Water Temp Sending Unit Location

[BFoley]

Finally on the tail-end of a bunch of a wiring project and the only thing I have left is figuring out the factory location of the water temp sensor. The truck had an aftermarket mechanical gauge and I want to hook the original back up. The replacement one was located in the the intake manifold.l near front of engine. Is this the correct location for an original?

Thanks,
Ben

[cru_zn_29]

Is this what you are looking for

[WOLFMANmike]

factory spot as far as i know is always in the Head

[OldChevy61]

Originally Posted by WOLFMANmike

factory spot as far as i know is always in the Head

That would depend on the head. Some don't have a place for the sending unit.

[Atbyrne]

I'm running into the same problem. I switched engines from a 250 to a 327. The 327 does not have any ports in the head, and there is a plug that is stuck in the intake. So I will probably be using a water neck spacer to run both the idiot lite and a mechanical gauge.

[BFoley]

Originally Posted by cru_zn_29

Is this what you are looking for

Yep. This is perfect. Thank you for the picture! Now i just need to track down the correct sending unit...

[ray_mcavoy]

Originally Posted by WOLFMANmike

factory spot as far as i know is always in the Head

That is true for 1968 & newer small block Chevys.

But the older ones were in the intake manifold like in the photo cru_zn_29 posted.

Originally Posted by BFoley

Now i just need to track down the correct sending unit...

I believe you'll need a GM #1513321 sending unit. That number is discontinued from GM and I have heard mixed reviews about the compatibility of the new Delco & aftermarket replacements with the stock gauges. However, Lectric Limited offers reproduction sending units that have the correct temperature vs. resistance curve to work with the original gauge.

[BFoley]

Originally Posted by ray_mcavoy

That is true for 1968 & newer small block Chevys.

But the older ones were in the intake manifold like in the photo cru_zn_29 posted.



I believe you'll need a GM #1513321 sending unit. That number is discontinued from GM and I have heard mixed reviews about the compatibility of the new Delco & aftermarket replacements with the stock gauges. However, Lectric Limited offers reproduction sending units that have the correct temperature vs. resistance curve to work with the original gauge.

I went down to a local Barron's Motor Supply and they gave me a Standard PN TS71. I wonder how that will work...?

[ray_mcavoy]

Originally Posted by BFoley

I went down to a local Barron's Motor Supply and they gave me a Standard PN TS71. I wonder how that will work...?

That's probably not going to work with your stock gauge. According to my parts book, the TS71 is listed for late 70's through early 90's applications. It has a different temperature vs. resistance curve than the older units.

If you want to give an aftermarket sending unit a try, I'd recommend a Standard TS6. That one is at least listed for applications back into the 1960's and should stand a better chance of having a temp vs. resistance curve that will come closer to matching your gauge.

[MikeN]

These guys will have the exact sending unit you need to work with your factory gauge.

Www.lectriclimited.com

[BFoley]

Originally Posted by MikeN

These guys will have the exact sending unit you need to work with your factory gauge.

Www.lectriclimited.com

I already sent my self an email so I remember to call them tomorrow to get one ordered. Hopefully they are slightly more reasonable than the GM NOS ones floating around on eBay.

[MikeN]

The factory temp gauges in both my 69 Chevelle and my 64 C10 were inaccurate with generic parts-house sending units. Both now work perfectly with the correct sending units from Lectric Limited. A little pricey, but worth it IMHO.

[BFoley]

Originally Posted by MikeN

The factory temp gauges in both my 69 Chevelle and my 64 C10 were inaccurate with generic parts-house sending units. Both now work perfectly with the correct sending units from Lectric Limited. A little pricey, but worth it IMHO.

Just ordered a 1513321 sending unit from them along with a lead repair kit. Hopefully it works. I feel like this is a stupid question, but should the gauge needle be straight up and down if temp is within normal operating range?

[1strong63]

on my small block it was on the side of DS head. now on my BB i have ports on both heads but in front and rear and one port on the intake close to the thermostat.
i've used all of them to compare reading and they are all very close, but the one on the intake is really reading the exit temp of your engine i guess so i use it instead.

[MikeN]

Needle will be left of center at normal operating temp