how to install a water temp gauge?
160* is up to you. In order for that to fully work, you're going to need to add a manual fan switch or get a tune so that your fans are adjusted accordingly.
As for the temp guage, there's 2 places you can put the sending unit at. One is on the back of the passenger side head. This is where most put there's at. There's a plug by the #8 plug that you will need to take out. If you put the sending unit there, you'll need an adapter kit for the sending unit. Search for it, there's many links to buy the kit. The second place is behind the starter. Of course you'll have to drop the starter to get to it and I'm not too sure if you will need the adapter kit for this location.
Or there's one more route you can take, I've seen it done on one car so far. You can tap on the top of the water pump and stick the sending unit there. Either one is up to you.
I would suggest since you're doing a head swap soon, just to wait then. You will have easy access to the location by the #8 plug. It'll be easy to install the sending unit while the head is off the car.
As for the temp guage, there's 2 places you can put the sending unit at. One is on the back of the passenger side head. This is where most put there's at. There's a plug by the #8 plug that you will need to take out. If you put the sending unit there, you'll need an adapter kit for the sending unit. Search for it, there's many links to buy the kit. The second place is behind the starter. Of course you'll have to drop the starter to get to it and I'm not too sure if you will need the adapter kit for this location.
Or there's one more route you can take, I've seen it done on one car so far. You can tap on the top of the water pump and stick the sending unit there. Either one is up to you.
I would suggest since you're doing a head swap soon, just to wait then. You will have easy access to the location by the #8 plug. It'll be easy to install the sending unit while the head is off the car.
If you look at the stock water temp sending unit, where it screws into the head, then imagine the exact opposite corner of the motor, you'll find the plug.
One guy put his in line with the front coolant pipe, not sure how well it's working for him, but it was super easy.
One guy put his in line with the front coolant pipe, not sure how well it's working for him, but it was super easy.
On The Tree
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 111
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From: Houston/Lubbock
Can anyone verify when you are installing it under the starter weather you still need an adapter. And if you do is it the same as the one needed for the head?
Thanks
Adam
Thanks
Adam
Last edited by Lukin; Jul 25, 2006 at 08:28 PM.
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Originally Posted by Lukin
Can anyone verify when you are installing it under the starter weather you still need an adapter. And if you do is it the same as the one needed for the head?
Thanks
Adam
Thanks
Adam
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TECH Resident
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 937
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From: South Alabama
Originally Posted by Lukin
Can anyone verify when you are installing it under the starter weather you still need an adapter. And if you do is it the same as the one needed for the head?
Thanks
Adam
Thanks
Adam
fittingsandadapters.com has steel adapters - much better than the brass adapters that are so easy to break.
11 Second Club
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 169
Likes: 4
From: Millersville, Maryland
Originally Posted by Weezzer
The one by the starter is 16 mm by 1.25 pitch (I believe) male with 1/8 -27 NPT female.
Link: Adaptor (Jeg's Part # 105-2268)
Originally Posted by TheBlurLS1
One guy put his in line with the front coolant pipe, not sure how well it's working for him, but it was super easy.
I used brass fittings I got at the local hardware store. I got a 3/8" "T" fitting, used one port to put the sending unit in, and 2 3/8" barbed hose ends to connect to the hose coming from the crossover line going to the TB and radiator. You effectively do a TB bypass when doing this also, so you kill 2 birds with 1 stone. Mine is currently tucked under the bellows, out of sight. You just have to also drill and tap a hole to mount a ground wire to. A small self-tapping screw with a dab of teflon pipe sealant worked perfectly.
Originally Posted by BitViper
Ive asked this b4 but never got an answer..cant you just splice (using the correct harware of course) into the water tube that runs thru the TB Vs drilling?
Just wondering
Just wondering
Originally Posted by LS69TA
Mine's working great. Cost about $5 in parts too I used brass fittings I got at the local hardware store. I got a 3/8" "T" fitting, used one port to put the sending unit in, and 2 3/8" barbed hose ends to connect to the hose coming from the crossover line going to the TB and radiator. You effectively do a TB bypass when doing this also, so you kill 2 birds with 1 stone. Mine is currently tucked under the bellows, out of sight. You just have to also drill and tap a hole to mount a ground wire to. A small self-tapping screw with a dab of teflon pipe sealant worked perfectly.
I used brass fittings I got at the local hardware store. I got a 3/8" "T" fitting, used one port to put the sending unit in, and 2 3/8" barbed hose ends to connect to the hose coming from the crossover line going to the TB and radiator. You effectively do a TB bypass when doing this also, so you kill 2 birds with 1 stone. Mine is currently tucked under the bellows, out of sight. You just have to also drill and tap a hole to mount a ground wire to. A small self-tapping screw with a dab of teflon pipe sealant worked perfectly. On The Tree
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Houston/Lubbock
Originally Posted by 2kta--89formula
Could someone post a pic of this location?
I will post one when I install it. The adapter is going to be here on the second so it may be a little while.
Originally Posted by erikthegoalie
wow glad this thred is still going...
i want to install my sending unit in the head....where can i buy the adapting kit?
i want to install my sending unit in the head....where can i buy the adapting kit?
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Jersey
On one of our cars we threw it in the top of the thermostat housing. Worked like a champ and gave us the temp of the coolant coming out of the block before it hits the radiator. Showed how off the factory gauge really was...yikes 
Last edited by Rabidbandit; Aug 2, 2006 at 11:06 AM.