[1968camaro123]

I'm a little stumped as to what to do here..

Bought brand new Autometer Ultra lite 2 1/16 mechanical water temp gauge..

AFR 210 CC heads.

The sensor that inserts into the cylinder head is long enough to where it won't even allow the threads to start to engage.
Can I grind down that sender or is there anyway I could "shorten" it?

Thank you,

Donnie

[mark191]

Maybe you can just put the sender in the intake manifold and plug the port in the head

[Everett#2390]

One of two problems with a mechanical temp gauge, the sensor length.
How long is the sensor?
The other problem with a mechanical gauge is pegging the gauge when the engine overheats tremendously, strips the gears - replace gauge.

[Bad67355]

Originally Posted by 1968camaro123

I'm a little stumped as to what to do here..

Bought brand new Autometer Ultra lite 2 1/16 mechanical water temp gauge..

AFR 210 CC heads.

The sensor that inserts into the cylinder head is long enough to where it won't even allow the threads to start to engage.
Can I grind down that sender or is there anyway I could "shorten" it?

Thank you,


Donnie

I have the same guage in Dart cylinder heads there is an adapter fitting that came with mine that you screw in the head then sender screws into the adapter.

[1968camaro123]

The sensor is about an inch and half long where it protrudes out of the threaded fitting itself.

I really don't want to run this in the intake because I'd rather know the temp at the head and the line will
Look like crap routed to the intake.

The GAUGE came with a fitting that the sender fitting can be screwed into but it's too large of a thread diameter for the AFRs.
This has me thinking though now that you said that about the dart heads that maybe there is a fitting that can be screwed into the cylinder head itself that will keep the threads the same but just move it out wards/make it thread/tighten up sooner?

Donnie

[Everett#2390]

I believe

[1968camaro123]

You seem to know your stuff pretty well Everett.
What would you do in my situation?
Is there another hidden spot thats still a good/safe spot to take the temp reading?
Should I try calling AFR tomorrow?
I just figured that AFR and autometer were 2 pretty good brands..that someone had either ran into this or figured it out before :/

DZ

[DETONATOR69]

I wanted an electric temp idiot light and my mechanical temp gauge both in my big block way back when and I couldn't get the plug out of the passenger side head. I bought one of those replacement thermostat housings that has a threaded port for a smog device, that also worked for my mechanical fuel gauge sender. It was chrome and looked better than the steel pained thermostat housing I got rid of.

[Everett#2390]

AFR & Autometer are two good brands. The problem is Autometer is old school, 1/2 inch pipe thread, and AFR is new school, 3/8 inch pipe thread and neither the twain shall meet.

Generally, the sensor bulb is enclosed with the tube and gauge and has a back-up nut, the two items are separate, the nut spins about the sensor bulb. The mentioned sensor bulb screws into an adapter and the sensor is held in place with the back-up nut sealing the bulb to the adapter and no leaks. Everything is tight.

I would check with Autometer seeing/asking if there is a machined adapter for the 3/8 inch pipe thread cyl head hole. ATM4737 has one fitting with it for this purpose, I think. You want the bulb into the coolant for reading coolant temp and not cyl head metal temp, as usually happens.

So, check with Autometer to see what they have available. The ID/interior is machined to provide a sealing sealing surface for the bulb making it leak free.

[1968camaro123]

Thank you, I'll call Autometer tomorrow and post back.

Glad to hear you say that cause I thought that the probe itself needed to be immersed in actual coolant as much as possible.

Take care,

Donnie

[Steiner]

You can run to the parts store and get one of the cheapest mechanical gauges they have on the shelf and it'll have a set of bushings in it, one of which will work with the AFR's. That's what I did, AutoMeter Sport Comp, same Bourdon tube setup. Can't remember what brand gauge I bought at the store but it was maybe $15 and still under the house somewhere.

[Lonnie P]

Put it in the intake....

It is much easier to protect as it is away from the headers.
You can run the line between the intake & edge of valve cover, making it nearly invisible.
You only see a small loop where it comes up out of the intake.

I do not have a better picture but here is one where you barely notice it.




Also the temp in the intake is the same temp the thermostat sees, so it is not like it is some random reading here.

[1968camaro123]

Steiner, once again...thank you!

I've bought a few sets of those cheapo 3 gauge packs over the years and always throw the little fittings into a pile. Just so happened to organize that little pile a few weeks ago and BAM there was the fitting I need (probably from one of those little gauge packs)

So that obstacle is now conquered and on to the next lol.

Thanks again,

Donnie

[L30 327]

Originally Posted by lonnie p

put it in the intake....

It is much easier to protect as it is away from the headers.
You can run the line between the intake & edge of valve cover, making it nearly invisible.
You only see a small loop where it comes up out of the intake.

I do not have a better picture but here is one where you barely notice it.




also the temp in the intake is the same temp the thermostat sees, so it is not like it is some random reading here.

x2