How to install temp sender?

[Dan Juday]

Help. My '91 305 has a 3/8" npt water temp sender. How, and or where, do I install the Datsun unit? The JTR book tells you how to adapt to the older 1/2"npt hole, but is snickeringly silent on the new 3/8" hole.

[DavyZ]

Dan, since I don't have my JTR manual in front of my, I'll take a few liberties at answering this question. Since no one else has taken a shot, here it goes:

 

First, the 3/8" npt hole in your engine is obviously what you have to deal with. The idea, as I remember it, is to use the Datsun temp sender, which is smaller then the old 1/2" hole in the block. What size is the Datsun unit? If its smaller than the 3/8" hole in your block, your probably in luck and only have to get a bushing machined to fit. Otherwise, if it is too big for the 3/8" hole, you have to:

 

1) have a special adapter made to fit the block and the Datsun unit--even if it sticks out some from the block--I somehow remember someone doing this and running a brass elbow off the V8 and having a fitting for the temp sensor...seemed to work well from what I remember. The big issue is whether or not the sensor will work not being "inside" the block. Well, from what I remember, it did not make a marked bit of difference. This idea may have come from one of the Ford guys, but again, I can't remember.

 

2) find a smaller Nissan temp unit that would better fit the application.

 

Hope this stirs your grey matter some and you overcome

 

David

[Dan Juday]

Don't realy want to change my gages. The problem is that the Datsun sender is just slightly smaller than 3/8npt. It will screw in very loosely. Any bushing would look like a Heli-coil. I thought about some type of adapter, but also had concerns that it would not be "in" the block.

 

The thermostat housing I'm using has a 1/2"npt hole in the top of it. I put a plug in it. Can I use that?

[Guest harth]

I put mine on the intake manifold next to the thermo. housing, so yes if you choose to put it on the housing it will work. Michael 280ZZ4

[fl327]

i took the easy route. i got a gm temp sender and hooked it up to a autometer water gage, takes like ten minutes, now you can adapt it to fit the datsun, but im scared of those old datsun gauges!