I might have someone interested in producing an adapter to slap on the thermostat housing, preventing the need to tap any crap, and instead just screw a sending unit right into that sucker and cal it good. I call it "easy"... "bolt-on"... forget screwing with all that other crap.

 

Ok, I just drilled and tapped the housing, it really isn't difficult(since everything was already apart.) I drilled next to the two sensors and the hose coming out of the back of the water pump housing. I ended up using the wrong tap...oops , so i went and bought a 1/4-18" npt tap, and used the adapter they sent with it. I am about to go RTV (sensor safe copper high temp) the threads and screw it in. If I can get my camera to work I will take some pictures later.

 

ok...i have a problem.
I can screw the adapter in with my fingers...
but when i try to screw the sender into the adapter, the adapter ends up screwing all the way through into the housing. i tried putting the adapter on first, but i cant screw the sender into it all the way. my only idea is to tap the hole bigger for the bigger adapter, but not tap it all the way, so it sort of tapers and holds the adapter outside of the housing. anyone have any other ideas?

-Ben

 

no clue.. but what about putting a gauge sending unit in a Home Depot brass fitting inside of the throttle body coolant line (or something similar to that), would that work? Then all you do is connect it to some hoses, whoop-de-doo

 

bump

 

does anyone else have any input?

 

Man, what a pain. I know I'd pay for an adaptor that didnt require me removing the water pump and tapping it.

 

UPDATE:
all is well. I put a bolt on the adapter, and tightened it on the sender, and put the sender in. I coated all the threads and hole with high temp copper rtv (sensor safe!). I wont get the car back together for a few days, but it looks water tight, so i think i will be in business soon. -Ben

 

Youll get used to it. Ive got 3 dead gauges, the oil pressure, water temp, and boost, lol.

 

You know it wouldnt be that hard to fab an spacer that would have a bung for a temp sensor. just put it in between where the thermostat goes. Any ideas?