Water Jacket????????????????

LincoConti87 · 02-03-2001, 01:31 PM

Hey peoples, I am looking to install a water temp guage on my 87 Lincoln 5.0. On the front of the lower intake manifold there appears to be a water jacket with a sensor stuck in it which I'm assuming is for the dummy light. Is there another water jacket in the back of the lower manifold that is empty? I don't want to pull out the dummy sensor because it may cause check engine light to stay on all the time and also would not know if the thing was overheating if I did not see it on the guage. Any ideas/suggestions? Thanks

------------------
Rob meister
89 Mercedes 190E 2.6
87 Lincoln Continental
Ex 86 Mercury Cougar

Capri306 · 02-03-2001, 11:38 PM

That 'sensor' you're looking at on the lower intake is for the temp light, so you're on the right track. I think there's at least a couple of pipe plugs on the rear of the lower intake, but you'll have to poke your head back there and check. You should be able to stick a sending unit there. Don't worry about the computer throwing a fit, it uses a totally separate sensor from that one. I understand you wanting to put in a gauge instead of relying on a light. I'd want to know if I can do anything before my head gaskets blow.

If you end up having no extra coolant holes, just take out the idiot light switch in the intake and replace with your gauge sending unit. Simply tie off the wire that was going there, and as long as it doesn't touch ground, you have nothing to worry about. Good luck.

------------------
Capri306, Moderator, The Mustang Works Online
1979 Mercury Capri, 5.0L -- C4 -- 2.73
1987 Mustang LX Notch

<--- New Timeslips

MDM · 02-04-2001, 03:58 AM

There is not sufficient coolent flow across some parts of the intake manifold to properly actuate a gauge. I am speaking to the rear driver side threaded plug specifically. I am using a GT40 upper and lower, but I would guess this is true on many 5.0 manifolds. There should be a boss in the thermostat housing that can serve as a good coolant sender mounting point. To use it: remove the housing, drill, tap, add a bit of silicone sealant and you're all set. If you are using an electrical sender, go a little lighter on the silicone to insure a good ground. I used this sender mounting poitn and grounded my autometer gauge on one of the housing retaining bolts and it works great.

LincoConti87 · 02-04-2001, 12:54 PM

Well I'm not quite competent enough to do any tapping and drilling on that kinda stuff. I'm more of a bolt on bolt off person. I decided to pull out the sensor on the front of the lower and put in the guage. Only problem is I could not get it off. The nut was too big for any of my wrenches and my 10"crescent was too big to get on it. I had to even unbolt the upper intake to lift it so I could get it in striahgt. Then the ac compressor and a fuel injector defeated me. Well at least I know how to unbolt the intake now! If I ever get a response back from the guys who I'm going to buy parts from I can swap a stang intake on there.
I returned the guage but with the new info I'm going to look to see what I can find around the egr stuff and all and if I find somethin I can go get it again. Thanks guys

------------------
Rob meister
89 Mercedes 190E 2.6
87 Lincoln Continental 5.0
Ex 86 Mercury Cougar
with anemic 3.8

02-03-2001, 01:31 PM	#1
LincoConti87 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tallahassee,Florida,USA Posts: 188	Water Jacket???????????????? Hey peoples, I am looking to install a water temp guage on my 87 Lincoln 5.0. On the front of the lower intake manifold there appears to be a water jacket with a sensor stuck in it which I'm assuming is for the dummy light. Is there another water jacket in the back of the lower manifold that is empty? I don't want to pull out the dummy sensor because it may cause check engine light to stay on all the time and also would not know if the thing was overheating if I did not see it on the guage. Any ideas/suggestions? Thanks ------------------ Rob meister 89 Mercedes 190E 2.6 87 Lincoln Continental Ex 86 Mercury Cougar

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02-03-2001, 11:38 PM	#2
Capri306 Moderator Join Date: Sep 1998 Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA Posts: 1,001	That 'sensor' you're looking at on the lower intake is for the temp light, so you're on the right track. I think there's at least a couple of pipe plugs on the rear of the lower intake, but you'll have to poke your head back there and check. You should be able to stick a sending unit there. Don't worry about the computer throwing a fit, it uses a totally separate sensor from that one. I understand you wanting to put in a gauge instead of relying on a light. I'd want to know if I can do anything before my head gaskets blow. If you end up having no extra coolant holes, just take out the idiot light switch in the intake and replace with your gauge sending unit. Simply tie off the wire that was going there, and as long as it doesn't touch ground, you have nothing to worry about. Good luck. ------------------ Capri306, Moderator, The Mustang Works Online 1979 Mercury Capri, 5.0L -- C4 -- 2.73 1987 Mustang LX Notch <--- New Timeslips

02-04-2001, 03:58 AM	#3
MDM Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Flemington, NJ USA Posts: 166	There is not sufficient coolent flow across some parts of the intake manifold to properly actuate a gauge. I am speaking to the rear driver side threaded plug specifically. I am using a GT40 upper and lower, but I would guess this is true on many 5.0 manifolds. There should be a boss in the thermostat housing that can serve as a good coolant sender mounting point. To use it: remove the housing, drill, tap, add a bit of silicone sealant and you're all set. If you are using an electrical sender, go a little lighter on the silicone to insure a good ground. I used this sender mounting poitn and grounded my autometer gauge on one of the housing retaining bolts and it works great.

02-04-2001, 12:54 PM	#4
LincoConti87 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tallahassee,Florida,USA Posts: 188	Well I'm not quite competent enough to do any tapping and drilling on that kinda stuff. I'm more of a bolt on bolt off person. I decided to pull out the sensor on the front of the lower and put in the guage. Only problem is I could not get it off. The nut was too big for any of my wrenches and my 10"crescent was too big to get on it. I had to even unbolt the upper intake to lift it so I could get it in striahgt. Then the ac compressor and a fuel injector defeated me. Well at least I know how to unbolt the intake now! If I ever get a response back from the guys who I'm going to buy parts from I can swap a stang intake on there. I returned the guage but with the new info I'm going to look to see what I can find around the egr stuff and all and if I find somethin I can go get it again. Thanks guys ------------------ Rob meister 89 Mercedes 190E 2.6 87 Lincoln Continental 5.0 Ex 86 Mercury Cougar with anemic 3.8