keep from fluxing.
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2018 | 10:46 AM
  #8  
garys 68's Avatar
TECH Junkie
15 Year Member
Photogenic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,724
Likes: 39
From: Camdenton, MO
Default

Agreed. The brass plugs on the side of the truck blocks can be drilled and tapped for 1/2" NPT.

Originally Posted by blackhawkMC
Do you have large brass screw-in plugs on the sides of the block? They use those for the block heater, at least on some models. It's large enough to fit most senders.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 8, 2018 | 11:35 AM
  #9  
ben a's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by garys 68
Agreed. The brass plugs on the side of the truck blocks can be drilled and tapped for 1/2" NPT.
not an option here dirty dingo engine mounts cover that area. 2004 gto ls1. what I am really looking for is info on who makes a sensor (wax motor type) that reads from cold 700 ohm to hot 230 degrees 300 ohms. with 12mm threads. I have found several companies that sell the exact type I need but they will not give the info on ohms. I have made phone calls and they say our senders are made to go with our gauges but yet they sell the senders separately and refuse to say what ohms they read.
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2018 | 12:09 PM
  #10  
Michael Yount's Avatar
TECH Junkie
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 3,125
Likes: 501
Default

I'll keep eyes/ears open for you Ben. There's likely stuff out there. On my VDO sender/oil temp gauge, I had a 12mm sender (gauge covers 100-300F) but the opening in the oil passage above the oil filter took a 16mm thread. Turns out VDO had the exact same sender, identical except 16mm vs. 12mm. So the replacement VDO 16mm sender screwed right into the oil pass on the LS block - removed factory plug, screwed in the sender. The bolt head underneath is the 'cross bolt' on the rear main.

ls1 temp sending unit-1xhhq95.jpg

Yeah, after reading exhaustively on the outputs from the ECU/senders and what was needed to translate, I finally decided that CAN BUS was more like CAN'T BUS for me, and just went analog.
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2018 | 12:32 PM
  #11  
supra8's Avatar
Teching In
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Naples, FL
Default

I see they make a 1 piece replacement sender for the 240z. What are the chances of turning off the threads and rethreading to 12mm to go into the head? It worked on my Toyota sender.
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2018 | 01:21 PM
  #12  
ben a's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by supra8
I see they make a 1 piece replacement sender for the 240z. What are the chances of turning off the threads and rethreading to 12mm to go into the head? It worked on my Toyota sender.

I looked at that idea but the Datsun unit was too far off. even the bulb is too large. on the positive side I did just find what I needed. I read through some manufactures pdf cats and found the wax motor type with 12mmx1.50 threads with the ohm range needed for my gauge. there are also adjustments on the original Datsun gauges for calibrating. $15 ebay I will list all the info on this for other people to use once I test it. I actually found a few manufactures that have units that direct fit ls1 head and would work for many different stock gauges.
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2018 | 01:23 PM
  #13  
1964SS's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 84
From: Mesa, Arizona
Default

Originally Posted by ben a
there must be at least 20 pages of bad info I have read on this topic so far LOL people don't get that a gauge reads from cold too hot or low too high and ls1 senders don't send anything but off and on. a gauge needs a wax motor sender that read ohms from one point to another. factory gauges also ran through a voltage regulator that dropped them to about 8 or nine volts which helped keep from fluxing.
Not sure where you get this info, but it's incorrect as well. An LS1 oil pressure sensor works like any other sensor if there is an oil pressure gauge. I do know some sensors have a 3rd pin that does work like a switch for fuel cut off if there is low oil pressure so the motor will shut down.
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2018 | 01:53 PM
  #14  
ben a's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by 1964SS
Not sure where you get this info, but it's incorrect as well. An LS1 oil pressure sensor works like any other sensor if there is an oil pressure gauge. I do know some sensors have a 3rd pin that does work like a switch for fuel cut off if there is low oil pressure so the motor will shut down.
your not saying what is incorrect. but you are agreeing that ls1 sensors are switches and that's the point of this thread that switches will not operate an analog gauge. so any info I have posted is just a fact that anyone who understands the difference between a thermo switch and a thermometer would get real easy.
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2018 | 02:01 PM
  #15  
1964SS's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 84
From: Mesa, Arizona
Default

No LS1 sensors are not switches. Some may have a switch built into them additionaly. It still has a working resistance like any other sender.
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2018 | 02:39 PM
  #16  
ben a's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by 1964SS
No LS1 sensors are not switches. Some may have a switch built into them additionaly. It still has a working resistance like any other sender.
the water temp sensors GM uses on ls engines are called thermo switches and yes when closed they have an ohm reading of about 50 ohms. otherwise they are OL two wire or three wire water temp sensors on an ls have no ohm reading at all until they reach a certain temp then they close and have a constant reading. there may be some that have not seen yet but all the ones I have seen work this way. so if you know of some that have a starting point at lets say -10F to 220F that would be helpful.
Reply
Old Mar 10, 2018 | 08:06 PM
  #17  
6speediroc's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 119
Likes: 1
From: Ottawa, ON
Default

The 98 LS1 3 wire cts 12551708 will run a gauge properly..this is what I use for my 86 Camaro. Here is a reference for the resistance profile. It's pretty close to 240ohm at 200F.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...lant-temp.html
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2018 | 08:24 AM
  #18  
ben a's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by 6speediroc
The 98 LS1 3 wire cts 12551708 will run a gauge properly..this is what I use for my 86 Camaro. Here is a reference for the resistance profile. It's pretty close to 240ohm at 200F.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...lant-temp.html
thank you for that info I also found a bosch thermistor that has the 12mm thread and a close ohm profile. I was able to recalibrate my gauge to match the bosch thermistor. my gauges are stock 1973 Datsun 240z
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:31 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE