I recently bought back my 1988 Trans am. Car has a 350 TPI set up for right now. Engine block # is 14088548.. 5.7L GM stamped on the back. Heads are the every so hated 191 heads. But the million dollar question is. Where exactly would the engine temp sensor be on this car. ? I felt down tonight when doing the valves and all that good stuff and it seems like their is a nut between 6 and 8 but almost like either the plug maybe is broken off or it's blocked off. Is their another location for the sensor for this block ? or is it broken and need of replacing ?. This car was to my understand a TBI car and swapped to a 350 TPI and when my friend and I first got into this 10 years ago we where just guys in our 20's playing trial and error with nothing more than a Factory service manual and a car we had no history about that needed some serious tuning adjustment. Thanks in advance and If i posted in the wrong section I'm terribly sorry.

 

There are potentially 3 "temp sensors" needed:

The gauge sending unit (not really a "sen-sore" [/mr spock], which is between the #1 & #3 spark plugs

The coolant temp sensor (for the ECM), on top of the int manifold right at the front

The fan switch (also not referred to as a "sen-sore"), between the #6 & #8 plugs

None of this has anything to do with which engine it is: small block Chevy motors all have them in the same places except the CTS which varies very slightly per the intake system.

Which one are you trying to work on and why?

 

I haven't wrenched on this motor in 10 years and haven't really touched one at that in that amount of time. But now that I'm older and a little more experienced and have the car back I'm digging deeper to make sure things are right before I up and put everything back on. One thing I noticed is between # 6 and #8 just looks like a nut on there. no plug or anything. I have read on several posts about the fan switch being between 6 and 8. Didn't know if maybe it was broken or the type of 350 design if they did something different. Also another reason is my fan lines where disconnected for some reason and are just out in the open.
Just something i'd like to have a grip on when I get it back together next week and start getting it ready for the new paint and road.

 

The hole is in every head ever made for SBC. Half of those heads went on the pass side. The hole is the same as the hole in the driver's side head, and in the same place.

For vehicles that don't have an electric fan, they've been putting plugs in the head that ended up on the pass side since 1955.

If you need to put in a fan switch, take the plug out.

The plug may have a head that looks like a nut. It isn't a nut though. It's a plug. Most of em have a square recessed drive but there's no law says that's the kind it has to be.

 

Gotcha.. Appreciate the info. Say I just wanted to not mess with that all together is their another alternative besides a fan switch inside the car to get it to turn on at a desired temp. Once I tune and burn my chip

 

Can't think of any alternative that's near as effective as just doing it right.

Funny how that seems to go... you do twice as much work trying to get out of doing work, than the work you thought you were working to get out of; and then when you get done, instead of a nice finished FUNCTIONING perfect reliable project, you end up with ... the giant ball of s*** instead.

Maybe you can tell what I think you should do.

 

Seeings I am buttoning up, repairing vacuum lines, deleting EGR, changing the rockers and all that fun I mine as well just take the step and take your advice .. Jeez then the only thing left to do is delete the cat and get the car repainted. Headed to the summit store tomorrow I'll grab the new switch, and other misc BS parts that are needed lol

 

Sounds like you're restoring an antique car or something.

 

Just getting my old 88 Bird back on the road .. I didn't want to sell her 10 years ago and at the time was living in Chicago for work and the car was in the old man's driveway in Cleveland,OH. He wasn't real happy about it plus he hates sports cars. So it was get it out of my driveway or I'm having it towed. Was forced to sell it. Living in Chicago wasn't easy either so no choice. Now I'm back in Cleveland I got the car back with 41 miles added to it since the day I signed over the title. The guy I sold it too didn't even change the car over . So I paid the man. Got a replacement (lost title) for 15 bucks and that was it. Downfall Stuff was removed which was said to have been in bad shape or was never in the car which was BS. Headliner, Dash pad, Seats, carpet, rear seats, Misc trim pieces. All in all if he got his investment out of all the pieces taken off then it's all good it technically was his car. I made the mistake selling it so the jokes on me. Ow well, ya live and learn and I'm just glad I have it back.