The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Intake manifold and temp sensor

Hi guys, got my new 350 installed and running but wondering about the temp sensor location on the intake manifold. On my old engine the temp sensor was located near the front of the manifold in one of the ports and I was getting good accurate temp readings. On the new engine with a different manifold the ports are located differently and I had to mount the sensor on the back side of the manifold. Now my temp gauge is reading much lower, probably 50 to 70 degrees and I'm quite sure it's not accurate. Question is, are the water temps lower on the back of the manifold than on the front? Appreciate any thoughts on this. Thanks, Don

Well, I don't know how drastic a difference there would be, but at the front if the manifold, the coolant is leaving the engine for the radiator, so it should be the hottest right there.

The best place to install the temp sender is on the side of the cyl. head. There are pipe plugs between 2 spark plugs on each head.

On the passenger side of the engine about midway between the aft 2 cylinders there is a sensor installed but not hooked up. I was told that it is probably for a temp warning light. Do you think I could install my gauge sensor there? Thanks, Don

Wrenchbender Ret. or anyone else who can help, I'm bringing up my question again because I need to get more accurate temp readings. Question is, can I use a temp sensor for a gauge in the outlet on the passenger side head midway between the aft 2 cylinders and in line with the headers. There is currently a sensor of some sort in there that is not hooked up. I believe it is for a temp warning light. Thanks for any help, Don

You can mount the gauge sender in either head and the reading will be about the same. In my experience, it's been about 10 degrees F higher than the temp measured near the water neck.

I've found both locations to be accurate for what they're measuring. If you mount the sender in the head, you'll get the temperature of the water in the head. If you mount it in or near the neck, you'll get the temperature there.

I've gotten used to readings in the head, so I mount my gauge senders there on V8 motors. It all depends on what you want to measure...but for me, knowing what temp a motor usually runs at and then checking for deviation from that is what seems important to me.

I have the stock gauge in my 64 C10 (292 I6) and it doesn't even have values on it...just C and H. (I think.) But I know that when the motor is warmed up, it reads about 1/3 of the gauge. It never goes over that. But if it did, I'd start to get concerned.

Again, this is just my opinion. Your mileage may vary.

Thanks Ray, if I had a place to mount it I would install the sensor in the thermostat housing, but lacking that I will try the port on the head and see what readings I get. Thanks again, Don

Yes. Take out that sender & use that outlet on the head. That is the most accurate & is what the factory uses.