How to install Sunpro gauges in my '85 K10?

[TBigLug]

Just picked up a 1985 Chevy K10. It has Sunpro Sport gauges in it but only the oil pressure one is installed. It didn't come with any instructions or diagrams but I'm sure someone here has done it before and can point me int he right direction. For what it's worth the motor is a 350, Weiand (sp?) intake and Edelbrock carb.

1. Mechanical Water Temp. Where do I install the sensor? I found a pipe plug in the PS of the block. Would that be where it would go? Is it the correct thread? How do you keep it from leaking? The sensor looks like would leak unless something was pushing against it from the other side.

2. Voltmeter. Two posts on the back. Do I have to reroute the wire from the back of the alternator to it or just tap into the wire somewhere?

Thanks for your help in advance. Once the sun comes out I'll take some pictures of the hookups.

[betterbeaters]

I aways put the temp gauge in the intake and you may need adaptors.. use tefflon (spelling) to seal it!

[TBigLug]

I saw there was a plug next to T-stat housing. Any idea what size it is?

[betterbeaters]

I have no idea... the kits come with everything  so I really dont know what to tel ya

[TBigLug]

Thanks for the help though. My life woulda been easier if when it was all put in the truck they would have hooked it all up! Good experience.

[J.C.]

i think the water temp goes in the drivers side, as your sitting in the truck, in the cylinder head.

[TBigLug]

Is that the one the factory gauge is hooked to? I know I've got a sensor in there with one wire hooked to it. I was hoping to keep the stock sensor in since it works good. The dash gauge is nice for a quick reference since the auxilliary gauges are mounted too low for me to see easily on the "fly", I knew there was a drawback to being 6'5!

[Mudbuster]

the temp sensor can go in either head or the intake, as for the size did you get the fittings too and the other guage is it an AMP meter or a VOLT guage it matters because they are wired totally different.

[TBigLug]

It didn't come with anything. The probe was taped up under the dash. It looks like There should be another piece that threads into the block and this should thread into that. Never had one though so I couldn't say. The gauge is a voltmeter. I thought it was an ammeter at first but I looked closer and the gauge sweeps from like 8 to 18 or something along those lines. I've heard voltmeters are pretty easy to hook up compared to the ammeters.

[TBigLug]

I'm waiting for my pictures to upload into Photobucket. Once they do I'll show y'all what I'm looking at.

[Mudbuster]

OK the volt meter is simple find a wire with 12volts when the key is on and zero when it is off and hook it to the positive post and a wire to ground on the other post ( I'm pretty sure that's right.)

and yes there is another fitting that needs to go in before the temp probe, go to a parts store and see if you can just get a hardware kit for the temp guage.

[TBigLug]

This is the only thing I have for the gauge so I'll go to Performance or Autozone tomorrow and see what they've got.



Here's the spot next to the T-stat. Is there enough clearance underneath that for the length of the probe?



Here's the plug that is on the PS cylinder head. Would this work too?

Once I get the rest of the hardware I'll see if they have a reducer for the spot next to the T-stat. I like the spot on the head cause it's out of the way but the spot next to the T-stat would probably be more convenient.

[Eroq]

i've always used the plugs in the sides of the heads.. normal 3/8" square drive.. put a ratchet on there.... might need a cheater bar to break it loose (you will lose some coolant when ya do it)

[Hammerlane]

Heads up!!

be very careful when messing with the Temp guage hookup,, that's copper tubing inside the spring, kink it and your guage is useless.

The probe works best when placed into a "flow" of coolant..
in the heads.. the coolant has just come by the cylinders, give a more accurate reading of engine temp.. the intake will work, but again,, kink the tubing (while screwing around with the carb etc...) and your guage is useless.

I have always hooked mine into the head on the Left side of the motor between #'s 1&3.
Also, if you already have a temp guage for the motor,, get yourself a T connector and make this one a Trans temp guage. (just an idea)

[TBigLug]

hanks for the heads up. Got my voltmeter up and running. That was pretty easy. Waiting for Heather to get back with the car so I can run into Autozone to see about the hardware for the temp gauge. That would be a good idea to use it for the trans. but this one might go for coolant. The stock one works but I don't know if I can trust it or not. Next one will be a trans gauge though. I've lost more than one auto to overheating. Thanks for the heads up on the interior of the tube. I knew there was something about it that I had to be careful of, I just couldn't remember what or why.

[TBigLug]

Well, got the temp. gauge hooked up but broke my radiator before I could test it to see if it worked. Ended up just buying another Sunpro gauge for the adapters. It was either $8.00 plus gas money to drive to Albion to pick up the just adapters or $13.99 for a whole new gauge. So I picked up a new gauge. Eventually I'll mount the other one in the trans. pan to monitor that temp.

[TBigLug]

After all of that and the gauge doesn't even work. Maybe that's why it wasn't hookled up. Oh well, thanks for the help guys.