water temp. gauge install help?

[hanstaill]

hi i'm new to mopar! so please excuse my lack of knowledge.. I tried searching on here but didn't seem to find what i was trying to look for...

im in 66 belvedere sedan with slant six, and everything on dash seems to work but i can't tell at the moment if its a bad ground or what- my temp gauge and fuel level acts like it's possessed by the devil sometimes and peaks all the way right! im sure i'm not over heating (i drove over an hour at 65mph with no boiling or smoke), but didn't want to reply on my senses and wanted to install an additional temp gauge.

i would like to use a mechanical one, has anyone installed one on slant six and where they would plug the end into?

i can use an electrical one and t-split the hose to add the thermostat in line but would much prefer a mechanical gauge personally

anyhelp would be very much appreciated!! thank you

 

[HT413]

You need to find the temperature sending unit (sensor) on the engine. On a big block it's on the water pump, though I don't know we're they are in a /6, but heck, it can only be so many places. I ordered an Autometer temp gauge, replaced the OEM temp sending unit with the new one (1/8" NPT if I recall). I chose to run a new wire to the new gauge, leaving the OEM wire in place, but concealing the end it in the harness. All that's left to do from there is mount he gauge and run power from a 12v switched source and run a power for the light circuit, which should run from the accessory light circuit so it dims with the interior lights. And connect to ground as well of course.

 

[mopar 3 B]

Check and make sure your dash screws are tight. If they are not your dash is not grounded well enough for your gauges to function correctly.

 

[Photon440]

If more than one gauge is peaking, it's probably the voltage regulator. They run off 5 volts and the original regulators often give up, if you're lucky the gauges aren't cooked yet.

Read this article for info http://www.allpar.com/history/mopar/electrical2.html

Then order a new voltage limiter here:http://rt-eng.com/rte/index.php/RTE_limiter

Even if you put in a mechanical temp gauge, you'll still want this to save the fuel gauge.

 

[hanstaill]

regulators are really interesting, thank you for your referance! this got me curious now... because my fuel gauge at the moment (since i bought it few months back) isn't working properly also. actual full tank reads half tank at the gauge. i think its a bad float/sending unit itself. but sound like this both can be fixed(maybe)with just replacing the regulators?!

and the RTE limiter is just plug and play type of unit? this is awesome thing to know and i'm even more fascinated!

i'd love to add another aftermaket gauge in the car just to keep an extra eye on temp- but this is another thing i'd def. want to replace.

do you have yours replaced? i've never done or thought about pulling the dash out till just now. i'm going to need help with that also haha