Temp gauge sender location

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DCtruckin

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Ive searched and havent been able to find any info, wheres everyone installing mechanical temp gauge sending unit? 318 w/ edelbrock manifold. All the ports are too shallow. And also where are you putting the oil psi sender? Prefer copper or plastic line? Heres the sender on my autogauge temp gauge.
IMG_68941.jpg
 
You have to get creative! We utilized fittings at the heater line fitting and a T as you can see in the pic. I looked all over the forum and this is what I believe most have done. Let me know if you can't see it and I will get a better pic of it. I don't have a pic of the oil pressure fitting area but also added a T behind the distributor to run both the dummy light and gauge.

IMG_5393.JPG
 
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^^This and be careful what you do, because the higher you put it in the system (like the rad hose/ tank) if you get a slow leak say, overnight, the gauge will never respond before the engine is overheated, because the sender probe will be high and dry

Also if you have tappings in the manifold you could use except too shallow, there are "folks" who make a once piece male x female pipe fitting, IE you screw it in and now it's taller. You might have to ream it to get the sender in, so it's a crap shoot
 
^^This and be careful what you do, because the higher you put it in the system (like the rad hose/ tank) if you get a slow leak say, overnight, the gauge will never respond before the engine is overheated, because the sender probe will be high and dry
Correct, DO NOT put it in the radiator hose- not just because it may be "high and dry", but you will also be on the wrong side of the thermostat and will never give you a true reading. Recipe for disaster.
 
I put my oil pressure mechanical gauge at the rear factory spot. I'm running a oil pressure cut off switch for my electric fuel pump so I had to use a "T" fitting to run both. That part sticking out is where I will attach the plastic oil pressure gauge tubing.

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You have to get creative! We utilized fittings at the heater line fitting and a T as you can see in the pic. I looked all over the forum and this is what I believe most have done. Let me know if you can't see it and I will get a better pic of it. I don't have a pic of the oil pressure fitting area but also added a T behind the distributor to run both the dummy light and gauge.

View attachment 1715562842

I put my oil pressure mechanical gauge at the rear factory spot. I'm running a oil pressure cut off switch for my electric fuel pump so I had to use a "T" fitting to run both. That part sticking out is where I will attach the plastic oil pressure gauge tubing.

View attachment 1715562925


Great info guys thank you! Where are you sourcing these "T" adapters? And what are they technically called? So when I call around I know what im talking about.
 
Hold it. That sender has a tapered seat that needs a matching well to seal. Did it come with a well for the element? The threads on the compression nut are likely not standard pipe thread. Are you missing parts?
 
Are you referencing these? They did fit together? I didn't need any adapter.





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Here is what that T-fitting is called.
Anderson Metals Brass Pipe Fitting, Barstock Street Tee, 1/8" Female Pipe x 1/8" Male Pipe x 1/8" Female Pipe
 
Adding the aftermarket oil gauge sender while keeping the stock one is a trick. Not much space back there. Have to stay out of the way of the distributor vac can too. Buy a hand full of fittings & go to town!
 
The adapter you need the guys above are in reference to the temp gauge. ALL mechanical temp gauges (I have ever seen) use a proprietary adapter that is male pipe, and some other thread internally, with a seat in the bottom. The temp sender probe has a flange to seal, and the loose swivel nut snugs it in there Disregard the caption in the photo does not apply here

gaugeinst2-jpg.72906
 
Yes, I do have the adapter piece that came with the gauge, just not pictured. I will get some parts and try and make things work thanks!
 
You have to get creative! We utilized fittings at the heater line fitting and a T as you can see in the pic. I looked all over the forum and this is what I believe most have done. Let me know if you can't see it and I will get a better pic of it. I don't have a pic of the oil pressure fitting area but also added a T behind the distributor to run both the dummy light and gauge.

View attachment 1715562842

yes, I can see it, but do you think you get get a close up pic when you get a chance? Thanks a lot!
 
So, if you have the adapter ftting, the manifild side is NPT, or American pipe thread. A close nipple and a coupling should get you where you need to be I would think. A brass pipe tee would work for the oil if you want the gauge and the light. You might need a shoulder nipple to go with it.
 
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Would this autometer adapter threaded into one of these 3(circled holes) in my edelbrock intake work as a good spot for my autogage temp gauge sending unit?
D166B7BF-36DD-44AE-BCDD-812FA83611BE.png
 
Yes that is the stock sender for the hot cold gauge. The port circled front drivers side should work. With the pictured adapter. I don’t have heat so I just put mine in the heater line port.
 
Considering that the OP took about a year to reply to the last post, I'm not expecting a reply till 2022, lol.
 
Isn't this the sending unit for your temp gauge (blue circle)??
View attachment 1715755589
Yes, but I’m adding an aftermarket one so I can see exactly what my temps are for summer time driving in traffic.

Considering that the OP took about a year to reply to the last post, I'm not expecting a reply till 2022, lol.

ya I know, it’s been awhile lol. The car has been put away for 6+ months.
 
Being the contrarian that I am, my aftermarket temp gauge is a mechanical one that is in the top radiator hose and I like it. Previous owner did it. It measures the temperature of the water leaving the engine, so I can tell when the thermostat opens and closes by water flow that passes the sender.

I still have the factory one too, so I can see if the engine overheats with that one. That is a common complaint on having it in the radiator hose. If you loose coolant, my aftermarket gauge wouldn’t show overheating.
 
So here is what I ended up doing for my senders and works great. Still working on tidying up wiring and what not under the hood. I used the Autometer 2271 adapter for the water temp sender. Thanks for the help and input!
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Hopefully the oil pressure line will clear the distributor
 
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