New Motor and No Temp

[msc5195]

I just installed a new 383 stroker(installed on saturday). Prior to th(Friday) all of my gauges worked fine. With the new engine I installed a new sending unit and now my temp gauge doesn't work. I pulled the wire off and grounded it to the chassis and the gauge pegged out. I went today and purchased another sending unit and still no working gauge. The sending unit is screwed into the new aluminum head on the drivers side and yes I did install a new radiator with dual electric fans but it doesnt run that cool. Any ideas on what could be the problem?

[beastie_3]

check to see if there is a break in the wire somewhere between the sending unit and the gauge.

[Irish_Alley]

you have fluid come out of the port where the sending unit goes? how long did you drive it for?

[msc5195]

check to see if there is a break in the wire somewhere between the sending unit and the gauge.

 No break as when i ground the wire the gauge pegs out.

[msc5195]

you have fluid come out of the port where the sending unit goes? how long did you drive it for?

Yes when I pulled the sender to replace it I had water come out of the hole. The enging sat in the drive way and idled for 30 minutes and the gauge never got over 100°. I even unplugged the fans and let it idle for about 5 mins with the fans off but the gauge never moved.

[Irish_Alley]

Use a ohm gauge and check the unit then boil it and check it again see if it moves

[markdilljr]

I had almost the same problem, it ended up being that the parts store keep giving me one for a dummy light so it wouldnt read until about 40-45 min then would peg hot. If you let it sit and run for 45 min what does it do

[msc5195]

I had almost the same problem, it ended up being that the parts store keep giving me one for a dummy light so it wouldnt read until about 40-45 min then would peg hot. If you let it sit and run for 45 min what does it do

Ok I removed the sender and held a lighter to it and after about a minute it pegged out the gauge. I went and bought an aftermarket gauge and the sender for it will work the aftermarket gauge but not with the factory gauge. Now the parts store is telling me that I need the newer style two wire sender as the one I have is for a dummy light. With that said my old(1978) motor that I just removed had a single spade sender and it worked well, if the new sender has two wires is the extra wire a ground? I only have one dark green wire going to the sender.

[VileZambonie]

All of the coolant temp sending units should be a single wire. The coolant temp sensor if for the ECM and not the gauge.

[msc5195]

All of the coolant temp sending units should be a single wire. The coolant temp sensor if for the ECM and not the gauge.

Thanks. Dealing with these parts store people is something else. According to the Borg Warner website I need a WT5133 and I currently have a WT357.

[msc5195]

 Not sure about the plug in on the WT5133. Just ordered one thru O'Reilly Auto Parts so I will see tomorrow if it works.

[VileZambonie]

This is the one you need

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Duralast-Temperature-Switch/1985-Chevrolet-K10-1-2-ton-P-U-4WD/_/N-ijkpwZ91shz?counter=2&filterByKeyWord=temp&fromString=search&itemIdentifier=129205_77401_10199_