Another temp gauge thread - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Old Crow · 05-20-2013, 11:59 AM

OK, I checked out the 4 pages of results when you type in "temp gauge sender" in the forum and I still can't find an answer to my particular question. Lots of tips, some of which I've tried, and I still get the gauge pegging when the coolant in the radiator is only 140*
I'm about ready to install a resistor in the line to the sender and be done with it. Only thing is, I'd kinda like to know the resistance the gauge is supposed to see to help me select a resistor. Can't find any specs on the '59 temp gauge to see what resistance the gauge is looking for.
Anyone know for sure?

_Ogre · 05-20-2013, 03:22 PM

you need a stock sender to work with the stock gauge
i suspect you have a newer sending unit
i believe stock is 30 ohm resistance, newer ones are 70 ohm
but wait for someone else to confirm that before you tear into anything

your coolant sensor should look like this

Old Crow · 05-20-2013, 04:37 PM

Yeah, that's what it looks like.
I ordered it(from O'reilly's)for the '59 truck with a 8 cyl(as the truck was originally). When I removed the sender to clean the teflon tape off of it(not my work, I knew better already)I measured the resistance of the sender and it's a bit over 500 ohms cold.
No wonder the gauge reads wrong!
Who'da thought...bad parts right out of the box?
We've got a '57 Bel-Aire sitting here and I checked the sender on it. 1.1k ohms cold, but then it's got a Classic Instruments dash and sender in it. It works fine.
I thought this old stuff was supposed to be easy to work on. LOL!

Russell Ashley · 05-21-2013, 08:22 AM

My temp sender came from NAPA and works fine with my 57 guage. The p/n is TS6469SB. It's in the left side head, btw.

butchp · 05-21-2013, 11:13 PM

My thermostat was stuck open gage worked fine,replaced thermostat, gage went full hot. replaced sender gage full hot. remove wire from sender at gage reinstall and gage reads correct. next time I start gage reads full hot, I can put my hand on rad not that hot. I have checked thermostat in a pan of hot water it opens correct. what the heck. NAPA did not have a part number for my truck sender I used one from a 6 cyl a little newer a 1960's. My truck is a 1956 chevy with 235/6.

05-20-2013, 11:59 AM	#1
Old Crow Registered User Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Fox, AR Posts: 394	Another temp gauge thread OK, I checked out the 4 pages of results when you type in "temp gauge sender" in the forum and I still can't find an answer to my particular question. Lots of tips, some of which I've tried, and I still get the gauge pegging when the coolant in the radiator is only 140* I'm about ready to install a resistor in the line to the sender and be done with it. Only thing is, I'd kinda like to know the resistance the gauge is supposed to see to help me select a resistor. Can't find any specs on the '59 temp gauge to see what resistance the gauge is looking for. Anyone know for sure?

05-20-2013, 03:22 PM	#2
_Ogre Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Motown Posts: 7,677	Re: Another temp gauge thread you need a stock sender to work with the stock gauge i suspect you have a newer sending unit i believe stock is 30 ohm resistance, newer ones are 70 ohm but wait for someone else to confirm that before you tear into anything your coolant sensor should look like this __________________ cool, an ogre smiley Ogre's 58 Truk build how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature shop air compressor timer

05-20-2013, 04:37 PM	#3
Old Crow Registered User Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Fox, AR Posts: 394	Re: Another temp gauge thread Yeah, that's what it looks like. I ordered it(from O'reilly's)for the '59 truck with a 8 cyl(as the truck was originally). When I removed the sender to clean the teflon tape off of it(not my work, I knew better already)I measured the resistance of the sender and it's a bit over 500 ohms cold. No wonder the gauge reads wrong! Who'da thought...bad parts right out of the box? We've got a '57 Bel-Aire sitting here and I checked the sender on it. 1.1k ohms cold, but then it's got a Classic Instruments dash and sender in it. It works fine. I thought this old stuff was supposed to be easy to work on. LOL!

05-21-2013, 08:22 AM	#4
Russell Ashley Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lawrenceville, Ga Posts: 2,641	Re: Another temp gauge thread My temp sender came from NAPA and works fine with my 57 guage. The p/n is TS6469SB. It's in the left side head, btw.

05-21-2013, 11:13 PM	#5
butchp Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Finley, TN. Posts: 198	Re: Another temp gauge thread My thermostat was stuck open gage worked fine,replaced thermostat, gage went full hot. replaced sender gage full hot. remove wire from sender at gage reinstall and gage reads correct. next time I start gage reads full hot, I can put my hand on rad not that hot. I have checked thermostat in a pan of hot water it opens correct. what the heck. NAPA did not have a part number for my truck sender I used one from a 6 cyl a little newer a 1960's. My truck is a 1956 chevy with 235/6.



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