Temp gauge

dirtpig538

Junior Member
1956 Fairlane Victoria. Temp gauge goes all the way to hot when shut off. All the way to cold when it's running, and doesn't move. Tried swapping the wires on the gauge, same thing.
 
Are the: engine, heads, electrical system and dash gauges original to the car?
The wire to the sensor may be shorted out or the sensor may be bad.
The gauge is functional or you wouldn't be able to get a full sweep of the pointer.

The sensor is a one-year-only part. #10884-B ('56, for use with original gauge) approx $75/$80
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The older flatheads may have had two Temp sensors, never had my hands on one.

There should be just one Temp sensor on a stock Y-block engine. Near the rear of the head on the driver's/left side of the engine. photo 1
A '56 Y-block with original heads uses the larger style sensor shown in the 2nd & 3rd photos.
Note the 12v marking in photo 2. The '54 & '55 sensors look the same but are made for 6 volts.
The smaller style sensor in photo 3 is for '57 and newer.
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    water temp sensor.jpg
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  • '56 Temp sender.jpg
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  • 55-56 & 57 style temp sensors.jpg
    55-56 & 57 style temp sensors.jpg
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