Need water temp sensor port--can I use this? Pic inside

[Goldhawg]

All--
I'm converting to Howell TBI on my 351W, and his wiring harness uses the one of the intake manifold ports for water, and the other is for the heater flow. My aftermarket temp sensor needs a separate port (can't splice into the howell temp sensor cuz line is gas filled I'm told). I am also converting to explorer serpentine, and I bought a 90 deg thermostat neck which has a smaller hole on top that is filled w/a plug. Wondering if I can get an adapter and just use this one for my temp gauge sensor. Thoughts?

 

[Hoppy]

pul the plug out and take it to napa they will find one that fits

 

[Broncobowsher]

Yep, you have a mechanical temperture gauge. Looks a little rigged in there with the 90° adapter.

Then there is the EFI temp sensor. And you are looking at the thermostat housing. It has worked but in theory not the best. It isn't really a engine temp spot unless the thermostat is open.

My suggestion for this exact situation...
Since the mechanical sender has such a long probe. Put a Tee fitting on the heater port on the passenger side of the intake. Put the probe straight down. That should put most of the probe down into the waterflow of the intake. What turbulence is going on will evenly heat the whole probe and it should read just fine.
Since the EFI probe does not probe deep into the water like the mechanical gauge (usually a surface reading) put that into the intake that is half burried under the distributer (where the mechanical gauge is now).

That is how I would do it. There are other options as well.
If you don't use much heater I got another one. Put the EFI probe up where the heater hose is now. Pull water off the rear crossover at the back of the intake for the heater. There is a down side. That water has not traveled through the heads yet, so it isn't as hot, thus the heater doesn't work as well.

The biggest pain is the heater design of the Bronco. Since the heater water is turned off when the heater is off there is no flow in that hose. That is what makes using the original mustang or Explorer style EFI temps sensor location less then desirable (It is located in the heater supply pipe).

 

[Goldhawg]

My suggestion for this exact situation...
Since the mechanical sender has such a long probe. Put a Tee fitting on the heater port on the passenger side of the intake. Put the probe straight down. That should put most of the probe down into the waterflow of the intake. What turbulence is going on will evenly heat the whole probe and it should read just fine.
Since the EFI probe does not probe deep into the water like the mechanical gauge (usually a surface reading) put that into the intake that is half burried under the distributer (where the mechanical gauge is now).

I'm sorry but this is confusing to me. Are you saying use the heater port on the passenger side for both the temp gauge and the heater using a T fitting? If so, I don't understand how that would have the sensor down deep in the intake?

Alternatively, you may be saying that I need to have the temp gauge down deep, and the EFI sensor doesn't need to be, so I should put the temp gauge sensor on the intake (where it originally was) and move the EFI sensor to the 90 deg elbow inlet spot?

Sorry, just trying to visualize what you're suggesting...

Thx!

 

[Broncobowsher]

Something like http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/1DGL5 and the length of the probe going through it.

 

[Viperwolf1]

I don't think there would be much difference in temp from one side of the thermostat to the other side.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I don't think there would be much difference in temp from one side of the thermostat to the other side.

As long as the thermostat is open, true.
What happens when the thermostat sticks shut and the hot water never makes it to the housing side of the thermostat?

 

[Viperwolf1]

As long as the thermostat is open, true.
What happens when the thermostat sticks shut and the hot water never makes it to the housing side of the thermostat?

You'll still have conduction going on and the sensor would be pretty close to the hot side. I agree that there would be some hysteresis especially when the engine is cold but once it got fully heat soaked I'd be surprised if there was ever a 10 degree difference. It might not be stable enough for an EFI computer but it would work the temp gauge fine.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I am not sure if the gauge probe would physically clear the thermostat in that location?

 

[Goldhawg]

Something like http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/1DGL5 and the length of the probe going through it.

Now I see...but $86 for a fitting? W/O shipping? Ouch....

Does it need to be stainless steel? Wonder if there is a cheaper one somewhere....I'll definitely look.

Thx!

 

[av bronco]

Lots of 91+ fords have a heater hose adapter behind the thermostat thats basically a tube with a 3/8 pipe fitting in it for the coolant temp sensor.