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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Instrumentation => Topic started by: JohnnyPopper on October 21, 2021, 08:02:19 pm

Title: Mechanical Temp sensor and guage???
Post by: JohnnyPopper on October 21, 2021, 08:02:19 pm

Getting ready to drop the motor in the "80 C10, looks like the sensor had a coil coming from the part that looks like a thermocoupler.

It's about 3/8 diameter screwed into a larger brass fitting that matches the head opening

The gauge has the same type of coiled wire.

Was this stock? In calling/looking for a replacement all I see are electric sensors.  ???

Brain trust! Where are you???

Title: Re: Mechanical Temp sensor and guage???
Post by: bd on October 21, 2021, 08:22:05 pm

Someone swapped in a mechanical gauge.  The original was electric.

Title: Re: Mechanical Temp sensor and guage???
Post by: JohnnyPopper on October 22, 2021, 02:24:44 am

Wow, why would they do that???

Thanks bd, any info on where/when they used mechanical? Just curious?

Were they cheaper? More of a PIA in my opinion.... ::)

Title: Re: Mechanical Temp sensor and guage???
Post by: bd on October 22, 2021, 10:39:20 am

Regarding light-duty GM trucks, OEM pre-1978 oil pressure gauges were mechanical; all the remaining factory installed gauges (save for the speedometer) were electric from 1967 forward.

Old school thinking, perhaps.  Generally, good quality mechanical gauges are a little more accurate than the factory installed electric gauges with greater scale detail.  Someone may have experienced cooling issues and didn't trust the OEM gauge.  Or, maybe they were enticed by some "cool" or "high performance" factor, because of the greater detail in the temperature indication.  The factory electric gauges are accurate to ± ~7%, so the swap wouldn't have been grossly beneficial.

Title: Re: Mechanical Temp sensor and guage???
Post by: JohnnyPopper on October 22, 2021, 01:05:21 pm

You solved the mystery bd! It's hooked up to an aftermarket gauge that has a greater scale.

Wow, all that work for what?  ::)

Can't wait to throw it away... 8)

Title: Re: Mechanical Temp sensor and guage???
Post by: VileZambonie on October 22, 2021, 07:44:28 pm

People are dumb and do lots of dumb things, especially to vehicles. These trucks were a prime target for it all. Basically, open a JC Whitney catalog from 1989, and here we have it.

Title: Re: Mechanical Temp sensor and guage???
Post by: JohnnyPopper on October 22, 2021, 10:19:43 pm

Understood- "if you find a holy cow, milk it for all it's worth"