The Ford Barn

bluecollarbill · 09-03-2019, 07:10 PM

The temperature sender for the Y block in my '55 Fairlane is in the rear of the left head next to the last intake manifold bolt. There is a similar port in the right head in the same location that appears to have a freeze plug in it. I would like to add a mechanical temperature gauge as a belt and suspenders measure and I am wondering if this port in the right head is already threaded if I remove the freeze plug or will i have to thread it - anyone ever had any experience with this before ?

Thanks

miker98038 · 09-03-2019, 08:45 PM

Hard to say what’s been done over the years. Y block heads will move from left to right side. Those ports are used for the head/intake water passage at the front, and plugged or used for the temp sender at the back. There’s a press in bushing on the drivers side for the oem temp sender. No reason you couldn’t put one on the right rear if the head hasn’t been modified. The problem is most senders won’t clear the distributor.

They make a tool to pull the bushing, I’ve used it to change a 55 to a 56 sender, they’re different sizes.

dmsfrr · 09-03-2019, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miker98038

... No reason you couldn’t put one on the right rear if the head hasn’t been modified. The problem is most senders won’t clear the distributor.

bluecollarbill,
Depending on which distributor the engine has the clearance between the head & distributor is about an inch at best.
The hole in the head at the right rear is not threaded. The small freeze plug is a press-in fit and the same size as the hole for the Temp bushing. (.906" ?)
The threaded hole inside a '55/'56 Temp bushing is 3/8 inch 'pipe thread', a tapered fitting.
The OD of a '57+ bushing is the same but the inside threads are 1/4 inch pipe thread.

Daves55Sedan · 09-03-2019, 10:55 PM

And I think they forgot to mention, that if you tried to use the '57 and later temperature sender, it is a 12-volt unit that will not function properly with your original guage. But if you have converted to 12-volt electrical system, the '57 temp sender can be used with '57 thru 59 gauges (may need to swap guage faceplate and needles with your old ones). And the '57 & later gauges require the addition of a regulator which can be mounted under dash near the guage.
Most of the resto parts suppliers sell the press-in bushing that goes into the head and they sell the sending units and regulators also.

54vicky · 09-04-2019, 08:14 AM

good info on the sending units but he wants to install a mechanical gauge not electric.I do not think there will be room due to distributor

KULTULZ · 09-04-2019, 11:10 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by bluecollarbill

The temperature sender for the Y block in my '55 Fairlane is in the rear of the left head next to the last intake manifold bolt. There is a similar port in the right head in the same location that appears to have a freeze plug in it. I would like to add a mechanical temperature gauge...

It will not be threaded if there is a cup in it. Threads are determined by the year of the engine (sending unit sizing) through the use of a bushing.

The mechanical coolant temp gauge, have you researched the size of the sending unit? Thread and overall length (incl bulb length/installed depth)?

JimNNN · 09-11-2019, 01:10 PM

I put a mechanical gauge on my '54 y block to replace my electrical gauge which had stopped working. Best thing I ever did, as a modern mechanical gauge conveys more and better information to the operator than the original electrical units did. The sending unit location was on the driver side (USA) and I had a hard time finding an adapter that would accommodate my particular mechanical sensor, but I did find one at Speedway Motors. If you encounter the same difficulty message me and I'll see if I can find the part number of that adapter. ( Speedway probably won't be able to find the exact part. The counter guy at Speedway gave up trying to find something until a very knowledgeable sprint car customer who overheard the conversation pointed him to the correct item.)

Ole Don · 09-11-2019, 01:33 PM

I don't care how hot the rear of the engine is. I drilled and tapped a hole near the thermostat in front.

09-03-2019, 07:10 PM	#1
bluecollarbill Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 14	Y block temperature sender in right head The temperature sender for the Y block in my '55 Fairlane is in the rear of the left head next to the last intake manifold bolt. There is a similar port in the right head in the same location that appears to have a freeze plug in it. I would like to add a mechanical temperature gauge as a belt and suspenders measure and I am wondering if this port in the right head is already threaded if I remove the freeze plug or will i have to thread it - anyone ever had any experience with this before ? Thanks

09-03-2019, 08:45 PM	#2
miker98038 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kent, WA. Tucson, AZ Posts: 1,397	Re: Y block temperature sender in right head Hard to say what’s been done over the years. Y block heads will move from left to right side. Those ports are used for the head/intake water passage at the front, and plugged or used for the temp sender at the back. There’s a press in bushing on the drivers side for the oem temp sender. No reason you couldn’t put one on the right rear if the head hasn’t been modified. The problem is most senders won’t clear the distributor. They make a tool to pull the bushing, I’ve used it to change a 55 to a 56 sender, they’re different sizes.

09-03-2019, 10:55 PM	#4
Daves55Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granite City, Illinois Posts: 3,008	Re: Y block temperature sender in right head And I think they forgot to mention, that if you tried to use the '57 and later temperature sender, it is a 12-volt unit that will not function properly with your original guage. But if you have converted to 12-volt electrical system, the '57 temp sender can be used with '57 thru 59 gauges (may need to swap guage faceplate and needles with your old ones). And the '57 & later gauges require the addition of a regulator which can be mounted under dash near the guage. Most of the resto parts suppliers sell the press-in bushing that goes into the head and they sell the sending units and regulators also.

09-04-2019, 08:14 AM	#5
54vicky Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Oakville Ontario Posts: 586	Re: Y block temperature sender in right head good info on the sending units but he wants to install a mechanical gauge not electric.I do not think there will be room due to distributor

09-11-2019, 01:10 PM	#7
JimNNN Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 522	Re: Y block temperature sender in right head I put a mechanical gauge on my '54 y block to replace my electrical gauge which had stopped working. Best thing I ever did, as a modern mechanical gauge conveys more and better information to the operator than the original electrical units did. The sending unit location was on the driver side (USA) and I had a hard time finding an adapter that would accommodate my particular mechanical sensor, but I did find one at Speedway Motors. If you encounter the same difficulty message me and I'll see if I can find the part number of that adapter. ( Speedway probably won't be able to find the exact part. The counter guy at Speedway gave up trying to find something until a very knowledgeable sprint car customer who overheard the conversation pointed him to the correct item.)

09-11-2019, 01:33 PM	#8
Ole Don Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: St. Michael, Minnesota Posts: 1,713	Re: Y block temperature sender in right head I don't care how hot the rear of the engine is. I drilled and tapped a hole near the thermostat in front.