Socnarftrucks Posted August 29, 2022 Share Posted August 29, 2022 The instrument cluster of my 86 F-150 302 is not working at all. So I bought a Bosch unit from autozone. Where in the engine block is this thing supposed to connect? Here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted August 29, 2022 Share Posted August 29, 2022 The same place where the factory one is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Socnarftrucks Posted August 29, 2022 Author Share Posted August 29, 2022 The same place where the factory one is. Thank you. Just making sure. Much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted August 29, 2022 Share Posted August 29, 2022 Thank you. Just making sure. Much appreciated. I think that water temp probes really need to be in the stream of coolant flow to get an accurate reading. Some have said that they've put a tee on and then put both probes in, but I'm afraid that doing so will cause my probe to be in a dead pocket of coolant and I won't get a good reading. So when I needed to add a probe on Big Blue so I could have one for the factory gauge, one for the aftermarket gauge, and one for the EFI system I ordered this thermostat housing that also has a place for the probe. But that puts the probe after the thermostat, so now I have the factory gauge and the EFI system reading the temp in the block and the aftermarket gauge reading the temp of the coolant going into the radiator. That means I can watch the coolant temp in the block climb until the thermostat opens and then watch the temp in the discharge climb rapidly. Now I know if my thermostat is working. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Socnarftrucks Posted August 29, 2022 Author Share Posted August 29, 2022 I think that water temp probes really need to be in the stream of coolant flow to get an accurate reading. Some have said that they've put a tee on and then put both probes in, but I'm afraid that doing so will cause my probe to be in a dead pocket of coolant and I won't get a good reading. So when I needed to add a probe on Big Blue so I could have one for the factory gauge, one for the aftermarket gauge, and one for the EFI system I ordered this thermostat housing that also has a place for the probe. But that puts the probe after the thermostat, so now I have the factory gauge and the EFI system reading the temp in the block and the aftermarket gauge reading the temp of the coolant going into the radiator. That means I can watch the coolant temp in the block climb until the thermostat opens and then watch the temp in the discharge climb rapidly. Now I know if my thermostat is working. Great idea. I’d suppose I can put the probe on this port in my thermostat housing and see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted August 29, 2022 Share Posted August 29, 2022 Great idea. I’d suppose I can put the probe on this port in my thermostat housing and see what happens. Yes, that should work well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rembrant Posted August 29, 2022 Share Posted August 29, 2022 I think that water temp probes really need to be in the stream of coolant flow to get an accurate reading. Some have said that they've put a tee on and then put both probes in, but I'm afraid that doing so will cause my probe to be in a dead pocket of coolant and I won't get a good reading. Sorry to threadjack, but while you guys are on the topic of coolant temperature sensors...I have a question as I was just studying this myself. I have one of these 1983-1985 Mustang 302 aluminum intakes on my truck, and there are two (well, 3 actually) coolant sender ports. Front left corner of intake, and rear left corner of intake. Would it matter which one I used for an electric fan temperature sender and which one was for a temp gauge sender? The head gaskets are designed to balance the flow so that the coolant doesn't just circulate in the front of the engine, so I assume it doesn't matter which port was used for each one, but wanted to ask the question just in case. I'm not 100% sure what I'm using to control my electric fan yet...I'm just exploring options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpin Posted August 29, 2022 Share Posted August 29, 2022 I think that water temp probes really need to be in the stream of coolant flow to get an accurate reading. Some have said that they've put a tee on and then put both probes in, but I'm afraid that doing so will cause my probe to be in a dead pocket of coolant and I won't get a good reading. Sorry to threadjack, but while you guys are on the topic of coolant temperature sensors...I have a question as I was just studying this myself. I have one of these 1983-1985 Mustang 302 aluminum intakes on my truck, and there are two (well, 3 actually) coolant sender ports. Front left corner of intake, and rear left corner of intake. Would it matter which one I used for an electric fan temperature sender and which one was for a temp gauge sender? The head gaskets are designed to balance the flow so that the coolant doesn't just circulate in the front of the engine, so I assume it doesn't matter which port was used for each one, but wanted to ask the question just in case. I'm not 100% sure what I'm using to control my electric fan yet...I'm just exploring options. I haven’t had that opportunity before, so can’t comment definitively. I was thinking, do you know anyone running one of these manifolds? It would be neat to use an infrared thermometer on all three ports to compare. ETA: Nice manifold! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat in tn Posted August 30, 2022 Share Posted August 30, 2022 I haven’t had that opportunity before, so can’t comment definitively. I was thinking, do you know anyone running one of these manifolds? It would be neat to use an infrared thermometer on all three ports to compare. ETA: Nice manifold! sorry guys but i think you are missing something. is this an efi 302? if so , then the temp sender in the water coolant fitting to the heater hose is not for the guage but for the ecu. the temp sender for the guage is between the dist and the driver side cyl head with one wire going to it. that is the proper location for the temp pickup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kramttocs Posted August 30, 2022 Share Posted August 30, 2022 I think that water temp probes really need to be in the stream of coolant flow to get an accurate reading. Some have said that they've put a tee on and then put both probes in, but I'm afraid that doing so will cause my probe to be in a dead pocket of coolant and I won't get a good reading. Sorry to threadjack, but while you guys are on the topic of coolant temperature sensors...I have a question as I was just studying this myself. I have one of these 1983-1985 Mustang 302 aluminum intakes on my truck, and there are two (well, 3 actually) coolant sender ports. Front left corner of intake, and rear left corner of intake. Would it matter which one I used for an electric fan temperature sender and which one was for a temp gauge sender? The head gaskets are designed to balance the flow so that the coolant doesn't just circulate in the front of the engine, so I assume it doesn't matter which port was used for each one, but wanted to ask the question just in case. I'm not 100% sure what I'm using to control my electric fan yet...I'm just exploring options. That is a nice looking intake! Not a good, technical answer regarding differences in temps at each location but I'd see how the wiring flow works out assuming the gauge wire is part of an existing harness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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