Mechanical Temperature Gauge Connect

[Socnarftrucks]

The instrument cluster of my 86 F-150 302 is not working at all. So I bought a Bosch unit from autozone. Where in the engine block is this thing supposed to connect? Here?

[Gary Lewis]

The same place where the factory one is.

[Socnarftrucks]

Thank you. Just making sure. Much appreciated.

[Gary Lewis]

I think that water temp probes really need to be in the stream of coolant flow to get an accurate reading.  Some have said that they've put a tee on and then put both probes in, but I'm afraid that doing so will cause my probe to be in a dead pocket of coolant and I won't get a good reading.

So when I needed to add a probe on Big Blue so I could have one for the factory gauge, one for the aftermarket gauge, and one for the EFI system I ordered this thermostat housing that also has a place for the probe.  But that puts the probe after the thermostat, so now I have the factory gauge and the EFI system reading the temp in the block and the aftermarket gauge reading the temp of the coolant going into the radiator.  That means I can watch the coolant temp in the block climb until the thermostat opens and then watch the temp in the discharge climb rapidly.  Now I know if my thermostat is working.  

[Socnarftrucks]

Great idea. I’d suppose I can put the probe on this port in my thermostat housing and see what happens.

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, that should work well.

[Rembrant]

Gary Lewis wrote

I think that water temp probes really need to be in the stream of coolant flow to get an accurate reading.  Some have said that they've put a tee on and then put both probes in, but I'm afraid that doing so will cause my probe to be in a dead pocket of coolant and I won't get a good reading.

Sorry to threadjack, but while you guys are on the topic of coolant temperature sensors...I have a question as I was just studying this myself.

I have one of these 1983-1985 Mustang 302 aluminum intakes on my truck, and there are two (well, 3 actually) coolant sender ports. Front left corner of intake, and rear left corner of intake. Would it matter which one I used for an electric fan temperature sender and which one was for a temp gauge sender?



The head gaskets are designed to balance the flow so that the coolant doesn't just circulate in the front of the engine, so I assume it doesn't matter which port was used for each one, but wanted to ask the question just in case.

I'm not 100% sure what I'm using to control my electric fan yet...I'm just exploring options.

[grumpin]

I haven’t had that opportunity before, so can’t comment definitively.

I was thinking, do you know anyone running one of these manifolds? It would be neat to use an infrared thermometer on all three ports to compare.

ETA: Nice manifold!

[mat in tn]

sorry guys but i think you are missing something. is this an efi 302? if so , then the temp sender in the water coolant fitting to the heater hose is not for the guage but for the ecu. the temp sender for the guage is between the dist and the driver side cyl head with one wire going to it. that is the proper location for the temp pickup

[kramttocs]

That is a nice looking intake!
Not a good, technical answer regarding differences in temps at each location but I'd see how the wiring flow works out assuming the gauge wire is part of an existing harness.

[BigBrother-84]

Rembrant wrote

 

Talking threadjacking, I have a stupid question absolutely not relevant:
Cory, is this your kitchen sink in the picture??
On my side, I am a dead man if I dare tinkering something bigger than a clean bolt in my house.
Imagine a motor head!

[Rembrant]

BigBrother-84 wrote

Talking threadjacking, I have a stupid question absolutely not relevant:
Cory, is this your kitchen sink in the picture??
On my side, I am a dead man if I dare tinkering something bigger than a clean bolt in my house.
Imagine a motor head!

Haha, no sir, that's not my sink...it's not even my picture, it's just one I pulled from the web of the same intake as mine.

[Socnarftrucks]

Gary: According to Amazon this thermostat housing doesn’t fit my 86 F-150 with a 302. What engine did you put in on?

[Gary Lewis]

I put that on Big Blue’s 460, and didn’t mean it is right for you. But just A pic showing how I did it.