The Dodge Challenger Message Board

ive got a 72 challenger,with a 383 block,not sure what year,im an idiot and cant find the temp gauge sender,ive bought a replacement to try,but the thing i can see by the water pump and 2 hoses is much bigger,but the spares man assures me the one i bought is correct for a 383,please can anybody help,or advise where else i need to look..rgds ron

That thing you can see with the purple wire going to it is indeed the sender. Unscrew it and see if the thread is the same size. It sounds like someone fitted a non-standard sender.

The 1967 block (and possibly other years as well) will have a much larger fitting and sensor if the original car came with A/C. This larger sensor is for an idiot light instead of the gauge. You can buy the fitting adapter from most Auto Parts stores to use the gauge sender.

I didn't know that. Thanks.

cheers johnny d,any ideas where can get an adapter.all the ones ive rang dont know what im talking about,or say u cant get one!!rgds ron.
the car was orig fitted with air con by the looks of it,and is there any reason why someone would prefer to see a light come on when too late,instead of a guage to see the temp!!seems daft to me..

Of course it is daft. Why do you think they are called idiot lights!

To be sure - this is what the adapter fitting & temp gauge sender look like on the block. This is at the front of the engine by the water pump. To get the sizing correct I took the old sender and the new one to the parts store and looked until I found the right brass fitting. You might also try a hardware store for the fitting.

I tried to post a pic of the gauge/adapter on the engine block but don't know how to size it down enough so I will send it to you via e-mail. To get the size right I took the old sender and the corret one to the parts store and looked till I found the right brass fitting. You might also try a hardware store. If you don't have the old sender - get the parts store to bring out a replacement sender for a 1967 Big Block w/AC and viola - you will know what size you need.

Send me a copy of the pic and I will post it for you.

CHEERS JOHNNY,WILL START LOOKING FOR ADAPTER IN LOCAL STORES,I GOT YOUR PICTURE ON EMAIL,MANY THANKS FOR TAKING THE TROUBLE,VERY HELPFUL,CHEERS MATE,SEE ME AT A SHOW,I OWE U A BEER.RGDS RON

guess what ,the one in my car was a two piece after all,caked in so much paint -looked like all one piece,but alls not well anyway..look at the follwing pics,the size difference from the supposidly correct new one is still vastly smaller than the old one,and the new one has a screw thread for the connector instead of a blade....2 ways to go now-either a new "old size one",or a new adapter for the new one and change the connector...has any one any ideas on which is best or have come across this problem before..

The size is not a problem as long as it is immersed in water. The correct connector for the end is the threaded one. The original wire had a round right-angled connector that just pushed over the threads. Make sure you have a good connection to earth though it otherwise the gauge will not read correctly.

cheers dave,ill try to get an adapter for the new smaller one,and connect it by nuts and one of those connectors with a hole in it.

no luck gettin an adapter to fit the new one,tried plumbers,hardware,and a couple of auto shops,has anyone got one,or can source me one..
rgds ron..