I recently bought a set of gauges to install and one was a water temp gauge. I have an obd1 gsr. I have found where the factory sensor plugs into the block over by the top radiator hose on the passenger side of the motor. My issue is that the aftermarket sensor is too big to go into the factory hole. So what to do? Is there another spot I can use? Or do I need to just buy a brass "T" fitting and size it up that way?

 

I assume you do not want to tap into the upper hose using a hose adaptor? That is the only way I can think of installing this sensor.

 

There are a few options

1) Buy hose adapter w/ threaded port
2) Use bleeder location
3) Use the larger location on the thermostat housing (needed for ECU though)
4) Tap thermo housing or upper radiator hose housing
5) Use a freeze plug location

 

I am open to suggestions for how I could go about this, I just got back from napa with a crap load of fittings and extensions and it looks hideous... lol. but its all I could come up with. If there is a clean looking, efficient alternative way of doing this, then I am game. Just please let me in on all the details so I can get it right the first time.

And as far as putting it in the hose, I came across a post of someone else that questioned doing that and said it would throw inaccurate readings to the aftermarket gauge by putting it in the hose...

 

1: This sounds nice, elaborate? (Like where to mount exactly?, accuracy issues?)
2: I still think my senor is too big to fit the radiator bleeder.
3: Larger location sounds nice, but it will throw a code won't it?
4: Not really wanting to tap anything unless absolutely necessary.
5: Really? I'm not sure if I like the sound of that... Anyone done this and had failures of any kind?

 

Ok guys, thanks for the suggestions on what to do, but I'm still wondering which is the best to go with. Pros and cons of each setup would be nice. Or if some1 wants to chime in with the optimal way of doing things, that'd be great too.

At least I got a place to start for trying to figure out how to do this. Please keep the info coming. Thanks

 

I used an autometer gauge and didn't have any problems with the sensor being an incorrect size for the factory sensor port near the waterneck. I believe its a BSPT fitting. Figure out what the thread size/pitch is on your sensor and get the appropriate BSPT to your size fitting needed to make it work. Thats the only other way I could think to go about doing it.

 

I'm just going with the "t" fitting and cover it with some wire loom or rubber or something so it doesn't look horrible. I'll update on how it does when I get done this weekend.