mechanical temp sensor too long

callbald

Senior Member
I have never installed a mechanical temp sensor (1964 Galaxie) and the sensor purchased from Summit is too long (intake manifold is not deep enough). looking for installation solution. The sensor is hitting the bottom of the intake manifold sticking up a good a 1- 1 /4 inch.
 
What engine does it have? Is there a spot in the block you can use?
I had Autometer gauges that used a mechanical temp sensor. It was a excellent gauge.
 
Any chance the manifold is deeper under heater outlet fitting? Maybe able to swap the sensor into heater hose hole and hose fitting to temp sender location. I bought a aluminum pump from PSE back in the day and it didn't have heater hose outlet. Think I drilled pump and installed a hose fitting. I had to go with small pipe thread hose nipple. Hole in it was only 1/4 inch but heater worked fine.
 
I installed a "T" at the heater hose to intake port and run the heater hose from one and the upper port is used for my temp sender.
 
Is this a 260, 289, or later 302 engine. Some of the intake manifolds for small block Fords have a port behind the distributor and then another one farther left of center closer to the left cylinder head. I'm not sure on the older ones though. Several of the different aftermarket aluminum manifolds have the port on the left. To machine one there would require removal of the manifold. There are block drain plugs that may be used but they are lower in the block and closer to where the coolant inters the block so the temp would be lower than if it was placed closer to the exit of the block. An exception might be if there is a drain at the back of the block but it still may be cooler than the outlet port area. In line hose adapters are available to fit radiator outlet hoses but the unit wouldn't get temp up until the thermostat opens.

The non-electric mechanical reading gauges usually have a relatively long bulb and many need a flared seat to seal correctly. Some are odd size threads too other than 3/8 NPT like 5/8 X 18. What thread does your sender bulb have? Adapters are made to adapt to 3/8" NPT.
 
sounds like you have the unit that goes in head, you can get a shorter sending unit from speedway that will work with external gauge
 
I have never installed a mechanical temp sensor (1964 Galaxie) and the sensor purchased from Summit is too long (intake manifold is not deep enough). looking for installation solution. The sensor is hitting the bottom of the intake manifold sticking up a good a 1- 1 /4 inch.

What engine and is it a mechanical temp gauge sender?
 
I bought a mechanical temp.gauge for my 55 ford and it came with 3 different adapters.
U cannot insert the sender directly into the intake manifold,you have to use one of the adaptors. After I threaded the adaptor into the manifold,I than threaded the sender into the adaptor. Mine is made by Bosh and it works really nice.
 
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