How hot is hot?

Cdaniel · Jul 17, 2004

Finally! I have the Wife's chariot on the road, shaking it down and solving the bugs you get after such a major overhaul.

Since I haven't found the right set of real gauges to put in it, I'm relying on the dash cluster. Running down the road it's pointing around 3/4 gauge. Keep in mind I'm in Phoenix and it's about 105 today. My 289 is all stock and bored .030 over.

Anyone have an idea what the temp range is on the dash gauge?

71vert-pga · Jul 17, 2004

Sorry Cliff, don't know. But about 20 years ago I had a 77 t-bird with 351M that always ran that way in the summer. Still don't what it corresponds to as far as actual numbers though.

Ronstang · Jul 17, 2004

Factory guages are basically arbitrary.....they are merely for reference and no two are exactly the same. You need to find out exactly how hot your car is running to indesx your guage to an acual value so you can get an idea of whether your car is running too not or not.

Cdaniel · Jul 17, 2004

Yeah I know they're basically mechanical idiot lights. I'm not too concerned yet, just curious. It hasn't boiled the coolant yet. Though I did have a hot spike while sitting at a light. Sticky thermostat I guess. I guess I'm just taking a general poll on what average pointer position is.

Anyone know if there are any aftermarket oil and temp gauges that work with stock sending units? Or at least the senders look stock?

TT670 · Jul 17, 2004

Just for reference and contrary to what some may think the optimum coolant temperature is 200-205 degrees. I see so many people freaking cause their temp is 190 and its not even close to being a problem. Nobody needs to worry till the temp crests 200 and is climbing towards 230. In a pressurized system with a 50/50 mix youre not going to boil till you get above 250. I use a infared temp gun on my car for taking temps at various points, youd be amazed at the temperature differences.

Cdaniel · Jul 17, 2004

TT670 said:
Just for reference and contrary to what some may think the optimum coolant temperature is 200-205 degrees. I see so many people freaking cause their temp is 190 and its not even close to being a problem. Nobody needs to worry till the temp crests 200 and is climbing towards 230. In a pressurized system with a 50/50 mix youre not going to boil till you get above 250. I use a infared temp gun on my car for taking temps at various points, youd be amazed at the temperature differences.

I'll agree with that. My other driver runs a steady 205 and the sender is plugged right into the head. Makes sense, the head is a bit hotter than what the stat sees. So, when using one of those IR temp guns, where would you point it to get a reading relative to a temp stock Mustang temp gauge? I may have to get one of those gadgets.

none67 · Jul 17, 2004

is there anyway to get the stock gagues to read accuratly? i really do love the way they look.

Cdaniel · Jul 17, 2004

I've seen on Ebay, a plastic panel to use behind the stock bezel that holds standard Autometer componants. Nice idea but you loose some of that "classic" look.

Ronstang · Jul 18, 2004

none67 said:
is there anyway to get the stock gagues to read accuratly? i really do love the way they look.

It isn't a matter of getting them to read correctl or accurately. They work quite well and are accurate in their operation but no two are exactly the same and they all need to be indexed. Simply use a temp setup of aftermarket guages to determine what the "normal" position of your guages relates to in "numbers" so you know where you stand. Then you can actually rely on your guages and equate changes to real numbers....well at least higher or lower than your baseline index....but it gives you the comfort to know. A temp guage can be indexed using heated water, a candy thermometer and some extra wire to get it into a pot. This way you can get an idea of where the needles should be for a range of temps you are interested in....mainly the MAX you want to run before shutting it down.

TT670 · Jul 19, 2004

With a 180 degree t stat in my car my autometer gauge reads 175-180 and I get a pretty constant 178deg from my ratek temp gun when pointed at the intake mainifold near the t stat. At the very same time I get 140 at the radiator. Its not possible to get an accurate temp reading off the head due to header heat. For reference when I point that temp gun down my throat it reads 98 degrees, so its pretty accurate...lol

Pakrat · Jul 19, 2004

Usually dead center on a guage (12 or 6 o'clock depending on the gauge) is around the 210 mark unless otherwise specified. You still can't use that to gauge the actual temp though since the gauge may off even though it works. My car for example starts way beore the "C" mark (lets call that 8 oclock) and it rarely nudges past 6:30, closer to 7 in fact. It also seems to hardly move at all once it reaches that point. My newer cars have all peaked at say 12 oclock then you can see them visably move back to 11 as the thermostat opens, and then climb once again.

Basically the gauge is about useless in my book and only good to let me know when something extreme is happening and if that were the case I think I'd have larger warning signs then a gauge that just spiked to 5 or 4 o'clock.

Cdaniel · Jul 25, 2004

Was how hot is hot, now Temp senders

I've got myself a nice Autometer gauge to install. I'm thinking I may be able to tap into the stock wiring under the dash and then use their sending unit. Keeping the dash gauge functional while operating the After market one.

Does anyone see a problem with this?

6Stang7 · Jul 25, 2004

none67 said:
is there anyway to get the stock gagues to read accuratly? i really do love the way they look.

Aftermarket gauges with stock face covers, that's the only way I have seen so far.

How hot is hot?

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