where can i mount the water temp sender unit. i've read on the intake manifold but i dont really see where. maybe a pic or a detailed location. thanks guys.
if you want to keep the stock gauge working you can go to the back driverside corner of the lower intake remove the pipe plug from it and install the sender there.
I WOULD NOT mount the sender in the back of the lower intake. You need your sender to read the HOTTEST temps in the engine -- which occur at the front of the intake as water is about to leave the engine through the t'stat. There is often 10-40F temp difference (cooler) between the front and rear of the intake. The coolant picks up most of its heat from the heads as it travels from the rear of the head to the front and then into the front of the intake....
if you buy a new thermostat housing/elbow from advanced auto/autozone they come with a spot already tapped for an temp sender. their cast iron tho so if you do get one i suggest a coat a paint before you do anything
Uh - you don't want to put the gauge sending unit in that location in the t'stat housing either. That puts it AFTER the t'stat. So, if the t'stat fails, and fails CLOSED as they often do, it's entirely possible that you won't get an indication of it in time to shut the car down -- because the high temp will be occuring on the OTHER side of the t'stat -- the sender will be sensing cooler temps than what's actually happening.
If you're gonna mount an aftermarket gauge guys, you need to put the sender where the factory sender went -- in the water passage in the intake near the #5 cylinder/runner.
hey guys, i was going thru some of my saved links(deleting the old useless ones) and i clicked on this, and realized i didnt really thank you guys. so thanks. just an FYI, i mounted the aftermarket sender where the stock one went. in the front of the intake right before the thermostat. and the car runs around 180 degrees. i've never seen it above 190, only once when there was a leak in the lower radiator hose.