water temp gauge

sparty2005 · 06-30-2009, 08:49 AM

I have a 93' GMC k1500. The temp gauge went out on in so I picked up a mechanical gauge the other day. I thought it would be easy enough to install... can anyone help me out and tell me where the port is for the lead? Thanks in advance!

bradrhale · 06-30-2009, 10:55 AM

drivers side of the block. look around the exhaust manifold near the center of the block. easy to do as i have done the same thing. you will have to enlarge the hole in the firewall to feed the probe through because it is a good deal bigger than the factory probe. the probe DOES NOT come off. like any other thermocoupler, a broken wire will not work.

sparty2005 · 06-30-2009, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bradrhale

drivers side of the block. look around the exhaust manifold near the center of the block. easy to do as i have done the same thing. you will have to enlarge the hole in the firewall to feed the probe through because it is a good deal bigger than the factory probe. the probe DOES NOT come off. like any other thermocoupler, a broken wire will not work.

Thanks for the quick reply, I'll take a look when I get home tonight.

bradrhale · 06-30-2009, 02:30 PM

on mine, i first found a good spot to enlarge or make a new hole that would not interfere with anything else. i took a step bit and started working on a hole until it was big enough for the fitting to go through. at that point, you can buy rubber grommets at the store to fit around the wire so that the firewall will not hurt it and trash/debris/engine bay heat will not enter the cabin.

gmctrucks · 07-01-2009, 12:39 AM

Say Brad are you saying that it's just a plug that one has to remove to place the mechanical probe in the hole? Because I want to do the same thing but I still want to keep my OEM gauge working.
Thanks! GMC
PS-I'm wanting to do the same thing as sparty just to be on the safe side.

leolkfrm · 07-01-2009, 06:32 AM

yes if you have one available

bradrhale · 07-01-2009, 06:41 AM

its not per say a plug but it is where the current idiot gauge reads from. his model year is a pain to change in the dash so one could remove the old probe and install this new one in its place. costs less than 20 bucks at the parts house. you can locate a drain plug in the block and remove it, bush it down and make something work, i reckon.

gmctrucks · 07-02-2009, 12:34 AM

Say Brad im just going to place mine under the dash or some where that I can see it often. I want to leave my dash stock.

hotrodpc · 07-02-2009, 12:50 AM

I thought there is a mechanical plug in the cylinder heads for temp. I personally like using the head better, becasue that is where you are likely to see the most heat the quickest around the compustion chambers. Cylinder head temp shoudl be the hottest part of the engine in most cases. In my old 64, I had a full set of Stewart Warner good mechanical guages including fuel pressure and vacuum. For my water temp and oil pressure, I also had a biggo red bright light about the size of a Quarter for idiot light to alert me to check the guages if I happen to not be paying attention to the guages on rare occasions. Also the gf drove the truck sometimes and she had no clue what those guages meant, so she was told if the red light came on, shut it down NOW, don't try to make it home or to the next light. Shut if off, coast off the road, and call me.

bradrhale · 07-02-2009, 06:45 AM

it is in the head. was i not clear again?? just slap me when that happens.

06-30-2009, 08:49 AM	#1
sparty2005 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2	water temp gauge I have a 93' GMC k1500. The temp gauge went out on in so I picked up a mechanical gauge the other day. I thought it would be easy enough to install... can anyone help me out and tell me where the port is for the lead? Thanks in advance!

07-01-2009, 06:32 AM	#6
leolkfrm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: N.Y. Posts: 4,223	yes if you have one available __________________ 4 wheels move the body 2 wheels move the soul B.W.A.I

07-02-2009, 12:50 AM	#9
hotrodpc Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 2,847	I thought there is a mechanical plug in the cylinder heads for temp. I personally like using the head better, becasue that is where you are likely to see the most heat the quickest around the compustion chambers. Cylinder head temp shoudl be the hottest part of the engine in most cases. In my old 64, I had a full set of Stewart Warner good mechanical guages including fuel pressure and vacuum. For my water temp and oil pressure, I also had a biggo red bright light about the size of a Quarter for idiot light to alert me to check the guages if I happen to not be paying attention to the guages on rare occasions. Also the gf drove the truck sometimes and she had no clue what those guages meant, so she was told if the red light came on, shut it down NOW, don't try to make it home or to the next light. Shut if off, coast off the road, and call me. __________________ *Winners Never Quit, Quitters Never Win !!!*

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06-30-2009, 10:55 AM	#2
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 7,831	drivers side of the block. look around the exhaust manifold near the center of the block. easy to do as i have done the same thing. you will have to enlarge the hole in the firewall to feed the probe through because it is a good deal bigger than the factory probe. the probe DOES NOT come off. like any other thermocoupler, a broken wire will not work.

06-30-2009, 02:30 PM	#4
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 7,831	on mine, i first found a good spot to enlarge or make a new hole that would not interfere with anything else. i took a step bit and started working on a hole until it was big enough for the fitting to go through. at that point, you can buy rubber grommets at the store to fit around the wire so that the firewall will not hurt it and trash/debris/engine bay heat will not enter the cabin.

07-01-2009, 12:39 AM	#5
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 3,945	Say Brad are you saying that it's just a plug that one has to remove to place the mechanical probe in the hole? Because I want to do the same thing but I still want to keep my OEM gauge working. Thanks! GMC PS-I'm wanting to do the same thing as sparty just to be on the safe side.

07-01-2009, 06:41 AM	#7
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 7,831	its not per say a plug but it is where the current idiot gauge reads from. his model year is a pain to change in the dash so one could remove the old probe and install this new one in its place. costs less than 20 bucks at the parts house. you can locate a drain plug in the block and remove it, bush it down and make something work, i reckon.

07-02-2009, 12:34 AM	#8
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 3,945	Say Brad im just going to place mine under the dash or some where that I can see it often. I want to leave my dash stock.

07-02-2009, 06:45 AM	#10
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 7,831	it is in the head. was i not clear again?? just slap me when that happens.