5.3 temp sensor conversion

[BrutonLS1]

Hey guys,

I've got a 5.3, it has 6.0 heads cast#317. I've bought 2 temp sensor adapters. I was trying to get my 1/8npt gauge to plug into the engine. The first adapter I had broke when I was tightening it (barely had any pressure on it) I then ordered another adapter from a DIFFERENT company, and the sender unit wouldn't go in all the way because there was an edge in the middle of the adapter that was blocking it, so I tried drilling out the adapter to fit the sensor, I drilled as far as I could without hitting the threads, and the sensor still wouldn't go in!!!
I decided to ditch the old goofy gauge with the long sensor and 1/8npt threads, and find a gauge that came with a short sensor and 1/8npt threads, that would fit right into my second adapter. I went to all 4 autoparts stores in town and found that NO ONE has a 1/8npt gauge!!! All the gauges I found had much bigger fittings. (I wish I remembered the sizes)

I would like to use the autometer gauge #4337 but do not know which adapter I need to make this work with the weird GM Temp sensor threads on the driver side cylinder head?? $70 and 2 frustrating weeks later, I'm asking for y'alls help. Thanks

[Mr. 250r]

Don't quote me on this but most people seem to leave the driver side head alone and then use the plug on the back of the passenger side head they will either....... take whatever temp sensor is matched to their original gauge set and then have a machine shop machine it down to a certain size since the old ones are bigger or do what you want and use an autometer setup but there has been some problems with that i think because i think the sensor its self wasn't well made i can't really remember, try a search it should bring a lot of results

EDIT this thread talks about both ways i believe http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=488976 or this website has some stuff http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.c...cat/cat311.htm

[rwade]

I used an adapter from speedway motors that I screwed in the passenger head near the firewall with a shorter Autometer temp sender. Worked well for me. I think summit racing sells the adapter too. When you call either place be specific in what your doing and that it's for an LS application, so you will get what you need.
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[68GMCCustom]

I just tapped my head (sensor is only slightly larger then heads thread size) and screwed in the sensor....done.

[Indian113]

Originally Posted by 68GMCCustom

I just tapped my head (sensor is only slightly larger then heads thread size) and screwed in the sensor....done.

X2 me too,I used the left head for gauge and the right head for ECM

[68GMCCustom]

mines arse backwards then.....

[Indian113]

No big deal either side will work. I did what I had to as I had a mechanical sending unit for my temp gauge. It's a lot easier to add wire versus copper tubing

[68GMCCustom]

was j/k....my harness had temp on drivers side...gauge on passenger side. As said...shouldn't matter tho!

[High ho silverado]

If u get a sender for a 98 trans am it is a three prong sender, u mught have to get a plug too but u can take the wires out of ur old plug and put them in the right plug, its not very hard, anyways u can use the 3rd wire to run ur gauge, thats what I did. It worked out really good for me.
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[solidaxel]

Originally Posted by High ho silverado

If u get a sender for a 98 trans am it is a three prong sender, u mught have to get a plug too but u can take the wires out of ur old plug and put them in the right plug, its not very hard, anyways u can use the 3rd wire to run ur gauge, thats what I did. It worked out really good for me.
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Is the 98 Transam sender compatable with the gauge on a 78 Chevy truck and the ECM?

[ls1nova71]

Originally Posted by solidaxel

Is the 98 Transam sender compatable with the gauge on a 78 Chevy truck and the ECM?

The 98 3 wire sensor will work for the PCM, but not sure it will work for a '78 gauge. My guess is it probably won't, or at least it probably won't be accurate.
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[1970 C10 MJW]

subd

[mooseknuckles]

my autometer guage uses the same sender as the one pictured. I ordered the autometer adapter, (forget the #) but IIRC it was 1/8 npt to 16mm?

[mooseknuckles]

http://www.autometer.com/cat_accesso...st.aspx?pid=11
its one of these....lol. I know I had to drill the center of the adapter out to get the sender to fit tho...

[JNJchev77]

This should be the correct fitting for the temp sender, if your using electronic gauges anyway...

http://www.autometer.com/cat_accesso...il.aspx?vid=61

[Jon01]

Just a heads up, unless those heads have been cut or you have flat top pistons in your 5.3 it is going to be a real pooch.
317's have the largest chambers of all LSx heads and will drop your compression well below 9:1.
Advice, sell the 317's and get some 706/862/243/799's.