Cheap $ Temp Gauge

C

cars56

Senior Member
Went for a spin in the coupe last evening. Radiator shell felt a little to hot.
Not sure the accuracy of my motometer since it flew off the car when new.

So here is my tip:
Sneak past the wife and break out the turkey temp gauge from the kitchen and place it in the radiator neck for a fast and accurate reading.
 
Or...to avoid that taste of glycol in your turkey, get yourself one of those Digital Infrared Laser Thermometer LCD Guns.

Quick and easy to measure the difference in temperature of your water outlet pipe, vs upper and lower rad....or just about anything else.

Point & Shoot.:)
 
Tractor Supply sells a cheap temp gauge that is easily installed in the upper radiator hose. Just buy a couple of washers that fit the outside diameter of the provided outlet fitting for the sender and a toilet tank nut to fit the threads of the outlet. Poke a hole in the upper hose, slip a washer on the outlet, push the outlet fitting through the hose, put a washer on the inside of the hose on the outlet fitting and then clamp it all together with the upper half of a toilet tank nut (I cut mine in half with a hacksaw because it was too thick). Mount the gauge under the instrument panel with one of those cheap gauge brackets all the venders sell, snake the tubing through the firewall and screw the sender into the outlet fitting. Cheap, quick and no leaks!
 
cars56 said:
Went for a spin in the coupe last evening. Radiator shell felt a little to hot.
Not sure the accuracy of my motometer since it flew off the car when new.

So here is my tip:
Sneak past the wife and break out the turkey temp gauge from the kitchen and place it in the radiator neck for a fast and accurate reading.
Click to expand...

Not so cheap when the wife bashes you one if she finds out.
 
I bought a Temperature Gauge from my local auto parts dealer, installed it in my "A",
mounted the gauge on the steering column just under the steering wheel. As I recall
it was just over $30.00, 1/2 the price of the model A parts dealers. Works great, barely noticeable. I just have to cast my eyes down to check the temp.
 
Paul from Maine said:
Tractor Supply sells a cheap temp gauge that is easily installed in the upper radiator hose. Just buy a couple of washers that fit the outside diameter of the provided outlet fitting for the sender and a toilet tank nut to fit the threads of the outlet. Poke a hole in the upper hose, slip a washer on the outlet, push the outlet fitting through the hose, put a washer on the inside of the hose on the outlet fitting and then clamp it all together with the upper half of a toilet tank nut (I cut mine in half with a hacksaw because it was too thick). Mount the gauge under the instrument panel with one of those cheap gauge brackets all the venders sell, snake the tubing through the firewall and screw the sender into the outlet fitting. Cheap, quick and no leaks!
Click to expand...

I'd like to see a photo of your "poke" hole installation. It sounds very neat and would leave lots of flex in the upper radiator hose -- as opposed to buying the tube fitting and cutting the hose in two.
So, if you could sketch it, scan it, and post it ... please.
Thanks!
 
Here's mine with a matching oil pressure gauge. Note that I fabbed a piece of metal to hide the sides of the gauges.
 

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Bruce said:
I'd like to see a photo of your "poke" hole installation. It sounds very neat and would leave lots of flex in the upper radiator hose -- as opposed to buying the tube fitting and cutting the hose in two.
So, if you could sketch it, scan it, and post it ... please.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
The outlet fitting sticking out of the washer came with the gauge. There is another identical washer on the inside of the hose. The hose wall is sandwiched in between the two washers. The outlet fitting is threaded (pipe threads I think) and the only nut that would fit on it at the hardware store is the fitting that connects the water supply to a toilet. Of couse that fitting is too big to put in the hose, so I put it in a vice and cut the threaded part off with a hacksaw. That left a nut that fits nicely in the hose on the outlet fitting. Tighten that nut enough to sandwich the hose wall rubber between the two washers. Then put some of that white teflon tape on the probe and screw it into the outlet fitting. Pretty easy and hasn't leaked a drop!
 

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Bruce said:
I'd like to see a photo of your "poke" hole installation. It sounds very neat and would leave lots of flex in the upper radiator hose -- as opposed to buying the tube fitting and cutting the hose in two.
So, if you could sketch it, scan it, and post it ... please.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
I forgot to state that I cleaned up the hole in the hose with a utility knife. The diameter of the hole has to be a little less than the outside diameter of the out let fitting.
 
77e7a5f7166117188b1740c97db886960_l.jpg


You can find just what you want, and just what is pictured by others in this thread by looking in a W.W. Granger on-site catalog. All my gages came from ancillary 'pick-ups' left over from industrial auctions in closed down factories like this Ashcroft instrument.

skip.
 
cars56 said:
Went for a spin in the coupe last evening. Radiator shell felt a little to hot.
Not sure the accuracy of my motometer since it flew off the car when new.

So here is my tip:
Sneak past the wife and break out the turkey temp gauge from the kitchen and place it in the radiator neck for a fast and accurate reading.
Click to expand...

Just remember to take it back before she misses it like I did!
 
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