I've got a stock 57 hdtop with 283 engine. I have the original temp. sensor in the front of the intake. I've got a 3 guage under-the-dash unit with oil pressure, amps and temperture. Is there any place to put a second probe? I tried splicing into the original wire and it causes the original guage to max out. Any thoughts?
*Two temperture sensors
rmalott
1 - 20 of 30 Posts
Joined
·
308 Posts
I've got a stock 57 hdtop with 283 engine. I have the original temp. sensor in the front of the intake. I've got a 3 guage under-the-dash unit with oil pressure, amps and temperture. Is there any place to put a second probe? I tried splicing into the original wire and it causes the original guage to max out. Any thoughts?
Joined
·
19,952 Posts
There is no port on the head if you have an original 57 283. You can either put a TEE off the existing port on the intake or use a thermostat spacer with an additional port. The TEE don't look very good so I would use the t-stat spacer. Summit Racing sells them in a few different configurations.
Joined
·
19,952 Posts
Yep, Thats the one. :tu![Image]()
That doesn't look bad, I wonder if it would fit with the sending units toward the rear?![Image]()
Joined
·
1,495 Posts
HI Jerr, great information and I didn't know that the part exists. I'll be sure to check Summit Racing first thing tomorrow however, as I have the stock 283 as well, the after market temperature gauge that I purchased is a mechanical gauge and has a large probe that goes into a 7/8" fitting which then, I would suppose would go into the thermostat spacer, as pictured. My question now is: do they have a spacer large enough to fit the 7/8" fitting? I'll let you know. Many thanks for your response.
HI Jerr and others. The spacer looks like the perfect solution and your pictures are great however, it doesn't appear that I can get a thermostat spacer for my 283 engine that will accommodate the 7/8" fitting that is included with the mechanical water temp probe that I want to install.this is what is looks like installed
![Image]()
![Image]()
![Image]()
Is it possible to do this: Install the new 7/8" fitting into the existing manifold port hole and attach the new aftermarket temp probe into the original temp sending port hole with the new fitting. Install the new thermostat spacer with the 3/8" hole, with the electrical fittings as pictured, and plug the factory temperature wire into the new fitting? In this configuration, the new temp gauge would work but will the original factory temp gauge work on the new fitting attached to the thermostat spacer?
Also, where can I find the electrical fitting that is installed into the thermostat spacer, as pictured?
Joined
·
1,495 Posts
I think a more elegant and simple solution is by a new sender that will fit. Why must you use the 7/8" one?
I don't know what you mean? Are you talking about the sender?
Joined
·
19,952 Posts
The mechanical gauges come with multiple adaptors and there is one that fits the t-stat spacer so you can put the new gauge probe there. I have done it many times.
Joined
·
4,685 Posts
They also make an engine freeze plug which has a tapping for a sending unit. Probably a speed shop part.
Hi Jerr. the probe for the new temp gauge is large and it fits into a 7/8" fitting, which also appears to be the same size as the original factory temp sending unit. While I haven't tried it, it looks like the new fitting will fit into the existing manifold hole where the current factory sending unit is. If I could install the new temp gauge probe, with the 7/8" fitting into the original factory manifold hole, I could then use the thermostat spacer with the sending unit as pictured, for the original factory temp gauge wire. Would the sending unit installed on the thermostat spacer work with the original factory temp gauge wire? And, while I know that Summit racing carries the thermostat spacer, do they also have the sending unit that goes into the spacer (I think it's 3/8")? If not, where can I get that sending unit that you pictured? Gosh, I hope I didn't make this too complicated!
HI Redds. I have an original 283 with the factory manifold. It doesn't appear to have a spot on it, like your picture, that I can drill & tap in the same way.
Yes Jerr, I am indeed talking about the sending unit screwed into the thermostat spacer. Two questions: will that sending unit work with the original factory temp gauge wire and, if so, where can I get that sending unit?
Joined
·
1,495 Posts
1. no.. that's why I have two. the stock one will only work for the stock gauge and it is something you just can't get off the shelf. You have to order it from a trifive vendor. If it would work for both... I would only have the one. If you try to use one from an auto parts store they will give you a "universal" one that will not give you and accurate reading on the gauge. You can play with resistors to get it close or spend $30 for the correct one.
http://www.danchuk.com/ItemForm.aspx?item=094
here is some background info
http://www.trifive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58994
2. The one in the spacer came with the gauge I got from autometer.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00062YW7Y/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It came with the adaptor to fit the hole in the neck spacer (1/8 sender to 3/8 hole I believe).
I have the spacer and sender just for the tricluster under my dash. I wanted to see where the temp on the tricluster was in comparison with the stock gauge. It's something I can always remove really easy in the future.
I don't know what gauge you have and what the ohm scale is for it. A cheapo sender from a auto parts store may work, but it depends on the gauge.
:anim_25:
Joined
·
231 Posts
Just as a side note, If you need to buy new temp senders, I got mine from the below place as it comes calibrated for my year and engine ('57/283ci). I got a third party one and the gauge will show running hot all the time.
http://www.lectriclimited.com/mainpage.htm
Part # 01513321
http://www.lectriclimited.com/mainpage.htm
Part # 01513321
Hi Jerr and all. Many thanks for your detailed information, including the pictures. Also, thanks to everybody else who has responded - all great information. However, based on your feedback, I have decided that the mechanical thermostat (with that huge temp probe and large fitting) is probably not the best way to go for my original '57 Bel Air 283 (live & learn). While I try to stay as original as possible, I really need a temp gauge with numerical readings so I think that the thermostat spacer with a set of electrical gauges is the way to go. It's a small compromise in order to have the gauges I need and very easy to go back to stock whenever. In this regard, I can still have both the stock factory dashboard temp gauge and the new aftermarket electric gauge cluster and the electrical wires look easy and clean.
The Auto Meter gauges that you recommended look great and I may go with them but, SunPro also makes a set of electrical gauges that are much cheaper - any problems with SunPro gauges?
The Auto Meter gauges that you recommended look great and I may go with them but, SunPro also makes a set of electrical gauges that are much cheaper - any problems with SunPro gauges?
1 - 20 of 30 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
