I'm rather confused on where is the best place to install a temp sensor on the v6. None of the adapters fit into the block and I have concerns that if I am able to adapt the probe to bolt into the block - if the probe will be wider than the width of the adapter.

Anyone using a mechanical temp sensor have any advice?

If I am able to adapt the probe to fit the block - which of the 4 temp sensors won't I need? The forward single wire sensor on the driver side head, correct?

 

The replacement gauge is replacing the gauge in the cluster, so the sender in the driver's side head is not needed. The replacement sending unit should probably be the same 3/8 NPT thread as the factory sender.

 

I got a 3/8 male x 3/8 female adapter at home depot and installed it into the driver side head. Nice to have a working temp gauge.

 

I didn't see any comprehensive threads about installing gauges on a v6 - so here's a short pictorial.

This is a perfect spot for gauges. There's a light bulb towards the back of the dash (illumination circuit) that can be used for gauge lighting. After removing the little black cover that holds the light, there's enough room to easily snake the oil/coolant lines through the dash. No hacking involved.


Spend the extra $8 and get a copper oil line for christ sake.


The lines are run through the opening for the speedo cable. It's sealed with butyl so it's a convenient spot to run the lines. Just squish the butyl back over the lines after they're passed through.


My V6 had two oil pressure sensors. The top one was used for the gauge. Coil excess oil line to make it vibration resistant.


The coolant line run to the forward driver side head cooling sensor. I used a 3/8 x 3/8 female/male adapter. The adapter was a bit long (it's actually a compression fitting) and I filed the top down until the nut on the cooling line made a tight fit with the cooling probe. The view is top-down behind the A/C compressor.


The rest of the mess.


The 2 gauges and copper line were around $30 through Summit. ($17/gauges) ($8/copper) (+shipping/taxes)

The oil/temp gauge were obviously messed up, so this seems like an easy, accurate, and cheap method to put working gauges in a car versus replacing the cluster/sensors etc.

 

u wouldnt happen to have a link to those gauges on summit would ya ?

i need a set for my silverado as my fuel/oil/water temp gauges are horribly inaccurate , temp gauge never goes over 140*

only problem is there is no were to install the sender for a water temp gauge on the 350

the ex manifolds block the head port, and the one in the intake has to be retianed for the ecm

ill prolly need to pick up a thermostat housing that has the bung in it for a temp sensor

 

2 gauge set
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-g2924/overview/

3 gauge set
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-g2925/overview/

water neck
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/fs...make/chevrolet

Not real cool looking but they get the job done. Won't help your fuel gauge very much tho. Those trucks have big tanks and they slosh around a lot.

 

thanks man the 2 gauge set is perfect, the truck is what i use to tow my twin turbo iroc to the salt flats and to the race track so looks dont mean a damn thing on it

now i need to figure out were to get the thermostat housing that has a bung for a sending unit and ill be set

 

haha u the man placing my order now been looking for one of those thermostat housings for a few days now thats exactly what i need

the fuel gauge dont bother me

25 gallon tank
if i do all highway driving i can get about 450 miles per tank
witht he truck pulling curent daily driver duty ( 50 miles highway and 120 miles in town every 2 weeks ) i know if i fill the truck up on pay day for 65$'s that come next payday 2 weeks later it will take 55-65 bucks to refill it and have plenty of gas in it before i would hit empty even if i didnt fill it back up


dam thing is better on gas then the 96 intrepid i was dd'ing even with the rmt turbo on the thing it got horrible gas milage