installing a mechanical temp gauge

[miketyler]

I am sh*t canning the electric temp gauge I have since it likes to read about 25*-40* to high. The problem is I don't have any threaded inlets in my intake or heads large enough for the gauge bulb and fitting.

I thought about pulling the radiator and having a bung welded in next to the inlet. Also thought about getting a a section of tubing same diameter as the radiator inlet and welding the bung in there and placing it in between the block and radiator. Either way is going to require some doing, have any of you found a cheaper or easier solution ti installing the mechanical gauge with the fixed capillary-type sense line?     

[422STROKER]

What intake do you have?

Tom

I bought a Sunpro Gauge kit and the sender/adapter came with and fit in my Air gap no problems.  Same port size as the heater hose inlet.

[shadango]

I bought a set of mechanical summit gauges (made by sun) and had the same issue....I found an adaptor -- basiclaly a brass plumbing adaptor --- and a nipple that gave me what I needed, though the sensor is slightly out of the flow of the manifold..seems to work ok. I just use it for a baseline.....reads around 160-70.....

[HP2]

Ditto shadangos idea. Quick and dirty way to do it is use a npt threaded extension in the intake manifold that is long enough to get the probe into the coolant. Typically a brass extension works for this, then an inside/outside thread adapter to get the temp probe to seal to.

After that you'll have to look at other alternatives to make it look nice, but the hardware store parts will get your temp guage attached for peace of mind.

[miketyler]

my intake is a Mopar Performance MP2 intake and will have to be drilled and tapped. It has two ports but they are a much smaller size and the temp probe wont even fit in.

[422STROKER]

Maybe something like this?

Tom

http://www.shopwiki.com/_80-116+BILLET+ALUM.+RACER+WATER+NECK+RISER+PLATE

[shadango]

Maybe something like this?

Tom

http://www.shopwiki.com/_80-116+BILLET+ALUM.+RACER+WATER+NECK+RISER+PLATE

Hey, thats slick!

[ntstlgl1970]

Assuming you are still running the heater, this could work too:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ATM-2280/?image=large

If that is too much money, go to a pick and pull place and look for a similar adapter on a late 80's/early 90's ford Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis/Town Car. Pretty sure the ford one is 1/2 pipe thread for the sender fitting as opposed to the autometer one that is 3/8 pipe.