Mechanical temp gauge hookup to ls engine - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bowtie70 · 08-02-2011, 09:16 AM

I have searched the board for this particular problem but have had no luck finding it.

I have just finished a 6.0 ls engine install in a 70 classic C/10. I would like to use a mechanical temp gauge. However, there is no obvious location to install the heat sending unit.

Have any of you guys done a similar install using a mechanical temp gauge? If so any advice on where to locate the temp sending unit would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Roger

eagleuh1 · 08-02-2011, 10:35 AM

I used a 97 I believe F body sending unit and the stock guage. The sending unit I put in the passenger head at the back. Theres a plug installed there now. 6.0 heads should have it. The sending unit is a three wire, only 2 are used. I also read that you can use it in place of the drivers side sending unit, it would retain the computer input for ect and also the guage signal. I don't believe there's actually a mechanical temp guage, is there?

brad_man_72 · 08-02-2011, 10:39 AM

back side of pass head near the last exhaust port their is a 14mm? Plug. I forgot where I got mine but a search for 14mm? Temperature sending unit should get you started. I'm not sure on the 14mm size but it's the same size as the factory ls temp sending unit.

another thing I didn't figure out by reading is that if you swap plugs in the ack of the power steering pump you can use the factory c10 pressure line.

bowtie70 · 08-02-2011, 11:25 AM

Actually, I am considering two options for the temp gauge.

I had considered a mechanical gauge because I thought this would be the easiest. However, it might be easier to use the original gauge.

The original gauge in the truck is still good so I could use it. I have seen the plug in the back of the passenger side of the cylinder head where it looks as if you could put a sending unit there. If I go this route I would need to find a sending unit that is both a thread match for my LS engine and an electrical match for my classic guage.

It seems eagleuh1 may have posted a solution for the problem. However my classic gauge uses a single wire so could someone post info on which heat sending unit terminal to connect to?

Thanks,

Roger

eagleuh1 · 08-02-2011, 07:38 PM

Bowtie 70, I'll look at mine and get back with you. I pulled a connector from my S10 Blazer that fit the sending unit perfect. I think it was an AC connector if I'm not mistaken. Jim

eagleuh1 · 08-02-2011, 07:47 PM

Here's a link to where I got my info. Easy to see and its a 98 Fbody sensor/sending unit.
http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversion...emp-gauge.html. Good luck. Jim

eagleuh1 · 08-02-2011, 07:50 PM

I got to test the guage for movement when I had HpTuners hooked up on a drive and my upper radiator hose blew off. It does move enough to show heating up. Good enough for me and I have an idea where what temp is from the HpTuners being hooked up. Jim

bowtie70 · 08-04-2011, 01:34 PM

Problem solved. Thanks for the help guys.

roger

eagleuh1 · 08-04-2011, 04:42 PM

Yeh right. You don't get off that easy. How'd you solve the problem? Jim

bowtie70 · 08-04-2011, 05:20 PM

I was hoping no one would ask me how I did this because I am a little embarrased at the low tech solution I used to solve the problem. But here goes. I drilled and tapped the boss on the water pump to accept the sending unit designed to match the gauge in my 70 c/10. Installed the matching sending unit and ran the engine until the thermostat opened. Got a reading on the gauge in about the middle of the normal range. So, low tech, but problem solved. In the picture the sending unit looks close to the belt but it is about 2" below it.

Maybe this will be helpfull to some others.

Roger

eagleuh1 · 08-04-2011, 06:55 PM

Heck, thats a nice simple solution. Most of the time, simple is the best. Most people are scared to start drilling on their engine though. Good job. No reason to be embarressed when you come up with the best solution. Jim

brad_man_72 · 08-05-2011, 02:12 PM

that's where most people run their steam line. Sime works!

6.0 1955 · 08-05-2011, 10:39 PM

If you want to run mechanical gauge call street and performance. They make an adapter that fits the passenger side head so the gauge can be used. The part is around $18. They also make an adapter to place a mechanical oil pressure gauge in the factory LS electric oil sending unit hole as well. Both worked nicely onmy 55 sedan.

Motoxrrar · 03-11-2014, 11:33 PM

The thread size on that passenger side is actually 12mm 1.5 thread. My solution was from a turning down a sending unit to just match the thread size of the head.

Andy4639 · 03-12-2014, 07:10 AM

This is my 6.0 thread. It explains the temp senor and oil sendor.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=597993

chuckmc8 · 03-12-2014, 07:58 AM

Here is my thread on water temp senders issue

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=569188

08-02-2011, 09:16 AM	#1
bowtie70 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Midland Texas Posts: 7	Mechanical temp gauge hookup to ls engine I have searched the board for this particular problem but have had no luck finding it. I have just finished a 6.0 ls engine install in a 70 classic C/10. I would like to use a mechanical temp gauge. However, there is no obvious location to install the heat sending unit. Have any of you guys done a similar install using a mechanical temp gauge? If so any advice on where to locate the temp sending unit would be appreciated. Thanks, Roger

08-02-2011, 10:35 AM	#2
eagleuh1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Russellville, Arkansas Posts: 1,699	Re: Mechanical temp gauge hookup to ls engine I used a 97 I believe F body sending unit and the stock guage. The sending unit I put in the passenger head at the back. Theres a plug installed there now. 6.0 heads should have it. The sending unit is a three wire, only 2 are used. I also read that you can use it in place of the drivers side sending unit, it would retain the computer input for ect and also the guage signal. I don't believe there's actually a mechanical temp guage, is there?

08-02-2011, 10:39 AM	#3
brad_man_72 the boat guy Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: springfield mo Posts: 2,339	Re: Mechanical temp gauge hookup to ls engine back side of pass head near the last exhaust port their is a 14mm? Plug. I forgot where I got mine but a search for 14mm? Temperature sending unit should get you started. I'm not sure on the 14mm size but it's the same size as the factory ls temp sending unit. another thing I didn't figure out by reading is that if you swap plugs in the ack of the power steering pump you can use the factory c10 pressure line. __________________ 67, swb, fleet, tach, throttle, 5.3, 4l60e, 3.73's, fuel cell, 5 lug, p.d.b., 4-6 drop. great little truck 66, stevens drag/ski 18' silouette, 350, 2.02 doublehump heads. comp extreme marine 278 cam, vette 7 fin valve covers, old polished edelbrock intake, velvetdrive, casale v-drive, adj cavitation plate. 28, model a rpu project,

08-02-2011, 11:25 AM	#4
bowtie70 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Midland Texas Posts: 7	Re: Mechanical temp gauge hookup to ls engine Actually, I am considering two options for the temp gauge. I had considered a mechanical gauge because I thought this would be the easiest. However, it might be easier to use the original gauge. The original gauge in the truck is still good so I could use it. I have seen the plug in the back of the passenger side of the cylinder head where it looks as if you could put a sending unit there. If I go this route I would need to find a sending unit that is both a thread match for my LS engine and an electrical match for my classic guage. It seems eagleuh1 may have posted a solution for the problem. However my classic gauge uses a single wire so could someone post info on which heat sending unit terminal to connect to? Thanks, Roger

08-02-2011, 07:38 PM	#5
eagleuh1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Russellville, Arkansas Posts: 1,699	Re: Mechanical temp gauge hookup to ls engine Bowtie 70, I'll look at mine and get back with you. I pulled a connector from my S10 Blazer that fit the sending unit perfect. I think it was an AC connector if I'm not mistaken. Jim

08-02-2011, 07:47 PM	#6
eagleuh1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Russellville, Arkansas Posts: 1,699	Re: Mechanical temp gauge hookup to ls engine Here's a link to where I got my info. Easy to see and its a 98 Fbody sensor/sending unit. http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversion...emp-gauge.html. Good luck. Jim

08-02-2011, 07:50 PM	#7
eagleuh1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Russellville, Arkansas Posts: 1,699	Re: Mechanical temp gauge hookup to ls engine I got to test the guage for movement when I had HpTuners hooked up on a drive and my upper radiator hose blew off. It does move enough to show heating up. Good enough for me and I have an idea where what temp is from the HpTuners being hooked up. Jim

08-04-2011, 01:34 PM	#8
bowtie70 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Midland Texas Posts: 7	Re: Mechanical temp gauge hookup to ls engine Problem solved. Thanks for the help guys. roger

08-04-2011, 04:42 PM	#9
eagleuh1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Russellville, Arkansas Posts: 1,699	Re: Mechanical temp gauge hookup to ls engine Yeh right. You don't get off that easy. How'd you solve the problem? Jim

08-04-2011, 05:20 PM	#10
bowtie70 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Midland Texas Posts: 7	Re: Mechanical temp gauge hookup to ls engine I was hoping no one would ask me how I did this because I am a little embarrased at the low tech solution I used to solve the problem. But here goes. I drilled and tapped the boss on the water pump to accept the sending unit designed to match the gauge in my 70 c/10. Installed the matching sending unit and ran the engine until the thermostat opened. Got a reading on the gauge in about the middle of the normal range. So, low tech, but problem solved. In the picture the sending unit looks close to the belt but it is about 2" below it. Maybe this will be helpfull to some others. Roger

08-04-2011, 06:55 PM	#11
eagleuh1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Russellville, Arkansas Posts: 1,699	Re: Mechanical temp gauge hookup to ls engine Heck, thats a nice simple solution. Most of the time, simple is the best. Most people are scared to start drilling on their engine though. Good job. No reason to be embarressed when you come up with the best solution. Jim

08-05-2011, 02:12 PM	#12
brad_man_72 the boat guy Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: springfield mo Posts: 2,339	Re: Mechanical temp gauge hookup to ls engine that's where most people run their steam line. Sime works!

08-05-2011, 10:39 PM	#13
6.0 1955 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Ashland, KY Posts: 91	Re: Mechanical temp gauge hookup to ls engine If you want to run mechanical gauge call street and performance. They make an adapter that fits the passenger side head so the gauge can be used. The part is around $18. They also make an adapter to place a mechanical oil pressure gauge in the factory LS electric oil sending unit hole as well. Both worked nicely onmy 55 sedan.

03-11-2014, 11:33 PM	#14
Motoxrrar Registered User Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Tennessee Posts: 282	Re: Mechanical temp gauge hookup to ls engine The thread size on that passenger side is actually 12mm 1.5 thread. My solution was from a turning down a sending unit to just match the thread size of the head.

03-12-2014, 07:10 AM	#15
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,945	Re: Mechanical temp gauge hookup to ls engine This is my 6.0 thread. It explains the temp senor and oil sendor. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=597993 __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.



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03-12-2014, 07:58 AM	#16
chuckmc8 It's alsways something..... Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Douglasville GA Posts: 1,171	Re: Mechanical temp gauge hookup to ls engine Here is my thread on water temp senders issue http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=569188 __________________ 1968 RS Camaro 'Vert Matching number 327 and M21 Muncie 1968 C10 Black with red interior and orig paint. 5.3 / 4l60e,3:73 POSI 17" Torq Thrusts 1968 CST 514 Red with black interior. Buddy Buckets, Factory A/C, PS, PB- 20" AR custom shop TT, 5.3 and 4l60e

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