Ok, What exactly causes the thermostat to work? Like how does the thermostat guage read the thermostat since there arent any wires hooked directly up to the thermostat?

 

The two have nothing to do with each other. The thermostat has a wax pellet in it that expands with heat to open the valve. The gauge reads an electrical signal from the temperature sender in the drivers side head.

 

ill add a little more/say it in a different way

the thermostat is completey mechanical

it is spring loaded

thermal expansion and contraction is how it works most all are 165 to 220 degrees F operational

 

Ok that makes sense. Thanks. The reason i ask is because my temperature guage has stopped working. Where could the problem be?

 

Either in the gauge, the sender, or the wiring in between.

 

Ill have to check the sender unit, my temp guage has also stopped working (it doesnt read a temp. at all). Should I replace the sensor?

 

if it doesn't read at all, probably the wire came off. sending unit is between #1 and #3 plug, single green wire, i believe...

 

The way to test your gauge (assuming it is your '82?) is to turn the key on, and ground the wire to the sender unit. The gauge should peg all the way to the top. If it does, then the gauge is operable and you have a sending unit or wire issue.

Should also check the coolant. The sending unit needs to sit in coolant, and bc the sender is at the top of the engine, low coolant could lead to faulty - or no - readings.