How to install a second Water Temp Gauge on a 66 289 (Sunpro CP7983)

[199]

My stock temperature gauge doesn't work, my car seems to run okay now but I have no idea other than putting a thermometer in my cars radiator while idling. I would like to install the Sunpro water temperature gauge that I recently bought. The current sender on my car seems to be a 65 style thin sender, which is installed on the manifold toward the radiator side. I read that the mustangs have two places for a thermostat sender on the manifold, is that true, I wanna install the gauge for peace of mind. So that I would be running two gauge, as the one that is connected to the stock gauge is smaller than the the sunpro thread.

 

[65 fastback]

There are two water jacket ports on most intake manifolds. You can see both in this picture, there is one just to the left of the distributer and one just to the right (they are the brass plugs that you see just in front of the monty carlo bar). I use both, one for my temperature gauge and one for my EFI computer.

Also, if your stock gauge is not working, I would go ahead and order a new temperature sending unit. Make sure you get the correct unit for the gauge cluster you have.

Tim

 

[199]

There are two water jacket ports on most intake manifolds. You can see both in this picture, there is one just to the left of the distributer and one just to the right (they are the brass plugs that you see just in front of the monty carlo bar). I use both, one for my temperature gauge and one for my EFI computer.

Also, if your stock gauge is not working, I would go ahead and order a new temperature sending unit. Make sure you get the correct unit for the gauge cluster you have.

Tim

That doesn't seem to be like a stock manifold

 

[65 fastback]

That doesn't seem to be like a stock manifold

No, but you should still have both ports. This one is Edelbrock RPM AirGap.

Tim

 

[ic237]

My stock temperature gauge doesn't work, my car seems to run okay now but I have no idea other than putting a thermometer in my cars radiator while idling. I would like to install the Sunpro water temperature gauge that I recently bought. The current sender on my car seems to be a 65 style thin sender, which is installed on the manifold toward the radiator side. I read that the mustangs have two places for a thermostat sender on the manifold, is that true, I wanna install the gauge for peace of mind. So that I would be running two gauge, as the one that is connected to the stock gauge is smaller than the the sunpro thread.

If your lucky, u might have a port on the thermostat housing. But thats only good after the engine is to temp and the thermostat is working. You could get a special adapter that would require spliting the heater hose. You would place the sender in this cast block. You would need a sender that doesnt depend on the adapters ground (2wire sender). Or ultimately just remove the stock sender. You have 2 extra ports under the headers. They are 1/8 inch npt but the heat might distort the readings. You can spot those ports by looking under the engine right next to the freeze plugs.

 

[199]

If your lucky, u might have a port on the thermostat housing. But thats only good after the engine is to temp and the thermostat is working. You could get a special adapter that would require spliting the heater hose. You would place the sender in this cast block. You would need a sender that doesnt depend on the adapters ground (2wire sender). Or ultimately just remove the stock sender. You have 2 extra ports under the headers. They are 1/8 inch npt but the heat might distort the readings. You can spot those ports by looking under the engine right next to the freeze plugs.

I dont but will this work?
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This is my thermostat housing

 

[65 fastback]

Okay, your picture reminds me that I used the water jacket port for my water temperature sender when I removed my heater hose. Sorry, I forgot about that.

The part you linked looks interesting. It will work once the thermostat is open, but until then you will not be receiving true engine temperature readings. I think it would be fine for a secondary sensor and/or to calibrate your existing gauge.

Tim

 

[ic237]

You can use these 2 ports but you really need to cover the wire with hi temp fiberglass insulation. Its pretty cheap to buy. But the sensor must be 1/8 inch npt.